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32 iNTEODircTioir.
mythic learning, with regard to age and intrinsic
value. The honor of applying a thoroughly histori-
cal criticism of this kind to the mythologic and his-
toric literature of Iceland belongs to P. E. Miiller.
By his critical investigations into the origin and
genuineness of the old manuscripts, he decided upon
the antiquity and authenticity of the Eddas, ascer-
tained and established the time of writing and the
reliability of the Sagas, some of them with irrefutable
certainty, some with great probability, and
lastly, he thoroughly examined the sources from
which the two great historical writers drew their
materials, and thus fixed the significance and value
of their works.*
These researches were also greatly facilitated by
the continued publication, translation, and explana-
tion of original matter, which, by means of the philo-
sophic agencies above-mentioned, became more cer-
tain, speedy, and extensive, and in every respect
more universal. The efforts of antiquaries were
now directed more especially to the publication
of all the sources of Northern Mythology, as
well as a complete collection of the Old-Ice-
landic literature. In^tljis department the labor
was carried forward by Nyerup, Adle^rbeth, "Wer-
lauff", the younger Thorlacius, and somewhat later
by Eask, Afzelius, Liljegren, and others. The
Arna-Magnsean Commission also continued to labor
on successfully, but a new era was begun in this
* In his "Aealsere," "Sagabibliothek," ISlt, "Critiske tJnder-
BOgelse af Danmarka og Norges Sagnhistorie," 1828, &e., &c. He
died in X884, as Bishop of Se^land.