The Nyala saga ( Isl. Njáls saga, Brennu-Njáls saga, Njála ) is the most famous and longest of the so-called Icelanders sagas . One of the two sagas of this group associated with the southern coast of Iceland. The events described in it took place in the 980s - 1010s.
| The Nyala Saga | |
|---|---|
| Njáls saga | |
| Brennu-Njáls saga, Nyala saga | |
 Nyal Saga Manuscript Page | |
| The authors | |
| Date of writing | ~ end of the 13th century |
| Original language | Old Icelandic |
| A country |
|
| Describes | 960-1020 |
| Genre | chronicle |
| Content | the bloody civil wars in Iceland; about the baptism of Iceland |
Content
Story
At the beginning of the saga, the main characters are the stepbrothers Heskuld son Kolya from the Valleys and Khrut son Herolva , rich and noble people living in the Valleys of the Wide Fjord. Khrut married Unn, daughter of Hörd Skripitsa's hewding, but this marriage was unsuccessful and quickly broke up on the initiative of Unn. Hoskuld grew up a beautiful daughter, Hallgerd the Leggy , who was distinguished, however, by her poor character and inability to housekeeping. She prompted one of her household to kill her first husband, Torvald, the son of Oswyr. Then Hallgerd married the Glum of the son of Oleiv Hand, and her second husband died from the same hand, but against the will of his wife. Hallgerd sent the killer to his uncle Khrut, knowing that he would take revenge. And so it happened.
The third husband of Hallgerd was Gunnar the son of Hamund , the ideal hero of the saga: a noble man and a wonderful warrior. His loyal friend was Nyal, a wise man and a great connoisseur of laws, to whom Gunnar often came for advice.
Central characters
- Hoskuld son of Kohl from the Valleys
- Hrut the son of Herolv , Heskuld ’s uterine brother
- Hallgerd the Leggy , daughter of Heskuld, wife of Gunnar son of Hamund
- Gunnar son of Hamund
- Nyal son of Torgeir Gollnir
- Scarphedin son of Nyal
- Train the son of Sigfus
- Flosi the Pyro
- Kari son of Selmund
- Heskuld White Godi
Creation Circumstances
The author of the saga, as well as the exact time of its writing, is unknown. Currently, it is believed that it was written at the end of the XIII century , that is, later than other "sagas about Icelanders." About 60 manuscripts with the text of the saga have been preserved, 19 of which date back to the XIV - XVI centuries , which, according to researchers, indicates its great popularity in the Middle Ages.
Features
The saga is characterized by a spectacular dramatic action. In addition, researchers note the veracity of the characters depicted in it. Numerous works have been devoted to this saga; one of the most important is the study of Einar Ole Svenson [1] .
In popular culture
- In 1966, the plot of the saga was retold in the book "Burning Nyal" by British writer Henry Tris
- In Monty Python's Flying Circus , episode 27 is called The Nyala Saga, and the show has nothing to do with the saga except for the names of the characters.
- Short Icelandic film "The Saga of the Burned Nyala"
Notes
- ↑ Einar Ól. Sveinsson. Á Njáls búð, bók urn mikið listaverk. - Reykjavík, 1943.
Publications in Russian
- The Nyal Saga // Icelandic Sagas / Translation by S. D. Katznelson (chap. I – XXXVIII), V.P. Berkov (chap. XXXIX – CXXIV and CXXXI – CLIX), M.I. Steblin-Kamensky (chap. CXXV –CXXX). Poems translated by O. A. Smirnitskaya and A. I. Korsun. - M. , 1956.
Literature
- Gurevich A. Ya. "Edda" and the saga. M., 1979.
- Steblin-Kamensky M.I. Saga World. L., 1971;
- The Saga of Nyal / Translation by S. D. Katznelson (chap. I-XXXVIII), V.P. Berkov (chap. XXXIX-CXXIV and CXXXI-CLIX), M.I. Steblin-Kamensky (chap. CXXV-CXXX). New edition of V.P. Berkov's translation // Icelandic Sagas / Edited by O. A. Smirnitskaya. SPb., 1999.V. II. S. 47-370.