Þórir jökull Steinfinnsson was an Iceland

Iceland

Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...

ic 13th century warrior and possibly a skald

Skald

The skald was a member of a group of poets, whose courtly poetry is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking Age, who composed and performed renditions of aspects of what we now characterise as Old Norse poetry .The most prevalent metre of skaldic poetry is...

.

Life

Þórir was captured following the Battle of Örlygsstaðir

Battle of Örlygsstaðir

The Battle of Örlygsstaðir was a historic battle fought by the Sturlungar against Ásbirningar and the Haukdælir clans in northern Iceland. The battle was part of the civil war that was taking place in Iceland at the time between various powerful clans , and was the largest battle in the history of...

, fought on August 21, 1238. He was executed along with five others, whose names are recorded in the Íslendinga saga

Íslendinga saga

Íslendinga saga makes up a large part of Sturlunga, a compilation of medieval Icelandic skin manuscripts dating back to around AD 1300.Íslendinga saga has been a major source of material for historians concerning events in early 13th century Iceland. The author is commonly believed to have been...

, included in the Sturlunga saga

Sturlunga saga

Sturlunga saga is a collection of Icelandic sagas by various authors from the 12th and 13th centuries; it was assembled ca. 1300...

. Also given are the names of the about fifty combatants who were killed on that day. Þórir’s executioner was a man allowed to perform the execution to avenge Þórir’s killing of his brother at the Battle of Bær, which occurred on April 28, 1237.

Poem

Þórir is known for a poem he recited before his execution.

Upp skal á kjöl klífa, köld er sjávar drífa. Kostaðu hug að herða, hér skaltu lífið verða. Skafl beygjattu skalli, þótt skúr á þig falli. Ást hafðir þú meyja, eitt sinn skal hver deyja. - The text in Modern Icelandic spelling

Onto the keel you climb, Cold is the ocean brine. Keeping courage though, Locked in a deadly throe. Baldhead, show no fear, showers fall on you here. With maidens you had a way, All must die one day. - A translation from an unknown source

Up on the keel you shall climb, cold is the spray of the brine. Strive to brazen your heart, here your life shall depart. Be not downcast, though rain falls on your balding crown. Maids loved you in your day. Some time each man shall die. - Another translation

Climb on the keel the sea spray is cold. Try to keep your courage up here you will lose your life. Don’t make a horseshoe [i.e., don’t turn down the corners of your mouth] even though the shower rains upon you. You had the love of maidens each must die at some time. - Translation by Einar R. Kvaran