InÓláfs saga helgachapters 112–113, a part ofHeimskringla(c. 1230), the Icelandicwriter and chieftain Snorri Sturluson (1179–1241) narrates the story about theChristian king Óláfr Haraldsson (St Óláfr) (r. 1015–1028, 30) and the pagan chief-tain (hersir) Guðbrandr.1When Guðbrandr learned the news, that King Óláfr had come to Lóar in Guð-brandsdalar, in Norway, and was forcing people to accept Christianity, he sentout a war summons and called all the Dœlir to the farm called Hundþorp, to ameeting with him.2When they had all gathered there, Guðbrandr stood up andstated that a man called Óláfr had come to Lóar and he wanted to preach to thema faith different from what they have had previously. This man also suggestedthat they must break all their gods to bits (brjóta goð . . .?ll í sundr), since his godwas much greater and mightier than their deities. When the farmers heard thisthey suggested that Þórr should be taken out from the sanctuary (berum út Þór órhofi) in order to scare the king when he was approaching. The farmers then wentto Breiða and prepared for battle against the king. As the king arrived in Breiða,he saw a large army, ready for battle. The king’s men then ran forward shootingtheir spears, but the farmers immediately turned in flight, while Guðbrandr’s sonwas captured. After the failure of this pagan insurgency,3King Óláfr and thefarmers planned for a court meeting. Then the sun rose, and all the farmers looked towards the sun. At that momentKolbeinn struck their god so that it broke all to pieces, and out of it ran mice, asbig as if they were cats, and adders and snakes. The farmers got so frightenedthat they fled, some to ships, but when they pushed out their ships water ran inand filled them up, and they could not board them, while those that ran to horses,found none. After this the king had the farmers called, saying that he wished tohave a discussion with them, and the farmers turned back and the assembly wentinto session.