Christian and Pagan Miracles in the Landnámabók
Institute of World History of Russian Academy of Sciences
For citation: Litovskikh, Elena V. Christian and Pagan Miracles in the Landnámabók // Graphosphaera. 2026. Vol. 6. № 1. P. 46–62. URL: http://writing.igh.ru/index.php?id=2026-6-1-46-62
DOI: 10.32608/2782-5272-2026-6-1-46-62
Abstract: Many toponymic legends and verses included in the Landnámabók recount actual actions of the first settlers, but some also contain miracles and supernatural stories. The actions of the first Christians on the island are described mostly in a down-to-earth and rational manner, their primary characteristic being a pious life. The only miracle associated with the Christian hermit Ásólfr alludes to Christian symbolism. In contrast, the miracles described in the Landnámabók as performed by pagan sorcerers and seers are vivid and grandiose. All of them are connected to the control of the elements: pagan sorcerers in the Landnámabók stop avalanches, reverse river flows, predict volcanic eruptions, summon fog, and so on. The very plot of the Landnámabók revolves around the settlement of the island through the civilization of a new, Icelandic space. The control of the wild nature fits within this framework. However, since Christian authors could not attribute such incredible deeds to the Christian pioneers, they attributed them to the pagans.
Key words: miracles, exploration of space, settlement of Iceland, source criticism, Landnámabók
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Поступила в редакцию / Received: 25.11.2025
Поступила после рецензирования / Revised: 11.12.2025
Принята к публикации / Accepted: 17.12.2025
