Eiðisdrangar

Background

History & Background

The history of Eiðisdrangar is intrinsically linked to one of the most foundational tales of Iceland's settlement: the arrival of Ingólfur Arnarson and his foster-brother Hjörleifur. According to the Landnámabók (Book of Settlements), Hjörleifur brought Irish slaves with him to Iceland. It is believed that these slaves landed at Þrælaeiði, the sandy flat adjacent to where the Eiðisdrangar sea stacks now stand. Tragically, these slaves, seeking their freedom, later murdered Hjörleifur. Ingólfur Arnarson, upon discovering his foster-brother's death, pursued the slaves. The saga recounts a dramatic confrontation where Ingólfur and his men tracked down and killed the slaves, thus avenging Hjörleifur. The area around Eiðisdrangar and Þrælaeiði is therefore a place steeped in early Icelandic saga, representing a harsh and pivotal moment in the island's initial colonization. The very name Þrælaeiði, meaning "Slave's Isthmus," serves as a stark reminder of this ancient, violent chapter.

Eiðisdrangar are dark sea stacks off the coast of Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar. They stand beside Þrælaeiði, between Heimaklettur and Stóri-Klíf, an area connected with early settlement traditions in Icelandic sources. The stacks are best viewed from established coastal viewpoints or from the sea.