Sæmundur the Wise: The Priest Who Outsmarted the Devil
- Sunna Olafson Furstenau
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
by Sunna Olafson Furstenau
As Icelanders, we honor and love to share our Sagas and Stories. One of our ancient heroes is Sæmundur the Wise. He outsmarted the devil not once, but twice! This story has been told for nearly a thousand years and is preserved in several ancient texts. It blends history, faith, and just the right amount of mischief.
Sæmundur fróði Sigfússon (I136284) lived from 1056 to 1133 in south Iceland. Even though none of his personal writings have survived, he left behind powerful stories, legends, and a reputation as one of the most clever men in Icelandic history.
After returning from studies abroad, Sæmundur became a leading figure in Iceland's early church and education. His home at Oddi became a renowned center of learning. From Oddi, we get the powerful Oddaverjar clan—the descendants of Sæmundur who influenced literature, religion, politics, and more for many generations.
Sæmundur traveled to Europe to study, most likely in France. Stories call it the "Black School" and say that the devil himself taught there, and each year at graduation, the last student to leave belonged to him. That year, Sæmundur volunteered to go last. He put on a large cloak and did not fasten it. When the devil grabbed him, Sæmundur slipped out and ran, leaving the cloak behind.
When Sæmundur wanted to return home to Iceland, the devil appeared again, disguised as a seal. He offered to carry Sæmundur across the ocean, but if he got even a little wet, his soul would belong to him. Sæmundur agreed and climbed onto the seal's back. As they crossed the ocean, Sæmundur read from the book of Psalms. When they were near the shore, Sæmundur raised his Bible and struck the seal on the head. The devil sank beneath the waves, and Sæmundur quickly made it to land. If you visit the University of Iceland in Reykjavík, you can see a statue of Sæmundur lifting his book above the seal where wisdom triumphs over evil.
Many legends also demonstrate Sæmundur's kindness. One story includes a young woman who unknowingly promised the devil her unborn child. She turned to Sæmundur for help, and he told her to have the devil carry water in a box with holes in it. Sæmundur then hid beside the church bells and rang them each time the devil passed, so the water spilled out. The woman and her baby were saved.
His descendants, the Oddaverjar, are many, and there are quite a few who are famous in our history. Jón Loftsson (1124–1197) inherited Oddi and was a very respected leader, chieftain, scholar, and the foster father to Snorri Sturluson. Generations later came Loftur the Rich—Loftur 'ríki' Guttormsson (I39611). Loftur lived through the Black Plague of 1403, which erased many families. He inherited vast estates and became one of Iceland's wealthiest and most influential men. He was the Royal Governor of North and West Iceland. He was knighted by King Eirik III, King of Norway (1389–1442), granting him a coat of arms with a white falcon on a blue field. Heraldry for Icelanders was extremely rare.
Today, every person with Icelandic ancestry is a direct descendant of Loftur. You can check for yourself in the Icelandic Roots database. You can also explore synopses of the Sagas, the complete Sagas in English and Icelandic, plus see people and places connected to our shared story.
Sæmundur and Loftur are mentioned in Njáls Saga, Þorsteins saga Síðu-Hallssonar, Íslendinga Þættir, and Landnámabók. For centuries, people believed Sæmundur had compiled the "Edda"—the great collection of Old Norse poems about gods and heroes. Modern scholars now agree that the Poetic Edda and the tradition of calling it "Sæmundar Edda" stem from his association with wisdom and as the guardian of Iceland's earliest stories and knowledge.
Loftur is my 23rd great-grandfather. If you are of Icelandic descent, you'll find him in the Icelandic Roots database as your ancestor, too!
There is much to discover. Every story in our database and our outreach community connects us to those who came before and those who will come after us. Join our online Icelandic Roots community, a living network of cousins, stories, and shared heritage across the world.
