Loftur Þorsteinsson

Loftur Þorsteinsson (1702 – ca 1722) was an 18th-century Icelander. He is known in Icelandic folklore as Galdra-Loftur, a master of sorcery (galdr). He was the subject of many folksagas about his alleged magical performances.

Loftur Þorsteinsson became a student of the Latin school at Holar in Hjaltadal during 1716. Apparently, he developed an interest in the practice of magic. According to the legend, Loftur Þorsteinsson tried to obtain Rauðskinna, the legendary book of spells (grimoire) which had been buried with the author Bishop Gottskálk grimmi Nikulásson of Holar. However, he failed in that effort. Some time after he was, according to legend, dragged down from his fishing boat under the water and disappeared. Whatever the truth, it is a fact that Loftur Þorsteinsson is never heard of after the year of 1722, and his year of death is unknown.

Other sources

• Páll Eggert Ólason (1948) Íslenskar æviskrár (Hið íslenska bókmenntafélag)