Rudolf Pörnter's The Saga Of Erik The Red

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The word “Vikings” conjures up a very specific and powerful image in the minds of those who hear it. An European from the eighth to mid-eleventh century would be struck with fear for Vikings were known as pillagers and barbarians that killed everything they saw (Magnússon, Magnús). Unlike today, when one hears “Viking” the image of a strong, rugged man with a horned helmet and a giant sword might come to mind. With many myths and fantastic stories, many historians and archaeologists have gone into the study of Vikings to find the truth. Rudolf Pörnter is a German historian and author of many books on the Holy Roman Empire and the Romans. F. D. Logan has a doctorate in Medieval Studies and was Professor of History at Emmanuel College, now Professor …show more content…

Sephton; the saga itself was most likely written between the thirteenth and fourteenth century after the Viking era (Icelandic Saga …show more content…

In reality, the ship of Gunnbjorn Ulf-Krakason has the first recorded sighting of Greenland circa 900. The ship was thrown off course in storm on a voyage from Norway to Iceland (Logan, F.D.). Erik set foot on Greenland much later in the early 980s (Logan, F.D.). The reason history says he discovered Greenland is because he was the leader in its settlement. Erik left Iceland in 982 looking for Gunnbjorn Ulf-Krakason’s land west of Iceland. The sagas say that “[Erik] purposed to seek for the land which Gunnbjorn, the son of Ulf the Crow, saw when he was driven westwards over the ocean” (“The Saga of Erik the Red”). He spent his three years in exile there and then returned home to bring settlers (Pörnter, Rudolf). Erik the Red sailed from Iceland to Greenland with twenty-five ships, according to the sagas. Although some ships turned back or sunk so only fourteen arrived in Greenland (Logan, F.D.). There is archeological proof to back up this research such as remains in Brattahlid, where Erik’s farm resided (Pörnter, Rudolf). Since Erik the Red had such a major impact on Greenland and Viking history, one can see why he was remembered instead of

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