The City code of arms

The Reykjavik city code of arms or city seal is very simple in construction. It contains two parts. The ocean, and two high seat pillars. Ingólfur Arnarson the first settler of Iceland is supposed to have decided to toss his high seat pillars overboard when he approached Iceland and where he found them he would build his settlement. He found them in Reykjavik forming the first city in Iceland. It was apparently common practice for Vikings to travel with their high seat pillars and toss them overboard when approaching land. This was a good way to find where driftwood would end up but driftwood was considered a very important resource to have.





A quick history lesson:

Iceland was settled by Norwegian and Celtic immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D. According to the medieval Book of Settlements, Ingolfur Arnarson – the first settler of Iceland – built his farm on the peninsula where Reykjavik stands today. The place was named Reykjavik – “Smoky Bay” - after the columns of steam that rose from the hot springs in the area and made such a profound impression on the original settlers.

Many centuries later, around the middle of the 18th century, a small town started to grow around the farm of Reykjavik, thanks to Royal Treasurer Skuli Magnusson, known as the Father of Reykjavik, who established wool workshops at Reykjavik as part of his efforts to modernise the Icelandic economy. This led to the beginnings of urban development at Reykjavik. Reykjavik received its town charter in 1786.

The Icelandic parliament, Althingi, was founded in the 930 AD at Thingvellir in the southwest. In 1798 the Althingi was abolished, but in 1845 it was re-established in Reykjavik, where the country’s government and administration were now located. In due course, when Iceland won Home Rule and then independence from Danish rule, Reykjavik became the capital of Iceland. With the rapid economic progress of the 20th century, Reykjavik grew steadily, but developed especially fast in the second half of the century.

from Visit Reykjavik's website Check it out, it has some pretty good tourist info.

You may find the city coat of arms all over the place. For example as the sites new icon !!


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