Páll Jónsson

Páll Jónsson (* 1155, † November 29, 1211 ) was Bishop of Skálholt in southern Iceland.

He was an illegitimate child of the influential Goden Jón Loftsson and grew up with his foster son Snorri Sturluson in Oddi on. Later he continued his studies in England and was subsequently farmer on the farm in the district Skarð Landsveit in southern Iceland.

Work of the Bishop

In 1195 he was consecrated bishop of Skálholt. Who became known as esthete who embellish both the local church, as well as treasures for themselves and as gifts for friends in high places did make celebrity.

Among these works of art was also a wonderfully ornate stone sarcophagus, a then unheard-of treasure in Iceland.

As a very educated man, he commissioned the production of manuscripts.

Finally, he led the canonization of his predecessor in office Thorlákur Þórhallsson, Bishop of Skálholt, and Jón helgi, Bishop of Hólar in northern Iceland.

The sarcophagus

Lange had kept the story of the sarcophagus for a legend. But when you in the cemetery of Skálholt conducted excavations in August 1954, we actually found such. It was assumed that it was the Bishop Páll because they had never heard of any other person in Iceland, which would have be buried in a sarcophagus.

When it was opened on 30 August 1954, was found in him the skeleton of a man ( the Bishop? ) And the remains of a bishop's staff.

The sarcophagus can be seen in the crypt of the cathedral church of today Skálholt