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16 INTEODUCTIOJf.
were engaged in these antiquarian researches, was
Arngrim J6nsson,* who stands at the head of the
Eestorers of Learning in Iceland. He labored inde-
fatigably in this field during a long life, and did
much by his publications and his communications to
the learned men of Denmark, to arouse the attention
of northern historians to the importance of Icelandic
literature.
In his footsteps followed Brynjiilf Sveinsson,f who
did important service in the field of I^orthem My-
thology, by his labors in the same direction. Tlie
learned Danes who corresponded with these equally
erudite Icelanders, and whose labors were greatly
enriched by their communications, were Stephanius,
the editor of Saxo, and Olaus "Wormius,:]; the father of
Northern Ai-chseology. In his department the latter
had the advantage of previous labors in that di-
rection, especially of Count Heinrich von Kantzau,
Vedel, Hvitfeld, Lyschander and others, but his in-
credible activity and energy, and his influence, laid
the first permanent foundations, and firet opened the
path to subsequent labors in that field.
Arngrim and Brynjulf were still pursuing their
labors in Iceland, with unabated zeal. In 1628,
Arngrim discovered the prose Edda and forwarded
it to Wormius, Ixy whom it came to the library of
* Bom 1668, d. 1648. He was a pastor in Iceland, and twice
Eector of the School at Holar.
t Born 1605, d. 1675, as Bishop of Skalholt.
j Ole Worm, b. 1688, d. 1651, as Prof, of Medicine in Copenhagen.
Among his works are "Eeg. Danlse Series," 1642; "Danieorum
MonumentoruiB,"1643; '.' Specimen LexiciRuniei," 1650; f'Danica
Literatura Antiq." 1661, &c.