Statue of Ingólfur Arnarson

Ingólfur Arnarson is recognized as the first permanent Nordic settler of Iceland. In 874, Ingólfur built his homestead in Reykjavík. This marked the beginning of the age of settlement that lasted until 930. When Ingólfur's ship approached the unsettled land he ordered that his high seat pillars should to be thrown overboard and the spot where they landed would be the place to build the first permanent settlement of Iceland.