Fulbright Grantees in Reykjavik were invited to a walk through Holavallagarour, known as the Old Cemetery. The Cemetery Director is a knowledgable historian who during the tour gave us fascinating stories of the famous, the infamous and the average citizens and how they arrived in this place.
Many stones had exquisitely carved white scenes known as "Thorvaldsen's Reliefs". Each has an angel in flight with significant other images. This angel relief holds the child Dauoi (Death) as she flies and drops flowers on the earth.
My favorite story was a love triangle worthy of Lifetime TV Movies. Spoiler alert: the wife died, the other woman was infamous before and after death. The man was sent to trial, convicted and headed for death, but did he die then? Or later. And there was a misplaced burial and a later move. Its quite a twisty plot. There seems to be continued mystery surrounding this infamous trio.Thanks to Belinda Theriault, Executive Director, Fulbright Commission Iceland for arranging this unique glimpse into Reykjavik's past through its people.
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