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INTEODUCTION. 71
Thor, and his race. He fled from Harald Harfa-
gri, and settled on a large bay in western Iceland,
which, he called " Brei6afjor6," the Broad, Firth.
Here he built a large temple to Thor, which he and
his descendants presided over. Of these his great-
grandson Snorri Go6i appears as the prominent personage
of the Saga. This Saga gives a clear view
of the Old-Scandinavian worship of Thor, as it was
transplanted to Iceland.
2. Laxdsela-saga, one of the most comprehensive,
and in fullness of material, in the plan and in com-
pleteness of narration, perhaps the best. It covers
the period of Olaf Tryggvason's reign, about the
year 1000, and of the introduction of Christianity
into Norway and Iceland. The history of that
time, especially of the transition of the heathen life
of the Northmen into the Christian, is finely repre-
sented in this Saga.
3. Sturlunga-saga, or Islendinga-saga hin mikla
" the Great Saga of the Icelanders," is the most de-
tailed of all. It treats of the much-renowned race of
the Sturlungar, and relates their fortunes and their
deeds from the beginning of the twelfth century
until the year 1284. It therefore embraces a period
much later than the times of heathendom, and is
very important in the history of Iceland.
4. Arons-saga Hjorleifssonar is connected with
the above Saga, Aron, the son of Hjorleif, being
one of the few chieftains who supported Bishop Gu8mund
against the Sturlungs. He died in 1260.
5. Grettis-saga is very rich in events, but full of
romantic and fabulous traits. The hero is Grettir
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