Before we start, we must be aware that there are two persons here that are more important than the others. One is, of course, Sigurd, king of Norway, who is actually in the story. The other man is Snorre Sturlason, an Icelandic poet and writer who tells the story of Sigurd and his men in his great work, the Heims- kringla!
Snorre Sturlason's life (1179 - 1241) is a grand story by itself, with political strife and the drama of alliances and assassinations. In addition comes the stories he wrote, and the events he reported. These sagas are now a part of the world's cultural heritage. Snorre was a historian, poet, as well as politician. It could be said that his greatest achievements were in the fields of history and writing, not in politics. In Sept. 1241 he was assassinated in his own home, for political reasons. But like most great men, his influence continued even after his death. He is the author of Yngre Edda. (Younger Edda, or Prose Edda) and Heimskringla, a history of Norwegian kings. And here we find the story of Sigurd Jorsalfar. Also, for stylistic reasons, it is believed that he wrote Egil's saga.
And then we turn to Sigurd.
Illustration: A handmade manuscript, found on Iceland in 1666, containing Younger Edda.
(Arctic Fox jan 2011)
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