Viking heroine Guðríður: Hellnar reveals the secret of her discoveries!

Viking heroine Guðríður: Hellnar reveals the secret of her discoveries!

In the small community of Hellnar on the west coast of Iceland, which has just 50 inhabitants, new archaeological finds relating to Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir have been discovered. How journee-mondiale.com According to reports, Guðríður sailed across the North Atlantic around the year 1000 - 500 years before Columbus discovered America. This remarkable Viking heroine is often considered a pioneer, having given birth to the first European American, her son Snorri Thorfinnsson.

Archaeologists and historians now confirm the evidence of Guðríður's travels. She undertook a total of eight sea voyages, including two crossings of the Atlantic. She traveled with a group of 65 people, making her expedition larger than Columbus' first voyage, who sailed with 54 men.

Hellnar as a center of discovery

The community of Hellnar is increasingly seen as key to the Viking saga. The local excavations and analysis of the Vinland sagas provide new insights into this period. Prof. Elín Ósk Hreiðarsdóttir describes Hellnar as the starting point of an important journey of discovery. In this context, Dr. Jóhanna Katrín Friðriksdóttir points out that women like Guðríður played a more active role in Viking society than is often assumed.

To celebrate its historical value, Hellnar offers numerous tourist attractions, including a statue of Guðríður and Snorri, the historic Hellnar Church, and geological wonders. From 2025, the community will be specifically promoted as a destination for sustainable cultural tourism, including interactive exhibitions and guided themed tours. Local tour operators even plan sailing tours on replica Viking ships.

Gudrid's history and legacy

The origins of Guðríður are also fascinating. She was the daughter of the chief Thorbjorn of Laugarbrekka, whose family descended from a freed slave. According to her saga, her parents rejected a marriage proposal from young Einar because his father was a slave. Together with Erik the Red, Guðríður left Iceland and was allowed to travel to Greenland, where she and her father experienced many difficulties with 30 other people.

The group finally reached Greenland in winter after enduring many setbacks, including illness. There Gudrid married the Norwegian trader Thorir. Tragically, Thorir died of illness a short time later, and Gudríður once again found himself in an uncertain environment. Their story shows the transition from pagan faith to Christianity, which is discussed in the saga of Eirik the Red. She was one of the few women who took part in magical rites even after she became a Christian.

She later married Thorstein Eiriksson, Leif Eiriksson's younger brother. Together they took a journey to Vinland, where Guðríður eventually gave birth to their son Snorri. This is considered to be the first European born in the Western Hemisphere. After several difficult years in Vinland, the family returned to the Glaumbær estate in Seyluhreppur, Iceland.

In summary, the story of Guðríður Þorbjarnardóttir shows not only the important role of women in Viking society, but also the transatlantic connections that existed long before Columbus. Through its historical finds and the promotion of cultural tourism, Hellnar offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the exciting history of the Vikings and honor their remarkable voyages of discovery.