Gottskálk Jensson

Gottskálk Jensson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nordic Studies and Linguistics at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Humanities. His academic career spans multiple institutions including the University of Iceland where he served as Professor of Literary Studies and held various administrative roles including institute director and department chair. With expertise in both Icelandic and Classical traditions, he bridges medieval Nordic and classical scholarship through his research on Latin texts in Icelandic contexts.

Dr. Jensson's research primarily focuses on the intersection of Icelandic and Latin language and literature from the medieval period through the 18th century. His work examines the transmission of classical literature in Nordic contexts, particularly how Latin texts were translated into Old Norse and Icelandic, and how Icelandic literature was presented in Latin literary histories. He has made significant contributions to understanding medieval Icelandic hagiography, manuscript culture, and textual criticism. His current research centers on three main areas: Icelandic hagiography and medieval historiography in Latin fragments and Old Icelandic translations of lost works; mapping Latin authors and works known in medieval Iceland through the digital database islandialatina.hum.ku.dk; and the historical dissemination of Icelandic medieval literature through Latin literary histories and historical overviews.

His scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with both classical and medieval Nordic studies, with recent publications focusing on Latin inscriptions from Þingeyrar Abbey, the Benedictine archive at Þingeyrar, and textual analysis of medieval Icelandic manuscripts. His work combines traditional philological methods with digital humanities approaches, reflecting his interest in both historical scholarship and contemporary research methodologies.

• 2013 Marie Curie Inter European Fellowship for 'Islandia Latina' project
• 2010-2013 NordForsk network scholarship for Translatio network on medieval text and cultural translation
• 2002-2005 Postdoc scholarship for research on reception of Latin texts in Icelandic literature
• 1997 University of Toronto nomination for CAGS/UMI Distinguished Dissertation Award

As an educator, Jensson has taught extensively on Icelandic language and literature from medieval to contemporary periods, manuscript studies, textual criticism, Latin language and literature, and literary history. He has supervised numerous students and contributed to academic administration through committee work and editorial roles, including serving as editor for digital facsimiles of manuscripts from the Arnamagnæan Collection and as editor for Guðmundar sögur in the Editiones Arnamagnæanæ series. His international collaborations and research stays, particularly at the Arnamagnæan Collection in Copenhagen, have positioned him as a key figure in Nordic medieval studies with a distinctive focus on Latin-Icelandic cultural exchange.