Eldgjá, the Fiery Fissure that Slew the Gods

The Eldgjá fissure (fire gorge or canyon) is both a volcano and a canyon located in southern Iceland. The Eldgjá eruption in the 10th century was a cataclysmic event that had a worldwide impact. It not only devastated the island’s environment, it drove the country’s conversion from the Norse religion to Christianity.

The Eldgjá eruption originated under Myrdalsj?kull ice cap on Katla Volcano, and produced the largest flood basalt in recorded history from a fissure over 50 km long. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge slices though the center of Iceland, and the eruption was caused by the spreading apart of the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate. This colossal eruption lasted for more than a year and generated ~20 cu km of lava covering an area of 800 sq km, and was accompanied by massive toxic, corrosive gas emissions. This episode would have included spectacular activity at the fissure, including fire fountains and explosions. 

It caused the summer of 940 to be the coolest in 1,500 years. The sulfurous haze that lingered in the atmosphere resulted in harsh winters and barren summers for years following the eruption. From northern Europe to northern China, famine and starvation resulted in vast mortality in parts of Germany, Iraq and China.

Eldgjá erupted roughly a century after the island was first settled by Vikings and Celts seeking new land to farm. These settlers were completely unprepared for the devastation and terrifying effects of Iceland’s volcanic activity. The eruption inspired Iceland’s most famous medieval poem, the V?luspá (Prophecy of the Seeress). In this poem, the God Odin consults a prophetess and she relates the whole history of the world from beginning to end, with the death of all gods and giants.

The poem describes a magnificent eruption, with fireballs lighting up the sky and explosions heard over great distances. It also chronicles darkened skies and woeful summers following the event.

“The sun starts to turn black, land sinks into the sea; the bright stars scatter from the sky. Flame flickers up against the world-tree, fire flies high against heaven itself.” 

It is believed that the poem was written ~961 by a pagan Icelander with knowledge of Christianity. In spite of its clearly pagan theme, the V?luspá reveals Christian influence in its imagery. The poem rekindled harrowing memories of the eruption and missionaries used memories of this terror to convince the suffering of Iceland that their Gods were dead and they’d be better off embracing Christianity

Thus it seems that the Norse gods were mortally wounded in the fires of the Eldgjá fissure.

Based on research by Clive Oppenheimer published in the ‘Journal of Climate Change’ and reported on by Mary Caperton Morton and Ruth Schuster, plus various websites.

#geology #iceland #vulcanism