Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.09.2008, Blaðsíða 29

REYKJAVÍK GRAPEVINE | ISSUE 14—2008 | 29
DESTINATION
Witch Museum
BY STevIe wARD
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FAROE ISLANDS
REYKJAVÍK
AKUREYRI
EGILSSTAÐIR
WESTMAN ISLANDS
ÍSAFJÖRÐUR
VOPNAFJÖRÐUR
ÞÓRSHÖFN
GRÍMSEY
CONSTABLE POINT
Greenland
KULUSUK
Greenland
NUUK
Greenland
NARSARSSUAQ
Greenland
The Strandir area in the West Fjords has always
been notorious for witchcraft. The Strandagaldur
Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft in Holmavik
features an audio tour from museum manager Sig-
urdur Atlason, exploring the real story behind Ice-
land’s history with the occult.
The museum exhibits the legacy of the peo-
ple of Strandir, and its findings are mostly from
records kept by villagers in the 17th century from
1654 to 1680. The number of Icelanders burned for
witchcraft is still being debated; however, although
most of the accused confessed to some occult
knowledge or possession of runes, some confessed
to nothing, claiming their innocence till death. On
record, 21 burned and only one woman among
them.
The witches of Strandir excelled at raising the
dead. When the ghosts rose, they would be used as
minions by those who raised them. These witches
also used spells for catching thieves, stealing milk
and changing the weather — the tools they used
are all on display.
Exhibited are healing spells that were written
on animal skins and wrapped around the body. In
addition to two Icelandic spell books, the museum
holds the recipe for ‘Fireballs’ that were cast in the
late 17th century to sink ships and which ceased
commerce to the area, as well as exhibits of Necro-
pants, charms to win at wrestling, a weather staff
and an ‘invisible boy’. The showpiece of the exhibit
is an authentic bloodbowl, used in 1600 to commu-
nicate with gods.
More enigmatic then the relics themselves
are the accusers: the genealogy of the upper-class
is heavily documented and the museum’s historical
merits stem from records from the clergy and one
family of sheriffs (6 sons and 6 daughters). This fam-
ily was linked to the witch-hunting either through
being a judge, an accuser or an accused. Many of
them had studied in Denmark and Germany before
attempting to bring the witch-hunt craze to Iceland
to rid their people of ‘undesirables’.
Bring the kids.
WITCH MuSEuM IN STRANDIR
Höfðagata 8, 510 Hólmavík
Tel: 451 3525