 It is believed that Iceland was first explored by Irish mnks as early as the 6th century AD. They established a settlement on the south coast, and there were about 1000 monks there in 874 when Norse settlers arrived. There is a Book of Settlement (Landnamabok) written between 1100 and 1200 ad, which gives an account of the first 400 families to settle in Iceland. Iceland is the only European country to have a written history from its first settlement.
The first settler was a man named Ingofar Arnarson. The old Norse believed in predestination. Arnarson threw a ceremonial column from his boat into the water and watched it drift towards land. Where it beached, he established his settlement. This was in a bay on the south west corner of the island, because of smoke from the volcanoes he named it "Smoky Bay" or Reykjavik.
One of the chieftans went to Norway to study the laws there, to formulate a code of laws for Iceland. He returned in 930 and his recommendations were put into effect with the formation of the Althing (General Assembly). Iceland's Althing was the first parliament in history. The Althing had two bodies, one the lawmaking and the other, judicial. They met once a year in a valley known as Thingvaller "Valley of the Althing". |
 Thingvellir is northeast of Reykjavik and was the first stop on our tour. It is a high walled outdoor room, rather than an amphitheater. There was a mound where the "Lawspeaker" recited the laws druing the meetings of the Althing. We threw coins in the wishing well and wished for drier weather. |