Einar Benediktsson

Reykjavik Bókmenntaborg UNESCO City of Literature

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 8, 2017

1. Einar Benediktsson Marker

Einar Benediktsson (1864-1940) skald og athafnamaður bjó í Höfða á árunum 1914 til 1917. Hann var heimsborgari og hugsjónamaður, ferðaðist víða um lönd og lagði fram margar nýstárlegar og stórbrotnar hugmyndir að þjóðfélagsumbótum, sem hafa haldið nafni hans á lofti, þótt ekki yrðu pær allar að veruleika. Það er þó fyrst og fremst Ijóðlist Einars sem lifir og er hann talinn meðal helstu Ijóðskálda íslensku þjóðarinnar. Ljóð eru kraftmikil og astríðufull eins og maðurinn sjálfur, þau eru ort í nyrómantískum anda með sterku myndmáli og orðgnótt þar sem einstaklingurinn og sálarlíf hans eru í fyrirrúmi, en einnig stórbrotin náttúra landsins.

Valduga tijortoslog hofdjúpsins koldo, of hijóm pinum drekk ég mér kroft og frið.
Úr Ijóðinu „Brim"

Höggmynd Ásmundar Sveinssonar (1893-1982) sýnir skaldið standandi við hörpu, tákn skáidskaparins. Ásmundur vildi sýna að Einar væri stór í öllu, hann gæti ekki hugsað smátt. Otgáfufélagið Bragi kostaði gerð, myndarinnar og gaf Reykjavíkurborg. Myndin var upphaflega reist á Klambratúni árið 1964. Hún var flutt að Höfða sumarið 2015. Menntaog menningarmalaráðneytið, Eimskip, Hvalur

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hf., Landsvirkjun, Mjólkyrsamsalan, Síminn og hópur aðdáenda veittu stuðning við flutninginn.

Benediktsson hvílir í þjóðargrafreitnum á Þingvöllum.

The poet and entrepreneur Einar Benediktsson (1864-1940), lived in Höfði House from 1914 to 1917. Einar was a visionary and travelled the world. He travelled widely and advocated social reform with original ideas that have kept his name alive, even though not all of his ambitions were realized. His main legacy lies in his poetry, however: Einar is one of Iceland's most beloved poets. His poetry is powerful and passionate like the man himself. The style is neo-romantic, with strong imagery, focusing on the individual and his inner life, as well as the magnificent Icelandic nature.

Mighty heartbeat of the ocean's cold depths,
my strength and peace I drink from your sound.
From "Surf"

The sculpture by Asmundur Sveinsson (1893-1982) shows the poet in front of a harp, symbolizing his poetry. The sculptor wanted to show Einar in his grandeur, as a man incapable of small thinking. The memorial was originally displayed at Klambratun Park in 1964. It was moved to in 2015, with the

via Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature, Unknown

2. Einar Benediktsson

support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and the companies Eimskip, Hvalur hf., Landsvirkjun, Mjolkursamsalan , Siminn, as well as a group of admirers.

Einar Benediktsson is buried at Þingvellir National Park.
 
Erected by Reykjavíkurborg.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music.
 
Location. 64° 8.79′ N, 21° 54.382′ W. Marker is in Reykjavík, Capital Region (Höfuðborgarsvæðið), in Reykjavíkurborg. It is in Tún. It is on Fjörutún just north of Borgartún, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the grounds of the Höfði House, just a few steps east of the house itself. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Reykjavík, Capital Region 105, Iceland. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean, in the North Atlantic Region, on the Atlantic Arc, in Europe, in Atlantic Europe, in the Nordic Countries, in the Schengen Area, in the Western Hemisphere, and in the Western World.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Upphaf Frjálsra Fjarskipta Á Íslandi / The Beginning of Telecommunications in Iceland

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, June 8, 2017

3. Einar Benediktsson Statue and Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Louisa Matthíasdóttir (a few steps from this marker); Höfði House (within shouting distance of this marker); Franski Spítalinn / The French Hospital (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Bújarðir í Reykjavík / Farmsteads in Reykjavík (approx. 0.9 kilometers away); Hverfisgata 45 (approx. one kilometer away); Founding of the Reykjavik Water Utility / Uphaf vatnsveitu (approx. one kilometer away); Sjúkrahús Hvítabandsins / White Ribbon Hospital (approx. 1.1 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reykjavík.
 
Also see . . .  Einar Benediktsson. Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature website entry:
"Einar Benediktsson (1864-1940) is one of Iceland’s most revered poets. He was an influential figure in the independence movement of Iceland, a lawyer and a highly ambitious entrepreneur. His poetry has been classified as neo-romantic, collected in five books during his lifetime." (Submitted on July 12, 2017.) 

 

 
Credits. This page was last revised on September 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 479 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on July 11, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.   2. submitted on September 14, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.   3. submitted on July 11, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.