Sæmundr fróði

Sæmundr Sigfússon (or Sæmundr fróði) (Sæmundr the Learned) (1056–1133) was an Icelandic priest and scholar. Sæmundr is known to have studied abroad. Previously it has generally been held that he studied in France, but modern scholars rather believe his studies were carried out in Franconia. In Iceland he founded a long-lived school at Oddi. He was a member of the Oddaverjar clan and had the son Loftur Sæmundsson.

Sæmundr wrote a work, probably in Latin, on the history of Norwegian kings. The work is now lost but was used as a source by later authors, including Snorri Sturluson. The poem Nóregs konungatal summarizes Sæmundr's work. The authorship of the Poetic Edda, or, more plausibly, just the editor's role in the compilation, was traditionally attributed to Sæmundr but is not accepted today.

In Icelandic folklore, Sæmundr is a larger-than-life character who repeatedly tricks the Devil into doing his bidding.

References

• Aðalsteinsson, Jón Hnefill (1994). "Sæmundr Fróði: a medieval master of magic". Arv: Nordic Yearbook of Folklore 50: 117–32. 
• Paasche, Fredrik (1956). Norsk Litteraturhistorie I: Norges og Islands Litteratur (2nd ed.). Oslo: Aschehoug. pp. 273–6.