The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1971, Síða 33

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
31
You are welcome to as much of it as
von wish, and prepare as rich a feast
as your generosity demands.” Eirik ac-
cepted the offer. A Christmas feast
was prepared so lavish that people
thought they had never seen one more
magnificent.
Eirik ruled, not by force or fiat, but
within the framework of laws. Green-
land was an independent country
with a constitution and an Assembly.
The Vikings never colonized for
their home land. It was so in Ireland,
Sicily and Iceland and this was the
case in Greenland. Had they been able
to settle in Vinland, the pattern
would have been the same.
Christianity came to Greenland
about 1000 A.D., or earlier, accord-
ing to recent studies.
Christianity influenced Greenland
and played an important part in the
life of the Colony. Thjodhild, wife of
Eirik the Red, was among the first
converts. She built a small church 200
yards from their home: “not too
close”, say the Sagas, so as not to un-
duly anger Eirik who staunchly resist-
ed the new faith. (The ruins of Thojd-
hild’s church were discovered in the
summer of 1961 together with the
churchyard, containing the bones of
the first generation of Greenlanders,
and in all probability, the skelton
of Leif Eiriksson). Eirik held low
opinions of priests—called them “in-
sincere”. Eirik may have had a point
here for Scandinavia was Christian-
ized more bv means of the .sword than
by the spirit.
Eirik never forsook Thor or Odin.
Thev had never failed him, either
in peace or in peril and he would not
forsake them now. He was to suffer
for this resolute stand, for Thjodhild
left him, refusing to live with a pagan.
This was undoubtedly hard for Eirik
for he was not a well man. Hardship
and advancing years had taken their
toll. Yet, Eirik gave no quarters and
asked for none. The Sagas give no
evidence of disagreements existing be-
tween him and his wife. Thjodhild
was a good wife.
Having read and re-read Eirik’s
Saga, Greenland Saga and several
other sagas that mention him briefly,
and being thoroughly acquainted with
his moods, actions and reactions, one
forms a strong opinion of the man’s
character and physical makeup. His
hair and beard were red. His eyes
were blue, fierce and penetrating; his
voice, strong and gruff; his body
powerful, quick and agile; his spirit
revengeful: his will, resolute; his intel-
lect keen and his personality forceful.
Eirik the Red died c.1002. He left
to history an illustrious name— explor-
ations and discoveries notable even in
the Viking Age.
The Greenland Colony flourished.
By the Twelfth Century it boasted 16
churches, a monastery, a nunnery and
a bishopric. (The Cathedral Church
was built at Gardar, now Igaliko. It
was built of red sand stone from near-
by mountains. It’s ruins are well pre-
served. The Assembly was also held
herek The population reached 3,000
or more, with 190 farms in the Eastern
Settlement and 90 farms in the Wes-
tern.
Eirik’s dream of a colony came to
an end at the close of the Fifteenth
Century. (Clothing found in the
churchyard at I-Ierjolfsnes show that
the Greenlander’s followed European
fashion in dress up to the end. About
1500 the settlement disappeared or
about the time that Christopher Col-
umbus rediscovered America by the
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