ANGOLA, IN - Trine University's Humanities Symposia continues Nov. 10 as Melissa Mayus, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Humanities and Communication, discusses "Sacred Space and Creating a Saint in Medieval Iceland."

Mayus will offer a presentation on Hrafns Saga Sveinbjarnarsonar, a medieval saga that tells of the life of a real 13th-century Icelandic chieftain and physician named Hrafn. Hrafn was a pious and generous man who nonetheless ended up dying in a violent blood feud.

The talk will examine the way Hrafn and his home are described in the saga in order to argue that the author was trying to make Hrafn into a saint and portrayed his death as martyrdom. Those who attend can expect to hear about medieval medical practices, blood feuds and sacred spaces, both Christian and pagan, in 13th-century Iceland.

Held in Wells Theater inside Taylor Hall, Trine's Humanities Symposia is free and open to the public. Talks, beginning at 3 p.m., usually last about 30 minutes and are immediately followed by time for any questions, which usually leads to a total time of one hour.

Wells Theater seats 75 guests, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early if they have specific seating preferences.

The Symposia will conclude with a presentation on Nov. 18 by Patrick Ridout, assistant director of information services.

For more information about the Symposia, contact Mayus at mayusm@trine.edu.