Gripla - 2023, Page 149

147THE END OF Á R N A S A G A B I S K U P S
Antipas), ‘Gaius Sesar (Julius Caesar) and ‘Theodoricus valónir’ (Þiðrekur
af Bern/King Theodoric the Great).23
The identification of Hrafn with Ahab continues, albeit more oblique-
ly, in the manner of his death. Like the Israelite king, Hrafn dies after be-
ing struck by a stray arrow in battle. Further, just as Elijah grants Ahab an
opportunity to repent before his death, Árni hears Hrafn’s penance in the
days leading up to the fateful incident. Indeed, it is on the day that Hrafn
fails to meet Árni for this purpose that he suffers the stray shot.24
Present in the saga’s latter part is the possibility of Hrafn exacting
violence on Árni to achieve his aims. Of course, the saga’s intended audi-
ence would have known that the bishop was not fated to die as a martyr.
Further, Árna saga’s portrayal of Hrafn Oddsson is nuanced so that he is in
no way the ‘evil enemy’ common in medieval hagiography. Thus, while the
saga depicts Árni’s fierce opposition to Hrafn’s unjust ambitions, near the
end of the saga, the bishop draws him into his orbit. A reconciliation of a
kind is achieved. This is not in respect to Staðamál but rather in a spiritual
sense. In the days leading up to his death, Hrafn seeks out Bishop Árni to
make his confession, and there is a suggestion that through his long pain-
ful death, he is atoning for his previous misdeeds. To aid a good outcome,
Bishop Árni prays for his soul:
[…] ok veitti Árni byskup honum þá fagrliga bæn móti mörgum
meingerðum, eigi ólíkt þeim Ambrosio er fyrir þeim mönnum bað
eptir dauðann er hans mótstöðumenn vóru í lífinu.25
… and praying, Bishop Árni made a beautiful intercession for him
regarding his many misdeeds, not unlike Ambrosius when, after
their deaths, he prayed for the men who had been his opponents
in life.
Emphasised here is the Church’s ultimate authority over laymen, however
powerful they may have been during their lifetime.
23 Ibid., 172.
24 Ibid., 197–198.
25 Ibid., 204.