What is known about Irish monks in Iceland is that they left, and
that in the early 12th century, when the first icelandic history was
written, all that could be said was that "they left behind their
bells, books, and croziers, and that is how we know that irishmen
were here." the same source explains their departure as being
"because they didn't want to be among heathens" suggesting
that they were peregrini rather than missionaries.
furthermore, Iceland doesn't even appear to have been discovered by
scandinavians until the mid-9th century, 9th c. being the period
asked about. I'm not sure whether
yew trees would grow in Iceland, even assuming the temperature was
warmer then than now.
meg
> Given what is known about Irish monks in Iceland, isn't it possible
> that missionaries to Denmark might be Irish? If so, they might have brought
> the yew-planting habit with them.
> Just wondering....
> Francine
Margaret Cormack [log in to unmask]
Dept. of Philosophy and Religion fax: 843-953-6388
College of Charleston tel: 843-953-8033
Charleston, SC 29424-0001
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