- Þórðr Sjáreksson
Þórðr Sjáreksson [The name can be Anglicized in a number of ways, including Thórth Sjáreksson, Thórdr Sjáreksson and Thord Siarekson.] was an 11th century Icelandic
skald . He composed a "drápa " onÞórólfr Skólmsson , four strophes of which have been preserved in thekings' sagas . He also composed a memorial "drápa" on SaintÓláfr Haraldsson , called "Róðadrápa" ("Drápa of the Rood"), one strophe of which is preserved. A few disjoint strophes by Þórðr on different subjects are also preserved in "Skáldskaparmál ". [Finlay 2004:70; Eysteinn Björnsson 2002.] "Skáldatal " reckons Þórðr among the court poets of both Óláfr Haraldsson andEiríkr Hákonarson .In "
Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta " a short story is told of Þórðr. In the reign ofÓláfr Haraldsson he had travelled to the Holy Land intending to visit Jerusalem. On the way he meets a mysterious tall man who converses with him in the Norse tongue and tells him to go back since the road ahead isn't safe. The stranger asks Þórðr if he knowsHjalti Skeggjason and Þórðr tells him that they are related by marriage. The stranger asks Þórðr to bring Hjalti his greeting and tells him a story to bring Hjalti so that he will recognize who he his. Þórðr does as he is bid and when he brings the stranger's greeting to Hjalti he is told that the man must have beenÓláfr Tryggvason , still walking the earth long after his defeat atSvold . ["The Saga of King Olaf Tryggwason" 1895:452-3. [http://sagnanet.is/saganet/?MIval=/SinglePage&Manuscript=100234&Page=488&language=english] ]Notes
References
* Eysteinn Björnsson (2002). "Index of Old Norse/Icelandic Skaldic Poetry". Published online at: http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/skindex.html See in particular "Þórðr Sjáreksson" at http://www.hi.is/~eybjorn/ugm/skindex/thsjar.html using several different editions.
* Finlay, Alison (translator) (2004). "Fagrskinna, a Catalogue of the Kings of Norway". Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 9004131728
* Sephton, J. (translator) (1895). "The Saga of King Olaf Tryggwason". London, David Nutt.
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