Ingólfur Arnarson

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Statue of Ingólfur Arnarson by Einar Jónsson, located on the top of Arnarhóll in Reykjavík, Iceland

Ingólfur Arnarson is recognized as the first permanent Nordic settler of Iceland. In 874, Ingólfur built his homestead in Reykjavík. This marked the beginning of the age of settlement that lasted until 930. When Ingólfur's ship approached the unsettled land he ordered that his high seat pillars should to be thrown overboard and the spot where they landed would be the place to build the first permanent settlement of Iceland. He was, however, not the first Scandinavian to visit and live on the island. The first one was the Swedish Viking Garðar Svavarsson who stayed for a winter at Húsavík.

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