The White Falcon - 30.04.1971, Blaðsíða 9

d y •
ume
W
ed by the Icelandic National Sym-
phony. Mr. Helge Larsen, the Da-
nish Minister for Education de-
livered the first speech. He
spoke of the treaty, which dates
cack to 1961, for the return of
saga manuscripts. He also spoke
about the increased understanding
and cooperation between the Nor-
dic nations. Mr.Larsen then pre-
sented the volumes to Dr. Gylfi
Th. Gislason who is the Minister
for Education in Iceland. Dr.
Gislason spoke of the history and
heritage of the Icelandic people
and their language. He concluded
his speech by plauding the Danish
government for their noble act in
returning the manuscripts. In a
symbolic gesture, the volumes
were then presented to Dr. Magnus
Mar Larusson, Rector of the Uni-
versity of Iceland, who then de-
livered the closing address.
The ceremonies were terminated
by the playing of Dorisk Chaconne
the National Symphony.
The manuscripts will be on ex-
dtion at the university for a
ihort time. They will then be
placed in a vault especially con-
structed for the preservation of
the calfskins.
The smaller volume known to
Icelandics as "Saemund's Edda,"
is believed to have been written
in the 13th century by a priest
on the southern coast of Iceland.
Little was known of it until the
middle of the 17th century when
the bishop at Skalholt acquired
it. Less than 20 years later it
was sent to King Frederic III of
Denmark, in response to an order
by the king that all manuscripts
be sent to Denmark for preserva-
tion in libraries.
The history of the "Flateyar-
bok" is better known. The book
was not written in Flatey as the
name suggests but was written in
northern Iceland by two priests.
The manuscript, which was made on
calfskins written with swan fea-
ther quills, contains annals up
to the year 1394. It was not un-
til the 16th century the two vol-
ume book reached the island of
atey for which it is now named,
se manuscripts were then given
the bishop at Skalholt who in
m sent them to King Frederic
in 1656.
WHITE FALCON
ABOVE: Minister
for Education
Dr. G. Gislason
presents vol-
umes to Rector
of University
of Iceland
LEFT: Danish
sailors debark-
ing with pack-
ages containing
saga treasures.
BELOW: Icelan-
dic and Danish
dignitaries oc-
cupy front row
a t unveiling
ceremonies.