- Einarr Skúlason
Einarr Skúlason was an Icelandic priest and
skald . He was the most prominent Norse poet of the 12th century.He was descended from the family of
Egill Skallagrímsson , the so called "Mýramenn". For most of his life he lived in Norway, with the kingsSigurðr Jórsalafari ,Haraldr gilli and the sons of the latter, especiallyEysteinn Haraldsson , whose marshall he became. After Eysteinn's death (1157) he composed the poem "Elfarvísur" for the noblemanGregorius Dagsson , referring to his victory overHákon herðibreiðr atGöta älv .The best known of Einarr's "drápur" is "
Geisli " ("Ray of Light"), about St.Óláfr Haraldsson . This "drápa" was recited in the Church of Christ inNidaros in the presence of the three Norwegian kings of the time, Eysteinn, Sigurðr and Ingi, along with the first Norwegian archbishop,Jón Birgerson . The poem is composed in the "dróttkvætt " metre and it is the earliest completely preserved "drápa" with Christian content.Einarr's poetry is primarily preserved in
Heimskringla ,Flateyjarbók ,Morkinskinna ,Fagrskinna andSkáldskaparmál .References
* http://runeberg.org/nfbg/0046.html
* [http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/esk.html Einarr Skúlason] All extant poetry
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