The most modern example of Grágás being cited in a legal ruling here in Iceland that I can recall was about a decade ago, in a case where a participant injured himself during fangbrögð in a fighting gym. He sued the gym for his injuries but lost the case because as the relevant Grágás clauses clearly stipulate, he had entered the fight/glíma of his own free will and his injuries had been accidental and not because of malicious intent. Also when it comes to land demarcation and liabilities wrt to livestock straying onto someone's property, for instance, there's a pretty unbroken legal chain from Grágás. Almost verbatim it seems in many cases.
My mother used to have a magnet on her fridge that said, "The only reason some people are alive is because it's illegal to kill them." I guess the Icelandic version would say, "The only reason some people are alive is because I don't have enough gilt to pay their families."
I am not very surprised to see so many similarities between the Gragas, and early Anglo-Saxon, and even Brehon Law. A Beautiful manuscript! Love the occasional use of runes, and the Wyn!
This discussion reminded me of laws of the Pentateuch and of ancient near-eastern statements of law generally. The casuistic presentation of the law dates back at least to the Code of Hammurabi, as do the detailed rules for slavery and for compensation for deaths of various people.
One time I got super high and decided I was going to move to Iceland. I emailed the government and everything. I was dead set on it. Then the MFers informed me that there's literally a snowballs chance in hell I could move there. I told them I'm a Peterson. Viking descendant. That it was their duty to welcome Me home. They turned me down! Lol 😂
As legal historian I m interested in delving more into the literature about old Irish, Icelandic and other Scandinavian legal codes (early medieval, mediaval and up to 17 c.) so I want to ask you Dr. Crawford what kind of literature in English can you recomend to someone new in the topic about the most important legal codes of those cultures ? :)
Hi Jackson, would you be interested in creating a video on the best and correct way to get Norse Tattoos done correctly. I loved god of war and i would love a tattoo but i know you said that their interpretation of the norse language wasn't correct and i would like mine to be spelled correctly. Thank you :)
I think Norse tatoose weren't a big thing in general. The world itself is from the Samoan tatau, videogame designers just thought it is a cool look, I think. There are (kinda subjective, but still) mentions of Picts tatoos from Julius Caesar, and Scandinavian Rus tatoos from Ahmad ibn Fadlan, the latter is probably what inspired modern heavy-tattooed Norse depictions, but that's about it from my brief internet search.
'Ragr' (a synonym of the more well-known 'argr'), 'stroðinn' and 'sorðinn'. All of them more or less equivalent to homophobic slurs. It's explained in a 1974 book by Folke Ström called "Níð, ergi and Old Norse moral attitudes" if you want to check it out. 'Níð' can be defined as a form of ridicule, and 'ergi' is the noun form of the adjective 'argr'.
@@SilverSloth Thank you. Silly to not include it, education shouldn't be censored. Could not find it online. But that's interesting. Now I wonder if it's because it was so offensive to mention homosexuals or to offend homosexuals.
If you look for the definition of 'mild-mannered' in the dictionary you'll find a picture of Dr. Haukur Þorgeirsson
The most modern example of Grágás being cited in a legal ruling here in Iceland that I can recall was about a decade ago, in a case where a participant injured himself during fangbrögð in a fighting gym. He sued the gym for his injuries but lost the case because as the relevant Grágás clauses clearly stipulate, he had entered the fight/glíma of his own free will and his injuries had been accidental and not because of malicious intent.
Also when it comes to land demarcation and liabilities wrt to livestock straying onto someone's property, for instance, there's a pretty unbroken legal chain from Grágás. Almost verbatim it seems in many cases.
So it seems that in that aspect the Grágás is similar to Roman law :) As in "Volenti non fit iniuria."
That's fascinating that it still applies
"CSI Hlíðarendi" is one of the funniest takes on Njálssaga I've ever heard!
My mother used to have a magnet on her fridge that said, "The only reason some people are alive is because it's illegal to kill them." I guess the Icelandic version would say, "The only reason some people are alive is because I don't have enough gilt to pay their families."
I just love how softly Dr. Þorgeirsson speaks. As a fellow scandinavian I can really relate. This is our culture.
Thank you Dr. Crawford and Dr. Haukur Þorgeirsson!
I am not very surprised to see so many similarities between the Gragas, and early Anglo-Saxon, and even Brehon Law.
A Beautiful manuscript! Love the occasional use of runes, and the Wyn!
Looking at that manuscript, it's easy to see where Tolkien got some of his inspiration for his elvish script.
The manuscripts were beautiful. Thank you.
There is a drama about cheese dissapearing? I have been convinced, I must read the sagas.
This discussion reminded me of laws of the Pentateuch and of ancient near-eastern statements of law generally. The casuistic presentation of the law dates back at least to the Code of Hammurabi, as do the detailed rules for slavery and for compensation for deaths of various people.
As much as I absolutely love history, I find your channel and overall attitude very relaxing :) keep doing what you're doing !!
I heard the Laws were called "Grey Goose" because they were written with goose feather quills
One time I got super high and decided I was going to move to Iceland. I emailed the government and everything. I was dead set on it. Then the MFers informed me that there's literally a snowballs chance in hell I could move there. I told them I'm a Peterson. Viking descendant. That it was their duty to welcome Me home. They turned me down! Lol 😂
I'm half Icelandic. My mom emigrated to the US when she was 17. They won't let me live in Iceland either. Go figure.
sounds like they made a wise decision.
As legal historian I m interested in delving more into the literature about old Irish, Icelandic and other Scandinavian legal codes (early medieval, mediaval and up to 17 c.) so I want to ask you Dr. Crawford what kind of literature in English can you recomend to someone new in the topic about the most important legal codes of those cultures ? :)
Dr. Cowboy Viking at it again
It would be nice if the Icelander spoke up a little. What an amazing video still!
Turn up the darn volume then?
I just wan to touch that BOOK!!! 😍
Does the Ingvaeonic Nasal Spirant law also apply to Old West Norse in this case as Goose isn't Gans like in the other germanic tongues?
What are the best editions of "The saga of erik the red" and "Saga of the greenlanders"?
BOMBA
👍
Sorry, to be thick or naive, but what are those three words that allow you to kill?
I think they are the Old Norse equivalent of calling a man "fggt", "btch", or "pssy"...
How much longer are you in town? Would love to treat you to a coffee.
Keep in mind that the 'au' diphtong in Icelandic is pronounced 'øy'
I believe Dr. Crawford uses the Medieval reconstructed pronunciation of Old Norse/Old Icelandic....
@@andrewtheworldcitizen Yeah, you're right - I've learned a bit more since that. IIRC they didn't have diphtongs at all back in the old nordic times.
🙂
Hi Jackson, would you be interested in creating a video on the best and correct way to get Norse Tattoos done correctly. I loved god of war and i would love a tattoo but i know you said that their interpretation of the norse language wasn't correct and i would like mine to be spelled correctly. Thank you :)
I think Norse tatoose weren't a big thing in general. The world itself is from the Samoan tatau, videogame designers just thought it is a cool look, I think. There are (kinda subjective, but still) mentions of Picts tatoos from Julius Caesar, and Scandinavian Rus tatoos from Ahmad ibn Fadlan, the latter is probably what inspired modern heavy-tattooed Norse depictions, but that's about it from my brief internet search.
What were the three words you could never say to someone? 7:18
He didn't dare to say.
Check out Jackson's video "Cussing in Old Norse and Beyond", he talks about them and what they mean.
'Ragr' (a synonym of the more well-known 'argr'), 'stroðinn' and 'sorðinn'. All of them more or less equivalent to homophobic slurs. It's explained in a 1974 book by Folke Ström called "Níð, ergi and Old Norse moral attitudes" if you want to check it out. 'Níð' can be defined as a form of ridicule, and 'ergi' is the noun form of the adjective 'argr'.
@@SilverSloth Thank you. Silly to not include it, education shouldn't be censored. Could not find it online. But that's interesting. Now I wonder if it's because it was so offensive to mention homosexuals or to offend homosexuals.
What's the word?! Education shouldn't be censored. orz
If you buyin I’m in