Búkolla, the Magic Cow

About the tale

Jón Árnason collected Icelandic folk legends and tales and published them in two large volumes in 1862–1864. In the version a woman from Seltjarnarnes, near Reykjavík, told to the collectors, the giantess gets stuck in the mountain and turns to stone. In another version, printed in the full edition of the collection (1954–1961), the trolls turn to stone when daylight shines over the sea. Throwing things behind you to stop a chase is known in many lands, from Japan and India to Europe.

An Icelandic folk tale, retold from “Búkolla og strákurinn” (printed as “Búkolla” in Jón Árnason’s “Íslenzkar þjóðsögur og æfintýri”, 1862–1864) and “Búkollu saga” from the full edition (1954–1961).