Hauksbók


Hauksbók, Reykjavík, Stofnun Árna Magnússonar AM 371 4to, AM 544 4to and AM 675 4to, is an Icelandic manuscript, now in three parts but originally one, dating from the 14th century. It was created by the Icelander Haukr Erlendsson. It is now fragmentary, with significant portions being lost, but is the first surviving witness to many of the texts it contains. Among these are the section on mathematics called Algorismus
and the text of Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks.

Composition

Hauksbók is associated with an Icelandic lawspeaker named Haukr Erlendsson: although the work of several scribes, the vast majority is in Haukr's hand. Palaeographical evidence allowed Professor Stefán Karlsson, director of the Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, to date the manuscript to between 1302 and 1310. As long back as it is possible to trace the manuscript it has been called Hauksbók after him. Hauksbók is a compilation that includes Icelandic sagas and a redaction of Landnámabók. The book contains versions, often the only or earliest extant versions, of many Old Icelandic texts, such as Fóstbrœðra saga, Eiríks saga rauða, Hervarar saga and Völuspá. Haukr tended to rewrite the sagas that he copied, generally shortening them.
In addition, Haukr Erlendsson wrote "Hauk's Annals," which chronicled events of his lifetime and a handbook on Norse law.

Contents

The known contents of Hauksbók are:

AM 371 4to

  1. : Landnámabók
  2. : Kristni saga

    AM 544 4to

  3. : encyclopaedic information drawn from various sources, on geography, natural phenomena, and Biblical stories
  4. : encyclopaedic information drawn from various sources, on philosophy and theology
  5. : Völuspá
  6. : Trójumanna saga
  7. : a text called 'Seven Precious Stones And Their Nature'
  8. : Cisiojanus
  9. : Breta sögur, including Merlínússpá
  10. : two dialogues between the soul and the body
  11. : Hemings þáttr Áslákssonar
  12. : Hervarar saga ok Heiðreks
  13. : Fóstbrœðra saga
  14. : Algorismus
  15. : Eiríks saga rauða
  16. : Skálda saga
  17. : Af Upplendinga konungum
  18. : Ragnarssona þáttr
  19. : Prognostica Temporum

    AM 675 4to

  20. Elucidarius

    Editions

Hauksbók is often included as a witness in editions of the individual sagas that it contains. It has been edited as whole in the following: