The Arctic Henge (Heimskautsgerði) is a newly built monument for the island´s Pagan worshippers, the Ásatrú. The monument is located close to one of Iceland´s most remote villages, Raufarhöfn, Nordur-Tingeyjarsysla, Iceland, in North-East Iceland.
Similar to its ancient predecessor, Stonehenge Stone Circle, the Arctic Henge is like a huge sundial, aiming to capture the sun´s rays, cast shadows in precise locations and capture the light between aligned gateways. The piece was inspired directly from the eddic poem Völuspá (Prophecy of the Seeress), taking from it the concept of 72 dwarves who represent the seasons in the world of the poem, among other symbolic queues.
In the Arctic Henge, 72 small blocks, each inscribed with a specific dwarven name will eventually circle four larger stone monuments, which in turn will surround a central balanced column of massive basalt blocks. Each aspect of the deliberate layout corresponds to some aspect of ancient Norse belief and when each piece of the monument is installed, visitors will be able to “capture the midnight sun” by viewing it through the various formations at different vantage points depending on the season.