We begin today by reconnecting with a figure who we briefly introduced in our last episode,

the wonderfully named Thorolf Mosterbeard.

As you might remember, Thorolf was a Norwegian chieftain who was responsible for maintaining a temple which was dedicated to the God

Thor on the island of Moster off the southwest coast of Norway.

In the aftermath of Harold Fine-Hairs rapid rise to power, we were told that Thorolf gave shelter to a man who had been outlawed by the newly empowered monarch.

Harold was not exactly known as a forgiving man,

and when he learned of this, we are told that he gave Thorolf a simple choice, either surrender himself, or leave Norway forever.

Thorolf, who was a very pious man, held a sacrificial feast, and he asked his friend Thor

for advice on which course he should pursue. We are then told, quote,

As it turned out, Thorolf was advised to go to Iceland.

So he bought a sizable ocean-going ship, prepared it for the voyage, then sailed

off with his goods, his household, and those of his friends who had decided to go with him.

He dismantled the temple and along with most of its timbers

put aside some of the earth from under Thor's pedestal.

Thorolf put pedestal. Thorlth put to sea and had a good voyage.

He made landfall in the south and sailed west along the coast round Reikinesiness. By the time the fair wind began to fail

them they were able to make out some broad bays cutting into the coast. Thorolf threw overboard the high seat pillars from the temple with the figure of Thor carved on one of them and declared

that he would settle at any place in Iceland where Thor chose to send the pillars ashore.

No sooner had the pillars begun drifting away from the ship than they were swept towards the Western Bay, not slowly either from what people

could see.

Then a breeze sprang up, and Thorolf sailed westward, Snafelness into the bay.

They could see it was broad and long, with high mountains on either side.

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