Páll Björnsson of Selárdalur

Katelin Parsons (Árna Magnússon Foundation for Icelandic Studies)

Ed. by Ármann Jakobsson, University of Iceland
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.3.4: Icelandic Writing and Culture.
Vol. editors: Ármann Jakobsson (University of Iceland), Nicole Kennedy (University of Newcastle), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

Born 1621
Died 23 Oct 1706

Places

Active in Iceland

Activities

Primary

Priest

Resources

Björnsson's Works

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Páll Björnsson was a clergyman, author, translator, and witch-hunter who lived in Selárdalur in the Westfjords of Iceland. One of the best-educated Icelanders of his generation, he was the first Icelander whose work was published in a scientific journal. He studied Greek and Hebrew at the University of Copenhagen and embarked on an ambitious project to re-translate the Bible into Icelandic. However, he is better remembered for his role in the execution of five men and one woman for sorcery. He authored the infamous anti-witchcraft treatise

Character bestiae

Kennimark kölska

[Mark of the Beast] (1674) in connection with his efforts to purge Iceland of sorcerers.

Páll Björnsson was born into a leading family in the Westfjords. His father, Björn Magnússon (d. 1635), held the

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1580 words

Citation: Parsons, Katelin. "Páll Björnsson of Selárdalur". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 May 2025 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=15339, accessed 11 May 2025.]