Aud the Deep-Minded

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For an earlier and more legendary Aud the Deep-Minded, see Auðr the Deep-Minded.

Aud the Deep-Minded (Old Norse: Auðr djúpúðga Ketilsdóttir; also known as Unn or Aud Ketilsdatter) (834-900 AD) was the second daughter of Ketil Flatnose and Yngvid Ketilsdóttir. She married Olaf the White of Dublin, "King" of Ireland. After Olaf's death, the audacious Aud travelled the British Isles, marrying off her daughters to important landowners, until she finally settled near her brothers in Iceland, herself founding Hvammur í Skeggjadal (commonly translated as "Hvamm").

She figures in several Norse sagas, including Njal's Saga, Laxdaela saga, Saga of Eric the Red, and Grettis Saga.

Unlike most other Icelandic settlers Aud was a Christian and raised crosses on her land and prayed regularly on hills now called Krosshólaborg.

According to Drew Goddard, a writer on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Aud was known for her sense of humour and ability to manage money well, which is why Anya of Buffy was named after her^[1].

[edit] References

Outrageous Women of the Middle Ages, by Vicki León (1998, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-17004-6)
The Saga of Eric the Red
Grettir's Saga
The Laxdaela Saga