Greenland Quiz

[poorclare]

Which colourful European allegedly gave Greenland its name.

Thanking you.

[mac44]

I think it was Eric The Red.

[Pea Pod]

Erik the red

[ageing fast]

The name "Greenland" comes from Scandinavian settlers. In the Icelandic sagas, it is said that Erik the Red was exiled from Iceland for murder. He, along with his extended family and thralls, set out in ships to find the land that was rumoured to be to the northwest. After settling there, he named the land Gr�nland ("Greenland"), possibly in order to attract more people to settle there.[1] Greenland was also called Gruntland ("Ground-land") and Engronelant (or Engroneland) on early maps. Whether "Green" is an erroneous transcription of Grunt ("Ground"), which refers to shallow bays, or vice versa, is not known. It should also be noted, however, that the southern portion of Greenland (not covered by glacier) is indeed very green in the summer, and was likely even greener in Erik's time because of the Medieval Warm Period.[citation needed]

[poorclare]

Thank you all so much. and to ageing fast I enjoyed reading your piece and learning.

Clare