싱벨리어(Þingvalla. Þingvellir) 안내. 아이슬란드(Iceland)

싱벨리어(Þingvalla. Þingvellir) 안내. 아이슬란드(Iceland)

thingvellir.is

 

Velkomin Til Þingvalla (Welcome to Þingvellir)

 

Þingvellir vid Öxará (Þingvellir is one of Iceland's) most important historical sites, fundamental to the history of Iceland and the Icelandic nation. The Alþingi (parliament) was founded here around 930 AD, and assembled each summer until the end of the Old Commonwealth in the 13th century. After that time it functioned as a court of law until 1798. Many crucial events in Iceland's history took place here, such as the adoption of Christianity around 1000 AD, And the foundation of the modern Icelandic Republic in 1944. Þingvellir thus has a special place in the Icelandic consciousness. Since 1930 Þingvellir has been a National Park, and in 2004 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The natural environment of Þingvellir is unique in the world. The geology of the region, together with the ecosystem of Þingvellir Lake, Iceland's largest natural lake, constitute a valuable whole. The ecosystem of the lake is rich and the catchment area of the lake which is about 1,300 km2, is a huge resource for future generations. Þingvellir lies on the junction of two tectonic plates, on the Mid Atlantic Ridge. The junction of the plates is more clearly visible here than anywhere else in the world: the two plates are constantly diverging, causing fissures and gullies throughout the zone.

Routes to Althingi and local assemblies

Þingvellir is one of Iceland's most important historical sites,

fundamental to the history of Iceland and the Icelandic nation.

General assembly founded

You are now standing at the edge of teh ancient parliamentary site. Here the Law Speaker recited the laws at Lögberg (Law Rock), and godar (chieftains) enacted new laws in the Logretta (Alþingi's legislative assembly). Within the þinghelgi (parliamentary site), those who attended were immune from vengeance and vendetta. At Alþingi, people lived in shelters or "booths," whose overgrown fondations are visible on the parliamentary site.

As the age of settlement (870-930) progressed, the settlers began to consider questions of government and the form of the new society. Regional assembles were held, as in Scandinavia. The first was founded in Kjalarnes, the land claimed by the first settler, Ingólfur Arnarson. The Book of Icelanders, written in the 12th century by Ari þorgilsson the Wise, tells of a man named Úlfljótur who travelled to Norway to learn about legislative procedures; the first laws enacted at Alþingi were called Úlfljótur's Laws. The decision to locate the Alþingi at þingvellir, which woauld be accessible from all regions of the island, has often been attributed to Grímur Geitskör.

The system of government of the Old Commonwealth (930-1262/64) was based upon Germanic traditions, but the Alþingi is alone among the ancient Germanic assemblies in being extensively documented. While ancient law codes provide some insight into the division of powers between godar (chieftains) and their followers, the organisation of society was largely based upon a relationship of trust between the chieftains and the free citizenry.

View to the north across the assembly site.

Why Þingvellir ?

The Selection of Þingvellir as the assembly location was probably based on a number of factors. The plains at Þingvellir were accessible from all the main cross-country routes, although those who had to travel farthest might have to ride for up to two weeks from their homes. They often had to ride right across the central highlands, where weather conditions were often hazardous. The site also provided plenty of firewood, grazing for livestock, and drinking water.

According to Sturlunga saga the Öxará river was diverted to flow down to the plains, in order to ensure an adequate water supply for those who attended the assembly.

During the 10th century duels were fought on the islet in the Öxará river, but were prohibited after the adoption of Christianity.

Þingvellir in the Icelandic sagas

Þingvellir plays an important part in medieval Icelandic literature, for instance in accounts of two of the most renowned warriors of the sagas of Icelanders, Gunnar of Hlíðarendi, the doomed hero of Njáls saga, and the wild poet and Viking Egill Skallagrímsson.

It happened one day that Gunnar was walking from the Law Rock. He passed below the booth of the people from Mosfell. There he saw some women coming towards him, and they were well dressed. The woman in front was the best dressed. When they met, she greeted Gunnar at once. He took pleasure at this and asked who she was. She gave her name as Hallgerd and said she was the daughter of Hoskuld Dala-Kollsson. She spoke boldly to him and asked him to tell her about his travels, and he said he would not refuse her. They sat down and talked.

She was dressed like this: she had on a red gown, much ornamented; over that she had a scarlet cloak trimmed with lace down to the hem. Her hair came down to her breasts and was both thick and fair. Gunnar was wearing the stately garments given him by King Harald Gormsson; on his arm he had the bracelet from Earl Hakon. The talked aloud for a long time. Eventually he asked if she were unmarried.

Njáls saga - Chapter 33.

And Egils saga recounts a story of Egil Skallagrimsson, who in his old age decided to ride to the assembly:

"I'll tell you what I've been thinking, "he said. "I want to go to the Thing with the two chest full of English silver that King Athelstan gave to me. I'm going to have the chests carried to the Law Rock when the crowd there is at its biggest. The I'll toss the silver at them, and I'll be very much surprised if they all share it out fairly among themselves. I expect there'll be plenty of pushing and shoving. It might even end with the whole Thing breaking out in a brawl."

Egils saga - Chapter 88.

(Translation Bernard Scudder)

Games and various contests were held during the assembly period.

A gathering place

Þingvellir was certainly full of life during the assemblies of the Old Commonwealth era. Peddlers, sword-sharpeners tanners and brewers offered wares for sale, clowns performed tricks. Banquets were held. Casual labourers looked for work, beggars asked for alms. At the assembly one could hear news of faraway places, and various contests were held. Þingvellir was where people came to gether from all over the country, laying the foundation for the shared language and literature that has been at the very heart of Icelandic culture ever since.

People continued to go to Þingvellir throughout the history of the old Alþingi from 930 to 1798, although it declined in importance after the end of the Old commonwealth, ultimately becoming a simple court of law. Due to its symbolic place in the Icelandic consciousness, in the late 19th and 20th centuries Þingvellir was restored to importance as a location for national ceremonies.

Þingvellir had many advantages as a location for the Alþingi (parliament), but over the centuries the remarkable natural environment also led to some problems. Subsidence in the Þingvellir rift valley is believed to total about four metres since the Alþingi first assembled around AD 930, and this meant that water flooded over the assembly site. Þingvellir Church is believed to have been moved to a new site in the 16th century due to changes in the water level. The Lögrétta (Law Council) was also relocated in 1594 due to flooding. Severe subsidence during the earthquakes of 1798 caused more difficulties: grassfields were inundated, and new fissures opened. At Vatnskot the ground subsided by two metres, and Hallvegur, the old Þingvellir road, disappeared under water.

Horsefighting was practised in early times.

Þingvellir church and house

The first church at Þingvellir was built on the initiative of St Olaf, King of Norway, who sent church timbers and a bell to Iceland shortly after the adoption of Crhistianity around AD 1000. The present Þingvellir Church was con

Þingvellir Church is the National Cemetery, which dates from 1939. Poet Jónas Hallgrímsson (1807-45) and Einar Benediktsson (1864-1940) are burried there.

The Þingvellir manorhouse was built in 1930 for celebrations of the millennium of the Alþingi, anbd in 1974 the building was extened by two gables, when the 1100th anniversary of the settlement of Iceland was cerebrated. The manorhouse is now used by the National Park and the Prime Minister.

Þingvellir was certainly full of life during the assemblies of the Old Commonwealth era.

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