Goðafoss

Goðafoss (Falls of the Gods) is situated in the 175 km long glacial river Skjálfandafljót in N-Iceland. The name of the waterfall is not a reflection of its beauty, but has a historical explanation. According to the Saga of Christianity the chieftain Thorgeir threw wooden images of the pagan gods into the waterfall after Christianity had been accepted in Althing, the ancient parliament, in the year 1000. Thorgeir was a key player in the Christianisation of Iceland. Pagans and Christians had amassed forces at the Althing, and it was feared that the question of the dominating religion would be settled by the sword but not the law. Both sides agreed to leave the decision to Thorgeir, who was a pagan chieftain, but universally trusted and respected for his wisdom. He spent a night thinking under a cloak, but then decided that Icelanders should become Christians, although some pagan customs, including discreet worship of the old gods, would be allowed. It was no doubt a wise political decision, as most other north European countries had adopted Christianity, and the King of Norway had made it clear that he thought he had the mandate to use force against pagans in his perceived sphere of incluence. So Thorgeir may have prevented both a civil war and a threat of foreign intervention by his diplomatic decision.