Hallar-Steinn (Old Norse:[ˈhɑlːɑr-ˌstɛinː];Modern Icelandic:[ˈhatlar-ˌsteitn̥]) was anIcelandic poet active around the year 1200. He is best known for the poemRekstefja, preserved inBergsbók andÓláfs saga Tryggvasonar en mesta. A few other disjoint verses by him are also known, quoted inSkáldskaparmál,Laufás-Edda and theThird Grammatical Treatise.
Rekstefja (O.N.:[ˈrekˌstevjɑ]; M.I.:[ˈrɛkˌstɛvja]) traces the career of KingÓláfr Tryggvason from his upbringing in Russia to his fall atSvöldr. It consists of 35dróttkvætt verses. The poem's name derives from its refrain (Old Norsestef) which consists of three lines divided between three contiguous verses.[1] The poem proclaims itself to be the thirddrápa on Óláfr Tryggvason, referring to two earlier ones byHallfreðr vandræðaskáld and the unknown Bjarni. The poem is technically accomplished and makes use of complex combinations ofkennings. It is influenced by the works ofArnórr jarlaskáld andEinarr Skúlason and has many similarities withÓláfsdrápa Tryggvasonar, preserved in the same manuscript.[2]
No biographical information on Hallar-Steinn has come down to us. His name may be derived from the farm-name Höll in Þverárhlíð inBorgarfjörður.[3] He was identified by some early commentators with the 11th century court poetSteinn Herdísarson but this is rejected by modern scholars.