Icelandic landowners ("landnámsmenn") were organised into "goðorð" ("god-word(s)"), religio-political groups under the leadership of a "goði" ("god-man"). The "goðar" were part-time priests who officiated ritual sacrifices at the local temple and had some qualities of the Germanic kings; they organised local things and represented them at the Althing. Úlfljót was chosen as the first Lawspeaker ("Lögsögumaðr"), who presided the Althing which met annually at Thingvellir. The religio-political organisation of early Iceland has been defined as "pagan and anti-monarchic", which distinguished it from other Germanic societies. Concerning other religious practices, the Icelanders followed Scandinavian norms; they built temples enshrining images of the gods.