New inquiry connects a powerful volcanic eruption — and a gothic poem that conjured retentivity of the fearsome issue — to Iceland ’s conversion to Christianity .
At the turn of the 11th century , Iceland ’s settlers formally replaced Odin , Thor , and Freya with Jesus , Mary , and Joseph . Anew paperpublished in Climatic Change suggests memories of the Eldgjá lava flood — the largest volcanic eruption to hit Iceland in the retiring 2,000 age — convinced Icelanders to turn away from their Norse God and squeeze Christianity . This conclusion , reached by scientists from the University of Cambridge , was made possible by establishing a firm date for the eruption , and a reinterpretation of a grim poem called Vǫluspá , meaning “ the prophecy of the seeress . ”
Prior to the newfangled study , scientists have intercourse about the terrible Eldgjá lava outpouring , but they could n’t figure out when it really happen . Estimates placed the eruption anywhere from 932 through to 939 , with a best conjecture at 934 base on disperse grounds . To finally get it right , a research squad , led by Clive Oppenheimer , collected data point from crank cores and tree ring , show that the eructation started in the spring of 939 , and continued until fall 940 .
Indeed , the Eldgjá lava flood , as its name and duration suggests , was n’t any ordinary eruption . It happened in the southern region of Iceland along a 75 - kilometer - long ( 46 miles ) fissure linked to the Katla vent . The eruption threw monumental amount of money of lava onto the land , while spewing sulfurous gases into the atmosphere . An estimated 20 cubic kilometer of magma poured from the cracking .
gratuitous to say , the eruption had an impingement on Iceland ’s inhabitants , who commence to go down the island around 874 .
“ This places the eruption forthrightly within the experience of the first two or three generations of Iceland ’s settlers , ” say Oppenheimer in a statement . “ Some of the first wave of migrants to Iceland , brought over as child , may well have find the eruption . ”
The settlers belike vacate much of the island , or relocated elsewhere , as dearth was probably severe , but no texts survived to narrate us exactly what happened . But that ’s where the poem could help , the investigator exact . A sure version of Vǫluspá , dated to around 961 , seems to paint an apocalyptical scene of the term both during and after the outbreak — and even the onset of a cold volcanic winter ( which was feel around the globe ) .
[ The wolf ] is fill with the spirit - rake of sentence man , reddens the power ’ dwellings with ruddy gore ; the Dominicus - beam turn smutty the following summer , weather all woeful : do you know yet , or what ?
The sunlight starts to turn black , kingdom sinks into sea ; the bright stars scattering from the sky . Steam spurts up with what nourishes life , flame aviate gamey against heaven itself .
The verse form also prognosticate the end of Iceland ’s Norse gods , and the rise of a new , singular deity . Could this be construed as the conversion of Iceland to Christianity ? The researchers think it ’s a distinct possibility .
“ With a unfaltering date for the clap , many unveiling in mediaeval chronicles snap into position as likely consequences — sightings in Europe of an over-the-top atmospheric fog ; stern winters ; and cold summer , wretched harvests ; and food for thought shortages , ” said Oppenheimer . “ But most striking is the almost eyewitness style in which the eruption is depicted in Voluspá . The verse form ’s rendering as a vaticination of the end of the pagan Supreme Being and their replacement by the one , singular god , suggest that memories of this terrible volcanic outbreak were purposefully stimulate to get the Christianisation of Iceland . ”
That account of a spartan volcanic eruption — one still seared in memory — were used to fuel theological disputation and proselytize Icelanders in the 10th C is not as outlandish as it may come out . The arguments may have sound quite compelling , and the new religion may have offered some solace and reassurance . Oppenheimer and his colleagues present a good vitrine , but like anything , there ’s likely more to it than a scary verse form . The ground for Iceland ’s transition to Christianity are complex and multifaceted — the account of a horrifying volcano quite perhaps being among the many reason why the Norse divinity were abandoned .
[ Climatic Change ]
Christianityearth scienceHistorypoetryScience
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