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Vinland Voyager

 

Where's Vinland?

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The New World west of Greenland was named Vinland by Leif Eiricksson (LEIF ERICSON)

The Saga of Eirik the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders tell of voyages from Greenland to Vinland. These Icelandic Sagas are called the Vinland Sagas. (Vin means wine in old Norse.)

Norse artifacts were discovered at L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland in 1960.

statue of LeifLeif Ericksson voyaged from Greenland to Vinland in about the year 1000 ad. He stayed one winter and then returned home with a load of valuable lumber. It is also said that he found wineberries and self sown grain.


(Leif Ericson statue in Boston, Massachusetts)

Thorvald, Leif's younger brother sailed to Vinland. While exploring there his ship's keel was broken while rounding a headland. He made it to land and repaired the ship and then continued exploring Vinland but was killed in a battle with natives. His crew returned to Greenland after two or more winters in Vinland.

 

Gudrid statueGudrid, Leif's sister-in-law married Leif's youngest brother Thorstein. He tried to sail to Vinland, but got lost. Eventually he got back to Greenland and soon died of a sickness. Gudrid then married an Icelandic trader Nicknamed Karlsefni. They sailed to Vinland, had a son and stayed three winters before returning to Greenland and then to Iceland.

(Gudrid Statue in Laugarbrekka, Iceland)

Freydis, Leif's half sister sailed to Vinland. An Icelandic ship went with her. Freydis came home in the ship of the Icelanders. Horrible stories tell of the deaths of the Icelandic crew.

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