In a fjord near Reykjavík, often bypassed by travellers, stands a rock that seems plucked from the pages of Icelandic folklore. Known as Steðji, or, Staupasteinn, this nearly three-meter-tall formation rises from the hill like a chalice carved by ice-giants. Its goblet-like shape has inspired both its name and Icelandic folk lore.
According to local lore, Staupasteinn is often described as an elven palace or the home to an elf named Staupa-Steinn. Described as a Gandalf-like hermit, he is said to enjoy the laughter of families picnicking nearby. The main road from Reykjavík to the Northern part of Iceland used to go past the rock, making it a popular pit stop on road trips up North. When an underwater tunnel was proposed in the 90’s to bypass the fjord, a delegation from the Icelandic authorities was sent along with a seer to get the hermit’s blessing and protection for the construction.
Beyond its mythical associations, Steðji is a geological curiosity. Formed by a combination of reddish scoria at its base and columnar basalt atop, the rock is believed to have tumbled down from the mountain Hvammsfjall during the last Ice Age. Its unique formation led to its designation as a protected natural monument in 1974.
