What's Happening?
Five historic Icelandic manuscripts have returned to Iceland from Swedish collections for the first time, as part of the World in Words exhibition at the Árni Magnússon Institute. These manuscripts, loaned by the Royal Library of Sweden and Uppsala University
Library, will be on display in Iceland for six months. Among the manuscripts is the Uppsala-Edda, written shortly after 1300, which is one of the oldest surviving manuscripts of Snorri Sturluson’s Edda. The collection also includes the Old Icelandic Homily Book and Bergsbók, a manuscript of kings’ sagas. The loan took around two years to arrange due to the fragile condition of the manuscripts.
Why It's Important?
The return of these manuscripts is significant for Icelandic cultural heritage, as it allows for the preservation and study of important historical texts within their country of origin. The exhibition provides an opportunity for Icelanders and visitors to engage with their cultural history and gain insights into medieval Icelandic literature. The collaboration between Icelandic and Swedish institutions highlights the importance of international cooperation in preserving and sharing cultural artifacts. This event also underscores the value of historical manuscripts in understanding the cultural and literary history of Iceland.
