Discovery
Much of the uncertainty in deciding who discovered Iceland, and when it happened, is down to the lack of archeological and written records. Roman coins from around 300 AD, found at several sites along Iceland's south coast, provide the earliest evidence of visitors, and suggest that ships from Britain - which was then a Roman colony and just a week's sail away - made landfall here from time to time. These coins could have been brought in at a later date, however, and no other Roman artefacts or camps have been found. Similarly, the age of a Norse homestead on Heimaey in the Westman Islands is disputed; archeologists date it to the seventh century, but medieval Icelandic historians - accurate enough in other matters - state that it was founded two hundred years later. What is certain, however, is that by the late eighth century Irish monks, having already colonized the Faroes, were visiting Iceland regularly, seeking solitude and, according to contemporary accounts, believing that they had rediscovered Pytheas' Ultima Thule. Oral tradition and place names link them to certain spots around the country - such as Papey, "Monks' Island" in the east - but they left no hard evidence behind them and were driven out over the next century by new invaders, the Vikings . Vikings were Scandinavian adventurers, armed with the fastest ships of the time and forced by politics and a land shortage at home to seek their fortune overseas through war and piracy. They had already exploded into Britain and Ireland in the 790s, which is why Irish monks had sought out Iceland as a more peaceful place to live. Though a few Vikings may have been Christian, the majority believed in the Norse gods, the AEsir, which included Odinn, the creator of mankind; his wild and adventurous hammer-wielding son por; and Freyr, the god of fertility and farming. The AEsir themselves were children of the first beings, the Giants, who had also created dwarfs and elves; they lived above the world in Asgardur, where the great hall Valhalla housed the souls of Champions, men killed in warfare. Fearsome in battle, honour was everything to the Vikings, and the faintest slur could start a century-long blood feud between families. According to tradition, the Vikings came across Iceland by accident when a certain mid-ninth-century freebooter named Naddoddur lost his way to the Faroes and landed on the eastern coast of what he called Snaeland , or Snowland. He didn't stay long, but his reports of this new country were followed up by the Swede Gardar Svavarsson , who circumnavigated Iceland in around 860, wintering at modern-day Husavik in the northeast, where two of his slaves escaped and may have settled. At about the same time, Floki Vilgerdarson left his home in Norway intending to colonize Snaeland, which he was led to by following his pet ravens - hence his other name, Hrafna-Floki, Raven-Floki. But a hard winter in the northwest killed all his livestock; climbing a mountain he saw a fjord on the other side choked with ice and, frustrated, he renamed the country Island , Iceland, and returned to Norway.
ANDREAandrea cuevas says "to make better foods// and to cut diz web site
" IcelandAaliyah says "Iceland is a beautiful country! Make sure to bring all your necessities. And have fun,exploring this wonderful country!" This Has To Be!PoorStudent says "This has to be the lamest country ever!" coolioomjay im so cool says "omjay iceland is like sooooo totally awsome ya knw check it out" Icelandcrackhead says "iceland sux, go f*** yourself" ................ says ".........................................is diz tirng ern ?????????????????????????????????????......................................................................" alohaAshley says "this sounds like a good country but you need a liitle more food" alohaAshley says "this sounds like a good country but you need a liitle more food" greathorse world says "the food here is amazing, don't knock it until you try it. this is a place where you can expierence the breathtaking landscapes, the extreme outdoors, delicious foods, a distinctive culture, and many other wonders. " how rude!unknown says "This is a well recpected web sit and it is upsetting to know some of you guys are leaving rude comments. I understand that you have your opinons but if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say nothing all. Well I been to Iceland and the place is absoultly beatuiful." yUR MOM`UNkNOWN' says "AlRiTE lETSz CEE'h hERE,
i CANt EVEN BEGiN tOO' StARt WitH WHy` yEW GUySz EAt ALl tHAT NASty StUFF...MANNNN...
lEMME`h tElL yEW GUySz NEEd tO COM tO tHE UNitEd StATES Of AMERiCA`ANd HAVE SOM CHiCkEN OR PATAtOES, BEANSz && RiCE, AHAHAHHHAHA,,,
HOpE yEW liKE WHAt i ROtE M.P,,, = ]
lAtERRR`*" WTFNot 4 u 2 know says "y da h3!! d0 u guys 3at dat nasty m3ss ram t3sticl3s wow ya!! must hav3 nothin 3!s3 to 3at im d0in a r3p0rt 0n u guys n i hav3 2 ask wat da fr3akin he!! was in ur mind w3n u at3 that crap , u guys need 2 c0m3 2 da U.S n get some human food cuz seriously ram t3sticl3s wtf . (d0nt 4get chick3n , p0tat0es , bread !0! . 1 m0re qu3sti0n y da h3!! do u guys 3at sharks i rath3r lick puss.i !0!" lollipoplanie says "lick lick lick like a lollipop!!" lolandrea says "lmbo!!! (laugh my butt of)" lolandrea says "lmbo!!! (laugh my butt of)" ~Giggle~ASH says "Iceland sux why waste your time!!" you sucknot gonna tell ya says "All you pu**y B***h people suck... So f**k off" reall f0000dsAnge Burns says "you icelandics shoruld really try thaiiii foooood"
Your Tip for Iceland
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