Background
He was descended from the family of Egill Skallagrímsson, the so-called Mýramenn.
He was descended from the family of Egill Skallagrímsson, the so-called Mýramenn.
He was the most prominent Norse poet of the 12th century. Einarr"s poetry is primarily preserved in Heimskringla, Flateyjarbók, Morkinskinna, Fagrskinna and Skáldskaparmál. After Eysteinn"s death in 1157, he composed the poem Elfarvísur for the nobleman Gregorius Dagsson (died 1161), referring to his victory over King Hákon Herdebrei at Göta älv in Götaland.
The best known of Einarr"s drápur is Geisli ("Ray of Light"), about Saint Olaf Haraldsson.
The poem is composed in the dróttkvætt metre and it is the earliest completely preserved drápa with Christian content.