Anonymous, Agnesar saga

Natalie M Van Deusen (University of Alberta)

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), Kjerstin Moody (Gustavus Adolphus College), Sven Hakon Rossel (Universitat Wien), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jakob Stougaard-Nielsen (University College London)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1300

Places

Iceland (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Prose Fiction Narrative

Resources

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The Old Norse-Icelandic saga of St. Agnes of Rome,

Agnesar saga

, concerns the life and martyrdom of a thirteen-year-old Christian maiden living in Rome during the fourth century. The pagan prefect Symphronius’ unnamed son wanted to marry Agnes, but she refused his hand, as she was a virgin who had dedicated herself to Christ. In order to force her to change her mind, Agnes was first interrogated and, when she still refused to marry the prefect’s son, she was tortured by being stripped naked and led to a brothel, after which point a series of miraculous events took place: first, Agnes’ naked body was covered by the growth of her hair and an angel cast a bright light over her and presented her with a garment with which to cover her body; next, the brothel was transformed into a house…

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1048 words

Citation: Van Deusen, Natalie M. "Agnesar saga". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 January 2023 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=40946, accessed 27 April 2024.]

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