The Cross in front of the church in Reykholt
The design of the cross is inspired by the Gunnhild crucifix from 1150. The cross at Reykholt is made of steel and cedarwood, designed by the Norwegian artist Jarle Rosseland. Rosseland uses the emblems of the four Evangelists from the Book of Kells, refering to the roots of Christianity in Iceland. Icelanders trace their ancestry to Irish immigrants as well as Norse settlers. The Cedarwood is grown at Tendring in Essex, Maud Ìs Court. During the lifetime of Snorri Sturluson a crusader lived there. He brought home from Lebanon a cedar tree and planted it there. The magnificent tree has grown there ever since and the carvings are done on logs of wood from it. www.snorrastofa.is
My name is Sigrun Guttormsdóttir Þormar. I live inBorgarfjord west Iceland, where I work as a project leader at the cultural medieval center Snorrastofa in Reykholt. For those that don't know, Reykholt was the home of Snorri Sturluson, medieval writer and poet whom lived in Reykholt from 1206 to 1241. He was the author of the Edda, Heimskringla (History of the kings of Norway) and Egils Saga Skallagrimsson. For me Snorri is the most amazing employer whom I proudly serve and constantly present in my every day life! He is absolutely still going strong at 835 years of age. Please come and visit us at www.snorrastofa.is. We are open all weekdays during the winter and all days during summer. We have an exhibition about Snorri Sturluson and offer lectures for groups. Hope to see you soon :)
