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FornsigtunaFornsigtuna (forn means ancient), Old Sigtun, Sithun, Sign(h)ildsberg or Signesberg is located in the parish of Htuna ca 4 km west of the modern town of Sigtuna, by lake Mlaren, in Sweden. Even though, the location is all but forgotten, it has a central role in Norse mythology. Heimskringla In his Heimskringla, Snorri Sturluson relates that odin and the Aesir first arrived at Old Sigtuna when they came to Sweden: - Odin took up his residence at the Maelare lake, at the place now called 'Old Sigtun'. There he erected a large temple, where there were sacrifices according to the customs of the Asaland people. He appropriated to himself the whole of that district, and called it Sigtun (by some suggested to be the same as Tacitus's Sitones). To the temple priests he gave also domains. Njord dwelt in Noatun, Frey in Upsal, Heimdal in the Himinbergs, Thor in Thrudvang, Balder in Breidablik; to all of them he gave good estates.http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_01.php
Later the pirate Slve, arrived at Old Sigtuna to claim the Swedish throne: - Solve came unexpectedly in the night on Eystein (sten), surrounded the house in which the king was, and burned him and all his court. Then Solve went to 'Sigtun', and desired that the Swedes should receive him, and give him the title of king; but they collected an army, and tried to defend the country against him, on which there was a great battle, that lasted, according to report, eleven days. There King Solve was victorious, and was afterwards king of the Swedish dominions for a long time, until at last the Swedes betrayed him, and he was killed.http://www.northvegr.org/lore/heim/001_06.php
Hervarar saga In the part about Orvar-Odd in the Hervarar saga, where Orvar-Odd laments the death of his friend Hjalmar, it is probably Old Sigtuna that is mentioned: - I see where they sit
- at home in 'Sigtun',
- the girls who begged
- me not to go;
- no joy for Hjalmar
- in the hall after this,
- with ale and men,
- ever again.http://www.northvegr.org/lore/oldheathen/029.php
Gesta Danorum Saxo Grammaticus tells in Gesta Danorum that Sigmund, one of the warriors of the House of Yngling, came from what is chronologically Old Sigtuna to fight at the Battle of Brvalla: - They likewise held the god Frey to be the founder of their race. Amongst these from the town of 'Sigtun' also came Sigmund, a champion advocate, versed in making contracts of sale and purchase; besides him Frosti surnamed Bowl: allied with him was Alf the Lofty (Proud?) from the district of Upsala; this man was a swift spear-thrower, and used to go in the front of the battle.http://www.northvegr.org/lore/saxo/000_07.php
Archaeology There are two large ruins that formerly were two large three-aisled halls, a series of terrasses just above the shore-line of the Germanic Iron Age, traces of a harbour, a large mound and a number of smaller grave fields. Excavations have dated the remains to the Vendel Age, part of the Germanic Iron Age, and the Viking age, i.e. from the 6th century until the 11th century. Source: Nationalencyklopedin History It was an Iron Age and Medieval royal estate (see Uppsala d) and it was located strategically at the waterway to Old Uppsala and the Temple at Uppsala. In the 10th century, the name was transferred to modern Sigtuna, which apparently assumed many of its functions. - In 1299, Birger Magnusson, the son of Magnus Laduls, spent some time in Old Sigtuna as one of his letters was written in Sightonia Antiqua (in Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresten) or apud antiquam Sightoniam (Friesen: Om staden Sigtunas lder). The difference seems to be a matter of presenting the name in the nominal case or preserving the case in which the name appeared in the original text.
- In 1315, according to Svenskt Diplomatarium (SD) III nr 2032 (s.228), Erik Magnusson is bestowed a part of Old Sigtuna, which is called Siktonia vetus (vetus means "old"). Neighbouring properties are also named: Norgungi (Norrnge in Htuna) and Frtunum (Frtuna in Hbo-Tibble)(in Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresten) .
- In 1541, according to Kammar-ark.: jordebcker, Uppland 1541 nr 5, the location is named as one of Gustav I Vasa's estates and spelled Forsictuna, Foorsictuna and Fforssiiktwna (in Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresten).
- In 1542, according to Gustav Vasas jordebok are mentioned Foorsictuna and Norringe (Norrnge) (Friesen: Om staden Sigtunas lder).
- In 1551, according to Sven Nielssons jordebok fr Stkets ln, it is mentioned as the royal estate of Forsictuna (Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresten and Friesen: Om staden Sigtunas lder).
- In 1567, it is mentioned as Foder Sictuna in the province of Uplandia (Malmberg, Ernst: Svenska slott och herresten and Friesen: Om staden Sigtunas lder).
- In the 17th century, the name Frsigtuna is used on a map (Lantmt.verk. Gvle).
Since the 17th century, the location is a manor named Signhildsberg or Signesberg. Source: Nationalencyklopedin and A historical review of the name, from which the information about the name and dates is taken.
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