Studia Islandica - 01.06.1993, Page 282

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hand of God”, The story as myth offers a way of understand-
ing why men are still killing each other in a Christian society
as late as the 13th century. According to Heiðarvígasaga the
hostilities are the result of forneskja that still has too strong a
hold on people.
Víga-Styrr is a “man of warfare” as his name implies (styrj-
aldarmaður). He oppresses farmers and kills them without
reason and his behaviour calls to mind that of Pharaoh to-
wards the Israelites. Styrr’s execution, transport of his body
and his burial are a proof of the loss of his soul so that he be-
comes forever doomed in hell. With the help of God, Gestr
Þórhallason kills Styrr in a similar manner as David killed the
giant Goliath.
Gestr, by setting an example to others in his dealings with
Þorsteinn Víga-Styrsson when he forgives him three times for
attempting to kill him, shows that forgiveness is more potent
than revenge and that forgiveness is the surest way to reconci-
liation and peace. The conflict between Gestr and Þorsteinn
personifies the duel between the two religions and demon-
strates the philosophy of the saga in nuce.
Notwithstanding the fact that the new religion was adopted
as law a long time ago, the era of peace has not yet dawned.
Barði, whose name means “fighter” (bardagamaður), kills
innocent men on the pretext of avenging his brother. He also
slays the unarmed Gísli Þorgautsson while he is cutting grass
at Gullteigr, a place-name that possibly means “peace field”.
For these reasons St. Ólafr refuses to allow Barði to stay for
the winter at his court and accuses him of three kinds of viol-
ations against God’s commandments and these constitute the
keys to the interpretation of the saga. Firstly, St. Ólafr charg-
es Barði with forneskja, an expression that coming from the
saint can only be understood as the heathen tradition of kill-
ing innocent men, an idea that the author has most probably
taken from the Saga ofSt. Ólafr by Snorri Sturluson. In addi-
tion, Barði is also sentenced for átrúnaður, which seems to
imply the attitude of believing in ones own might and main, in
other words in himself. Finally, Barði is accused of too much