Olaus Magnus 1555

I decided to look a little further back in time.

In the short summaries of the history of the Icelandic sheepdog that can be found, Olaus Magnus is often mentioned. It is usually phrased like this: "In 1555, Olaus Magnus wrote that Icelandic dogs were popular with priests and noblewomen. He also describes the dog as light-colored or white with a thick coat."

I tried to find more, possibly the original text, because I prefer to examine the source itself to better understand the full picture, but I was unsuccessful. Perhaps it's not surprising, as this description comes from his work Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus (History of the Northern Peoples), which was written in Latin. The work was published in Rome in 1555 and is considered one of the most significant works about the culture and life of the Nordic peoples in the 16th century.

But who was Olaus Magnus?

Olaus Magnus (1490–1557) was a Swedish bishop, explorer, and author, best known for his work "Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus". He was born in Linköping, Sweden, and was educated in both Sweden and Germany. He traveled extensively across the Nordic countries, gathering information about the peoples and cultures of the north.

Olaus was a strong advocate of the Catholic Church and lived in exile in Rome after the Reformation in Sweden. He dedicated his life to writing and preserving the history and culture of the Nordic countries. Both his works and his drawings are still highly regarded today for their magnificent depictions of the culture and nature of the Nordic regions.

"Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus" focuses particularly on the Nordic countries, including Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. It also covers various aspects of daily life, such as hunting, fishing, farming, and even magic. Olaus Magnus emphasizes the harsh weather and difficult living conditions, but he also describes unusual customs, religions, and strange figures from folklore. The work is adorned with many illustrations.

Olaus Magnus also drew a remarkable map, Carta Marina. This is one of the oldest maps that accurately depicts the northern regions.

Carta Marina is not only a geographical map but also an important source of medieval ideas about the world, especially about the Nordic countries. For example, the map features illustrations of sea monsters in the northern seas, which at the time were believed to be real creatures by sailors and travelers. This map has been highly significant for historical understanding of the Nordic countries and was a major advancement compared to earlier cartography.

Carta Marina is both a work of art and a scholarly piece, providing insight into the world of the Nordic peoples in the 16th century.

Those interested are directed to the following websites to read more about Olaus and view the illustrations:

"Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus"

Olaus Magnus - History of the Nordic Peoples (from 1555) - Illustrations with Comments

Carta Marina