Anonymous, Martinus saga

Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland)

Ed. by Ármann Jakobsson, University of Iceland
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.4: Icelandic Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

First circulation or publication c. 1275 - c. 1450

Places

Iceland (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Non-fictional prose

Resources

The legend of St Martin of Tours in France by his disciple Sulpicius Severus (Vita Sancti Martini) was translated to Norse in the twelfth century. The saga is preserved in four medieval Norse manuscripts, the oldest of which is AM 645 4to from the second quarter of the thirteenth century, whereas the AM 235 fol. from the beginning of the fifteenth century is considered closest to the original. In all of these manuscripts Martinus saga is alongside other legends of saints.

There are various other indications that St Martin was well known in medieval Iceland, as he was a church patron in six Icelandic churches and a patron saint in five. There also exists an altar piece from Möðruvellir in Eyjafjör&e…

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966 words

Citation: Jakobsson, Ármann. "Martinus saga". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 March 2023 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=40996, accessed 21 November 2024.]

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