Ketils saga hœngs

The hero of this saga is often confused with his grandson by the same name.

Ketils saga hœngs is a legendary saga from Iceland on the North Norwegian chieftain Kettil Trout from Ramsta (Hrafnista) in Hålogaland. It is one of the sagas called the Hrafnistumannasögur surrounding Ketil Trout and his relatives.

Kettil grows up to become a rascal and an Askeladden, but matures and becomes a formidable champion. He slays a dragon and goes through a number of fights, mostly to defend his daughter. In a fight with Dusti, the king of the Samis, he slays the king and takes his sword and three magic arrowheads of flintstone (Hremsa, Fifa and Flaug).

Together with the giantess Hrafnhild, Ketil has the son Grim Shaggy-Cheek, who was the father of Orvar-Odd.

Ketil is traditionally regarded as the father of Hrafnhilda, who married Thorkel of Namdalen and bore him a son, the Icelandic chieftain Ketil Thorkelsson. This grandson also went by the name "Ketil Trout".

Source

• Ohlmarks, Åke. (1982). Fornnordiskt lexikon. Tiden. ISBN 91-550-2511-0

Sources and external link

• The saga in English translation by Gavin Chappell at Northvegr
• The saga in Icelandic
• Is it any wonder? Perception of the supernatural in Icelandic legendary sagas and Ketils saga hængs