All Things Iceland23 Aug 2024

A Massive Sea Monster Disguised as an Island – Folklore Friday

This episode is part of my Folklore Friday series where I am sharing a folklore story every Friday in 2024.

An Icelandic Saga that Mentions the Lyngbakur

The Saga of Örvar-Oddur from the 13th or 14th century mentions the Lyngbakur. In part of the saga, Oddur is seeing vengeance against Ögmundur Flóki (sometimes referred to as Ögmundur Eyþjófsbani or “Eythjof’s-killer”) for the murder of his blood-brother Þórður.

To make it safely to Ögmundr Flóki’s location, Oddur was guided by his half-giant son, Vignir. Oddur and his crew set sail towards a fjord in Helluland where Ögmundur was rumored to be hiding. Along the way, they encountered two enormous sea creatures that were so large they appeared as islands.

Two Sea Monsters that Look Like Islands

In the saga, Vignir said, “These were two sea monsters, one called Hafgúfa and the other Lyngbakur. Hafgúfa is the largest creature in the entire ocean. It devours men, ships, whales, and anything else nearby. It stays submerged for days before surfacing, and when it does, it remains on the surface for at least one tide.”

Five men had mistakenly disembarked on what they believed was an island, only to be dragged into the sea when Lyngbakur dove beneath the waves, leading to their deaths. Despite this, the group managed to navigate through the jaws of Hafgúfa, the other monster that Ögmundur had magically summoned to stop them.

Lean More About Sea Monsters Spotted in Iceland

The book “Meeting with the Monsters” is a wonderful resource if you want to learn more about sea monsters in Iceland.

Random Fact of the Episode

The lyngbakur is said to eat every three years when it swallows everything in its path, including birds, fish and any other life in the sea.

Icelandic Word of the Episode

Lyngbakur – Heather back

Share this with a Friend

Facebook
Email
Twitter

Let’s Be Social

Youtube

Tiktok

Instagram

Facebook

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(273)

Planning a Trip to Iceland in Summer 2027? Start Now

If you are planning a trip to Iceland in summer 2027, this is your sign to start now. Yesterday would have been better, but today is the option we have. That does not mean you should panic and book th...

24 Sep 32min

10 Weird Things I Now Find Normal After Living in Iceland for 10 Years

2026 marks 10 years since I moved to Iceland, which is honestly a little hard for me to believe. I can still remember stepping off the plane, starting work, and feeling like my brain was being bombard...

14 Aug 30min

Iceland’s New Road Tax Explained (2026): What Every Tourist Needs to Know

Planning to rent a car in Iceland? Learn how Iceland’s new road tax works, why it was introduced, how it affects tourists, and how you can save money on your rental. I’ll also explain why not all rent...

5 Aug 12min

I Just Finished 8 Months of Maternity Leave in Iceland. Here’s What It Was Really Like.

After eight months of maternity leave in Iceland, I’m finally back to work. Looking back, I can honestly say that this experience has given me an entirely new appreciation for Iceland’s parental leave...

23 Jul 23min

Iceland’s Glaciers & Coastline are Disappearing – Here’s how Your Visit Can Help Scientists

What if your next trip to Iceland could do more than create unforgettable memories? In this episode, I sit down with Anne Peters and geologist Johannes Marteinn from Katla UNESCO Global Geopark to exp...

9 Jul 53min

I Tested the Icelandic AI Learning Platform So You Don’t Have To – The Pros & Cons

Learning Icelandic can honestly feel overwhelming. If you’ve ever tried to learn the language, you probably already know that there are a lot of scattered resources online, different classes, private ...

28 Mai 22min

From Venezuela to Iceland: How Valenttina Griffin Built a Life Across Cultures

I sat down with an inspiring Venezuelan-born entrepreneur, Valenttina Griffin, who has made Iceland her home. Through a lively conversation, Valenttina shares her experiences of navigating different c...

15 Mai 1h 30min

The Cost of a 5-Day Trip to Iceland. Local Expert Advice on how to budget for it.

Along with hearing about volcanoes, waterfalls, black sand beaches, and gorgeous landscapes, one of the biggest things people associate with Iceland is how expensive it is. And honestly, that conversa...

14 Mai 39min