Páls saga biskups (The Saga of bishop Páll) is an Old Norse account of the life of Páll Jónsson, bishop of the Icelandic episcopal see Skálholt.[1]

The saga is recorded in three seventeenth century manuscripts and subsequent copies: Stock. Papp. 4to no 4., AM 204 fol., and AM 205 fol.[1] In each of these manuscripts, Páls saga follows Hungrvaka and Þorláks saga helga.[1] All three manuscripts are of one version of the text, which is thought to be medieval.[1] There are apparently no written sources of the text and it is likely that the author knew Páll Jónsson personally.[1] Because of similarities in style, the author of Páls saga is thought to have also written Hungrvaka and passages of Þorláks saga helga.[1] The saga is thought to have been written in the early part of the thirteenth century, shortly after Páll Jónsson's death in 1211.[1]

Editions and translations edit

  • Ásdís Egilsdóttir (2002). Ásdís Egilsdóttir (ed.). Biskupa sögur. Íslenzk fornrit XVI. Vol. 2. Reykjavík: Hið íslenzka fornritafélag.
  • Gudbrand Vigfusson; Powell, F. York (1905). "Póls saga". Origines Islandicae: A collection of the more important sagas and other native writings relating to the settlement and early history of Iceland. Vol. 1. Oxford: Clarendon Press. pp. 425–458. Edition and English translation
  • "Páls biskups saga". Biskupa sögur. Vol. 1. Kaupmannahöfn [Copenhagen]: Hið íslenska bókmenntafélag. 1858. pp. 125–148.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Bibire, Paul (1993). "Páls saga biskups". In Pulsiano, Phillip; Bibire, Paul (eds.). Medieval Scandinavia: An encyclopedia. New York: Garland. p. 496. ISBN 0824047877.