Medieval Oddi in Iceland as a Place of Power and Learning: Clerics, Chieftains, and Textual Culture

Medieval Oddi in Iceland is well known for its famous inhabitants: the priest and chief Sæmundr (d. 1133), later an outstanding magician in Icelandic folk-tales; his grandson the magnificent chieftain Jón Loptsson (d. 1197), of royal descent through his Norwegian mother; and his fosterson, Snorri Sturluson (d. 1241), author of the much acclaimed Prose Edda and Heimskringla. Bishop Þorlákr (d. 1193) also studied at Oddi and, like Sæmundr, later studied abroad. These are illustrious men in th...