Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson
Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson (29 March 1927 – 2 March 2010) was an Icelandic folklorist, philologist, and theologian. He was the first professor of folklore at the University of Iceland and published extensively, particularly on Old Norse religion.
Early life and education
Jón Hnefill was born in Hrafnkelsdalur in
After finishing school at
Career
In 1960, Jón Hnefill was ordained, and he served as a priest in Eskifjörður for the next four years.[4] He also worked as a journalist for the newspaper Morgunblaðið[6] and taught at a variety of Icelandic schools and institutions of higher education, including in the divisions of philosophy, social science, and theology at the University of Iceland[2] and from 1969 to 1988 at Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð.[7] In 1983–84 he was an Honorary Research Fellow at University College London.[2]
In 1988 he became the first docent in folklore at the University of Iceland, and in 1992 the first professor.[5][7] He was a full member of the Folklore Fellows.[8] In 1998 he was the recipient of a festschrift, titled Þjóðlíf og Þjóðtrú.[9]
His scholarly work focussed on the area of Old Norse religion, particularly in Iceland, drawing on both philology and folkloristics. His PhD thesis, published in English as Under the Cloak, concerned the role of
During his lifetime he served as chairman of the Icelandic Folklore Association, the Icelandic Historical Association, and the Icelandic Teachers' Association, and was a board member of the Nordic Teachers' Association. He was also chairman of the East Iceland constituency council of the Independence Party.[2]
Selected works
Jón Hnefill published prolifically, in several languages. Among his books were:
- Kristnitakan á Íslandi. Reykjavík: Almenna bókafélagið, 1971;ISBN 9789979543794[11]
- Under the cloak: The acceptance of Christianity in Iceland with particular reference to the religious attitudes prevailing at the time. Studia ethnologica Upsaliensia 4, 1978. OCLC 1153058792(PhD thesis)
- Under the Cloak: A Pagan Ritual Turning Point in the Conversion of Iceland. Reykjavík: University of Iceland, 1979; rev. ed. 1999 ISBN 9789979543800[11]
- Under the Cloak: A Pagan Ritual Turning Point in the Conversion of Iceland. Reykjavík: University of Iceland, 1979; rev. ed. 1999
- Þjóðtrú og þjóðfræði. Reykjavík: Iðunn, 1985 OCLC 63345450
- A Piece of Horse Liver: Myth, Ritual, and Folklore in Old Icelandic Sources. Reykjavík: University of Iceland Press, 1998. ISBN 9789979542643(collected essays in English translation)
- Þá hneggjaði Freyfaxi: Frá staðfræði til uppspuna í Hrafnkels sögu Freysgoða. Reykjavík: Háskólaútgáfan/University of Iceland Press, 2000. ISBN 9979-54-431-7
Personal life
He was married in 1955 to the writer and Member of
References
- ^ .
- ^ a b c d e f "Andlát: Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson", Vísir, 3 March 2010, retrieved 15 May 2021 (in Icelandic).
- ^ Sigurjón Björnsson, "Af Hrafnkatli og Freyfaxa", Morgunblaðið, 21 April 2001, retrieved 15 May 2021 (in Icelandic).
- ^ a b c d "Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson", Morgunblaðið, 10 March 2010, retrieved 15 May 2021 (in Icelandic).
- ^ a b "Fræðafrumkvöðli fagnað", Fréttablaðið, 30 March 2007, p. 40 (in Icelandic).
- ^ "Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson (1927-2010)", Icelandic Press Association, retrieved 15 May 2021 (in Icelandic).
- ^ a b "Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson", Skólavarðan, 1 April 2010, p. 30 (in Icelandic).
- ^ "FF Honorary and Full Members", Folklore Fellows, June 30, 2009, retrieved 15 May 2021.
- ISBN 9789979590798.
- ^ Jónas Gíslason, "Ritfregnir: Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson, Kristnitakan á Íslandi", Saga 10.1 (1972) 197–204 (in Icelandic).
- ^ a b "Kristnitakan á Íslandi", Dagblaðið Vísir, 17 January 2000, p. 17 (in Icelandic).