Ormsbók


Ormsbók or Ormr Snorrason's Book was a large Icelandic manuscript of chivalric sagas. It is assumed that it was destroyed in the Stockholm castle fire of 1697 as it was last recorded in an inventory in 1693. It takes its name from Ormr Snorrason, the 14th century Icelandic chief and lawman who also owned the large collection of apostles' sagas Codex Scardensis.
It arrived in Sweden as a gift to an antiquarian in 1602; during the 15th and 16th centuries its whereabouts are unknown. The manuscript was frequently used in lexicographical works which quote many sections from it. Between 1690 and 1691, the manuscript was copied by the Icelander Jón Vigfússon. Vigfússon's copy survives in the manuscripts Stockholm Papp. fol. nr 46, 47, 58 and 66.
Desmond Slay has argued that the end of Ívens saga and the beginning of Mírmans ''saga were lost in the lacuna after folio 81v. In addition, he argues that the end of Ívens saga in Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 46 is not from Ormsbók and that Mírmans saga'' in Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 47 is from three sources, not solely Ormsbók.

Contents

Trójumanna saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 58Breta sögur - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 58Mágus saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 58Laes þáttr - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 58Vilhjálms þáttr Laessonar - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 58Geirarðs þáttr - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 58Flóvents saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 47Bærings saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 47Rémundar saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 47Erex saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 46Bevers saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 46Ívens saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 46
  • * LacunaMírmans saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 47Partalopa saga - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 46"Enoks saga" - - Stockholm Papp. fol. no. 46Parcevals saga -

Facsimiles