Reykjavík Grapevine - 12.08.2011, Side 50

M U SI C
concerts & nightlife in august
Step into
the Viking Age
Experience Viking-Age Reykja­vík a­t the
new Settlement Exhibition. The focus of the
exhibition is a­n exca­va­ted longhouse site which
da­tes from the 10th century ad. It includes
relics of huma­n ha­bita­tion from a­bout 871, the
oldest such site found in Icela­nd.

Multimedia­ techniques bring Reykja­vík’s
pa­st to life, providing visitors with insights
into how people lived in the Viking Age, a­nd
wha­t the Reykja­vík environment looked like
to the first settlers.
The exhibition a­nd
museum shop a­re open
da­ily 10–17
Aða­lstræti 16
101 Reykja­vík / Icela­nd
Phone +(354) 411 6370
www.reykja­vikmuseum.is

22 |MOn
Bakkus
21:00 Monday Night Movies
Café Oliver
22:00 Margarita Night
Den Danske Kro
22:00 Live Music
Dubliner
21:00 Live Music
English Pub
21:30 Live Music
The Nordic House
20:00 Hans Olding with an all star
local line up, 2000 ISK
Kaldalón, Harpa
17:00 Voces Masculorum - Icelandic
a capella, 3000 ISK
The Nordic House
20:00 Hans Olding & band, 2000 ISK
Prikið
22:00 Beggi Mood

23 |TUE
Bakkus
20:00 Foosball Tournament
Café Oliver
22:00 Live Karaoke
Den Danske Kro
22:00 Live Music
Dubliner
21:00 Live Music
English Pub
21:30 Live Music
Kaffibarinn
22:00 DJ HalliValli
Kaldalón, Harpa
21:00 ADHD, 2500 ISK
The Nordic House
19:00 Elou Elan & Eyjafjalla Quintet
Prikið
22:00 Dj Óli Hjörtur
Sigurjón Ólafsson Museum
20:30 Auður Gunnarsdóttir & Jónas
Ingimundarson, 2000 ISK
24 |WED
Bakkus
22:00 DJ Make Dance
Café Oliver
22:00 Live Music
Den Danske Kro
22:00 Live Music
Dubliner
21:00 Live Music
English Pub
21:30 Live Music
Faktorý
20:00 Classic Pub Quiz
Kaffibarinn
22:00 Extreme Chill
Kaldalón, Harpa
17:00 Women in Icelandic music,
3000 ISK
Norðurljós, Harpa
20:00 Maður hefur nú, 3500 ISK
Prikið
22:00 DJ Arni Kocoon
25 |THU
Bakkus
22:00 DJ Dóri
Café Oliver
22:00 Ingó Verðurguð
Celtic Cross
22:00 Live Music
Icelandic Checkmate?
August 19
Skálholt
Free
In 1831, an ancient set of chess pieces was found in the Isle of Lewis, in Scot-
land. The most amazing fact about these chessmen—made of walrus ivory and
whale teeth—is that they were the oldest figures showing a clear resemblance to
modern pieces. Since then, it had been believed that the most important chess
set of all time was handcrafted in Norway in the 12th century. But recently things
have changed with the discovery of a little chess piece found in an excavation at
Siglunes, Iceland. And guess what? Surprisingly, this Icelandic piece, handcrafted
from fishbone, bears similarities to those Lewis Chessmen, but might be older. The
plot thickens!
Einar S. Einarsson and Guðmundur G. Þórarinsson are the main advocates of
the “Iceland theory” of the Lewis Chessmen. These chess aficionados believe that
Iceland is the origin of the famous set of medieval pieces. The strongest evidence
for this seems to be the ‘bishop’. Icelandic is the first language where the word
‘bishop’ was used to describe this chess piece and—funnily—in the Lewis Chess-
men, a figure carved in the image of a bishop appears for the first time. Einar, a
close friend of the late Bobby Fischer, says “the most important reason is perhaps
the bishop, apart from the berserkers [a medieval Norse warrior that also appears
in the Lewis set as a rook]. The linguistic factors play a big role when figures of art
are created, which suits Iceland perfectly in the olden days.” Or as Mr. Neil Mac-
Gregor, director of the British Museum, states: “In every place the chess pieces will
change to reflect the society that played it.”
This is just the tip of the iceberg of a fascinating story full of mystery and con-
troversy. In the meantime, we can learn more about the Lewis Chessmen and their
link to Icelandic culture in a symposium held in Skálholt next August 19. In addition
to Mr. Þórarinsson, speakers will include scholars from the British Museum (the
current location of the Lewis Chessmen), the National Museum of Scotland and the
University of Iceland.
Is the original source of the Lewis Chessmen in Iceland? That remains to be
seen. But as Einar concludes: “It has already been discussed with the British Mu-
seum to lend some of them to have on display in Skálholt, or perhaps our National
Museum, some time in the near future.”
The Culture House
20:00 Óskar Guðjúnsson & Skúli
Sverrisson, 2000 ISK
Den Danske Kro
22:00 Live Music
Dubliner
21:00 Live Music
English Pub
21:30 Live Music
Esja
21:00 Play Mo´Funk
Faktorý
22:00 DJ Atli Kanilsnúður
Hressó
22:00 Troubadours Böddi & Davíð
Iðnó
21:00 Quinteto Tangarte
22:00 DJ Birger Haugdal, 1500 ISK
Kaffibarinn
22:00 HúsDJús with DJ Kára
Kaldalón, Harpa
20:00 The Soul Patrol, 2500 ISK
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
22:00 Live Music
Prikið
22:00 Surprise night!
Vegamót
22:00 DJ Jónas
» |OnGOInG
Restaurant Reykjavík
20:00 Let's Talk Iceland: Comedy Show.
2200 ISK. Everyday
Iðnó
20:00 Cellophane Comedy show.
Thursdays