Þáttr Ólafs Geirstaða Alfs
Þáttr Ólafs Geirstaða Alfs is a þáttr , a short anecdotal story, about the mythical Norse king Olaf Geirstad-Alf. Þáttr Ólafs Geirstaða Alfs are shown in Flateyjarbók , a saga collection that was written at the end of 1300s. Olaf Geirstad Alf, which is also one of the kings who acts in the poem Ynglingatal , is said to have been king of Vestfold or Grenland in Norway in the end of 800s .
Content
Þáttr Ólafs Geirstaða Alfs consists of four short chapters. The first is about Olaf's family background and farm Geirstad, where he allegedly lived. A verse of the poem Ynglingatal are also reproduced here.[1] The second chapter is about Olaf's dream. Here tells the author that Olav called to thing on his farm to tell people about a dream he had had. Olav had dreamed of a black bull that came through the country, killing a lot of people, and at last it killed Olaf's hird. Olaf thought that this dream was a warning of disease and famine coming. He therefore asked the people at the thing about making a great mound, where they could bury him after his death. It all went like Olaf had said, sickness and mass death happened, and his hird died and finally himself, and he was buried there on Geirstad.[2]
The rest of the þáttr is about a man named Rane, a foster brother of Harald Grenske, who was the father of St. Olaf. This is supposed to hav happened during the reign of Olaf Tryggvasson (ca. 995-1000). Rane had a dream where Olav Geirstadalv came to him and told him that he should break into the mound and find a sword, a belt and a ring. These objects Rane were told by Olav to bring to a farm in Grenland in Viken, where Harald Grenske's wife Åsta Gudbrandsdatter were giving birth. Rane was told that he should put the belt on Åsta so that her birth was easier. The sword and ring he should give the newborn boy, and Rane were told to call him Olav after Olav Geirstadalv.[3] The last chapter is about how Rane carried the messages he received from Olav Geirstadalv in the dream. Rane broke into the mound, took out the three objects and went to the farm where his foster brother Harald and Åsta lived. When Rane laid the belt on Asta, the child was delivered. This boy later became Saint Olav.[4]
References
Literature
- Þáttr Ólafs Geirstaða Alfs. In: Fornmanna sögur, Volume I . Konung Norræna forfreda felags, Kaupmannahøfn 1835
External links
- Þáttr Ólafs Geirstaða Alfs in Old Norse at Heimskringla.no