Guide to Northern archaeology / By the Royal society of northern antiquaries of Copenhagen, edited for the use of English readers by ... the Earl of Ellesmere.

  • Royal Nordic Society of Antiquaries
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Guide to Northern archaeology / By the Royal society of northern antiquaries of Copenhagen, edited for the use of English readers by ... the Earl of Ellesmere. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    antiquities. The Icelander traversed Europe on his way to Rome; the geography of Germany and Italy necessarily engaged his attention , in proof of which we may observe that the seat of learning at Erfurth is first mentioned in the writings of the Icelanders. The close connexion which existed between the North and Russia, the Sclavonic countries, England, Scotland and Ireland has produced this consequence, that the historian of any of these countries will find it a duty to explore the sources of the North for many topographical and chronological illustrations, and also for traces of many historical events which such investigation and comparison will enable him to confirm or to reject. A period of Russian history, to cite instances, is illustrated by Eymund’s Saga; the history of the Sclavonic countries by all the sagas which treat of Norway and Denmark; that of the British isles likewise bv those which concern Ice- land; that of Spain by Hakon Hakonson s Saga etc. By travels to Miklegard (Constantinople]) and Palestine, the Greek empire and Asia minor are drawn within the circle; and for the history of discovery it will always be a memorable circumstance that beyond question the oldest accounts of America of a date long previous to its more recent discovery by Columbus, are preserved by the Icelanders. In this manner, and through the not im¬ probable conjecture that Columbus either in England, or in Iceland itself, strengthened his own convictions by what he collected of the recollections preserved of the Northern navigators, the old Northern history holds out the hand of friendship to the modern. With the historical writings upon Iceland arc nearly con¬ nected the Icelandic laws. With regard to these our jurists have already made it clear and demonstrated in particular cases, that it is the laws which sustain the credibility of the sagas, and that it is only by the jyint study of both that we can attain a complete insight into the life and manners of the North. The laws shew especially that among its people in times preceding and reaching down to the middle ages, no such utter