OCCUPATIONS OF WOMEN.
Weaving and embroidery—The housewife’s keys—General occupation
of ordinary women—Queens brewing ale and bleaching
linen—Looms—Amazons.
High-born women occupied themselves with weaving and embroidery,
participated in the household duties, and took charge of the estate
while their husbands were absent.
The wife had a bunch of keys at her side, to show her authority over the
household; and in many graves of women keys either of iron or bronze
have been found.
[Illustration:
Fig. 1339.—Bundle of bronze keys in a large stone cist made of slabs;
found with two human skeletons upon a bed made of birch bark, &c. ¼
real size.—Norway.
]
The women had a special habitation called _Dyngja_ or _Skemma_, which
men were not allowed to enter, and where their female friends visited
them.
In earlier days it seems to have been the custom for fathers to have
champions outside keeping guard in order to prevent men from coming into
the women’s quarters; and these champions are described as having taken
animal shape.[256]
The Bayeux tapestry[257] corroborates in many points the truthfulness of
the Sagas; for example, when referring to the dragon-ship, ornamented
with shields, striped sails, small boats, &c., the ancient wood
carvings, some of which are shown in this work, the clothing and cloaks
which are only worn by the higher-born, and which are fastened with
fibulæ on the right shoulder, and the embroidery.
“Then his foster-daughter Brynhild returned to Heimir. She spent her
time in a bower with her maidens, and surpassed in handiwork all other
women. She made embroidery with gold, and sewed thereon the great deeds
of Sigurd, the slaying of the serpent, the taking of the treasure, and
Regin’s death” (Volsunga Saga, c. 24).
“Gudrun went on until she came to the hall of King Half, and stayed
there with Thora, Hakon’s daughter, in Denmark seven seasons (i.e.,
half-years), and was well entertained; she made embroidery, and worked
thereon many great deeds and fine games, which were customary at that
time, swords and coats of mail and all the outfit of a king, and King
Sigmund’s ships gliding along the shore. They also embroidered how Sigar
and Siggeir fought on Fyen. This was their enjoyment, and Gudrun now
somewhat forgot her grief” (Volsunga Saga, c. 32).
The general occupation of ordinary women was to milk cows, prepare food
and drink, serve the men, work in the field, and especially make the
hay, card wool, attend to the clothes,[258] wash the men’s heads, and
pull off their clothes when they went to bed; a custom still prevalent
in many parts of Scandinavia.[259]
Women of high rank even superintended the work of the farm, and had at
times no small amount of authority.
[Illustration:
Fig. 1340.—Needle of iron. Real size.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 1341.—Needle of bronze. Real size. Found with a pincette of
bronze, a fragment of a double-edged sword, an axe of iron, a bronze
chain, &c.—Norway.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 1342.—Silver needle. Real size. Found in an oblong mound with
glass and amber pearls and two clay urns, in one of which were burnt
bones.—Norway.
]
“Thorbjörn Skrjúp lived next to the farm of Thórd in Laxárdal. He was
wealthy, mostly in gold and silver; he was also large in stature and of
great strength.... Höskuld bought a ship from a Shetlandman and equipped
it, announcing that he intended to go abroad, but would leave Jórun at
home to take care of the farm and their children. He set sail....”
(Laxdæla, c. 11).
Grettir had been captured, and they were going to hang him.
“Then they saw six men ride farther down in the valley; one of them was
in coloured clothes. They guessed that Thorbjörg, housewife at
Vatnsfjord, was there, and so it was. She was going to the sæter
(mountain pasture). She was a highly accomplished woman, and very wise;
she ruled the district, and settled all matters, when Vermund, her
husband, who was a godi, was not at home” (Gretti’s Saga, c. 52).
One summer, Thorodd, bondi at the farm Froda, in Iceland, rose early one
morning—
“And distributed work; some took the horses, and the women had to dry
the hay, and the work was divided between them. Thorgunna had to dry as
much as the fodder of a bull, and they did much work that day”
(Eyrbyggja, ch. 51).
The mischief caused by gossiping women is occasionally referred to.
“The hall was 100 ells[260] long, and five fathoms broad; to the south
of it was the room (dyngja) of Aud and Asgerd, and they sat there
sewing. Thorkel went thither and lay down near it. Asgerd said: ‘Help
me, Aud, and cut a shirt for my bondi Thorkel.’ Aud answered: ‘I know no
better than thyself how to do that, and thou wouldst not ask me if thou
hadst to make one for my brother Vestein.’ Asgerd replied: ‘What
concerns Vestein is a thing by itself; and thus it will be for some
time; but I love him more than my husband Thorkel, though we may never
enjoy each other.’ Aud added: ‘I knew long ago what Thorkel thought
about it, and how it went; let us talk no more of it.’ Asgerd said: ‘I
think it no fault that I love Vestein, but I heard that thou and
Thorgrim often met before thou wast married.’ Aud replied: ‘No harm was
in that, and I preferred no man to Gisli so there was no dishonour in
it; let us leave off this talk.’ And so they did. Thorkel heard every
word, and exclaimed: ‘Hear great wonders! hear words of fate! hear great
talk, which will cause the death of one man or more!’ Thereupon he went
away. And said: ‘The talk of women often causes evil, and it may be that
by this evil will be occasioned; let us think over what we shall do.’
Asgerd said: ‘I have bethought myself of an expedient.’ ‘What is that?’
asked Aud. ‘I will put my arms around the neck of my husband, Thorkel,
when we get into bed this evening and be very affectionate; his mind
will change at this, so that he will forgive me. I will also tell him
that this is such a lie, that it is of no consequence though we have
babbled about it. But if he should want to make any fuss about it, give
me other advice. Or what expedient art thou going to take?...’ In the
evening Gisli came home from his work. It was the custom of Thorkel to
thank his brother Gisli for the work; this time he did not, and spoke
not a word to him. Gisli asked: ‘Art thou not well, brother, as thou art
so silent?’ Thorkel answered: ‘I am not sick, but this is worse than
sickness.’ Gisli asked: ‘Have I done anything which thou dislikest,
brother?’ ‘Nothing,’ said Thorkel. Gisli said: ‘It is well, for I would
least of all that we should disagree. But nevertheless I should like
much to know what is the cause of thy sadness.’ Thorkel answered: ‘Thou
wilt know it, although later.’ Gisli went away, and then went to bed.
Thorkel retired first. When Asgerd came to bed Thorkel said: ‘I do not
mean thee to sleep here this night.’ She said: ‘What is more befitting
than that I should sleep with my husband? or why has thy mind changed so
soon? But what is the cause?’ ‘Thou knowest the cause,’ said Thorkel,
‘and I know it also.’ ‘What is the need of talking in this way?’ added
she; ‘believe not the foolish talk of us women, for when we are alone we
always chatter about things in which there is little truth; and so it is
in this case.’ Asgerd then put both arms around his neck, and was very
affectionate, and begged him not to believe such things. Thorkel told
her to go away. Asgerd said: ‘... I give thee two choices: either to
take as unsaid what we have talked about, and not believe that which is
not true; or that I at once name my witnesses and declare separation
from thee. Then I will do what I like, and it may be that thou then wilt
have reason to speak of real enmity. I shall let my father claim my
_mund_ and dower.’ Thorkel was silent, but after a while said: ‘I think
it is best for thee to creep under there at the bedside to-night.’ She
got into bed, and they agreed as if nothing had occurred. Aud went to
the bed of her husband Gisli, and told him all the talk of herself and
Asgerd. She begged him not to be angry, and to give good advice if he
thought necessary. ‘I know that Thorkel wants my brother Vestein to be
killed, if possible.’ Gisli answered: ‘I cannot give any good advice,
but I will not blame thee for this, because some one must speak the
words of fate’” (Gisli Sursson’s Saga).
Even queens attended to the brewing of ale and bleaching of linen.[261]
“One day when Thordis went out to her linen,[262] the weather was fine,
the sun shone and the wind blew from the south” (Ljosvetninga, ch. 5).
“King Alrek, who lived in Alreksstadir, ruled over Hördaland; he was
married to Signy, a king’s daughter from Vörs. One of his hirdmen, Koll,
followed him north into Sogn, and told him much of the beauty of
Geirhild, Drif’s daughter; he had seen her at the brewing of ale, and
said he wanted him to marry her. Hött, who proved to be Odin, went to
visit her when she was at her linen, and bargained with her that Alrek
should marry her, but that she should invoke him for all things. The
king saw her on his way home, and made their wedding the same autumn. He
rewarded Koll well for his faithfulness, and gave him jarldom and
residence in Kollsey, south of Hardsæ which is a populous district. King
Alrek could not have them both as wives on account of their
disagreement, and said he would have the one who brewed the best ale for
him when he should come home from an expedition. They vied in the
ale-brewing. Signy invoked Freyja, and Geirhild, Hött, who gave his
spittle as ferment, and said he wanted for his help that which was
between the tub and herself;[263] the ale proved to be good; then Alrek
sang:
Geirhild, my maiden,
Good is this ale,
If no defect
Follows it;
I see hanging
From a high gallows
Thy son, woman,
Given to Odin.
In that year, Vikar, the son of King Alrek and Geirhild was born”
(Half’s Saga, c. i.).
That the people knew the art of weaving[264] we have ample proofs in the
sagas, and also in the finds. From the following description we know
what the looms were like.
[Illustration:
Fig. 1343.—Ancient loom from the Färoes in Bergen Museum.
]
“It happened one morning, Good Friday, in Kateness (Caithness,
Scotland), that a man called Dorrud went out of doors, and saw that
twelve men were riding together to a woman’s house and there
disappeared. He went there and looked through a ‘light hole’ and saw
other women who had set up a web on the loom. The weights (whorles) were
human heads, but the woof and the warp were intestines of men, a spear
was used as a spindle and an arrow as a shuttle” (Njal Saga).
Whorls are very common in the graves.
Many examples occur of women taking to the profession of arms, and often
fighting as bravely as the most valiant warriors;[265] and that this
custom was not altogether unknown in some parts of Europe at a later
period than that of the Viking age is shown by the appearance of Joan of
Arc.
[Illustration:
Fig. 1344.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 1345.
]
Whorle of spindle of burnt clay, ⅔ real size, found by the side of a
clay urn containing burnt bones in an oblong mound—Greby,
Bohuslan. From a neighbouring hill one can count about 160 tumuli,
sixty of which are oblong—varying from 25 to 36 feet in length,
and 15 to 20 feet in width—several have memorial stones upon them,
the highest being 14 feet.—Earlier iron age.
[Illustration:
Fig. 1346.—Specimen of a peculiar weaving shuttle formed in the shape
of a short double-edged blade—the back being formed for putting on a
handle. Specimens found in several women’s graves. About ¼ real
size.—Norway.
]
“Svafa, the daughter of Bjartmar jarl, gave birth to a girl; most people
thought she ought to be exposed, and said she would not have the
character of a woman if she became like the kinsmen of her father.[266]
The jarl had her besprinkled with water, and brought up and called her
Hervör, and said the kin of Arngrim’s son was not quite dead while she
was alive. When she grew up she was fair; she practised more shooting
and the handling of sword and shield than sewing and embroidering; she
was tall and strong, and as soon as she was able she oftener did evil
than good; when she was hindered from that she ran into the woods and
slew men in order to take their property. When the jarl knew this he
took her home, and there she stayed for a while” (Hervarar Saga, ch. 6;
also Herraud and Bosi’s Saga, c. 2, and Atlakvida.)
-----
Footnote 256:
Ragnar Lodbrok’s Saga.
Footnote 257:
This valuable piece of work contains 72 distinct scenes, 623 persons,
202 horses and mules, 55 dogs, 505 divers animals, 41 ships and boats,
49 trees—in all, 1,512 distinct objects. And well worth while, indeed,
is a journey to Bayeux for the special object of seeing it. The
historical part does not take up more than 11 inches; in the space
above and below there is a border, where lions, birds, dragons and
fantastic objects are represented. The most accurate work on it that
has been published is ‘La Tapisserie de Bayeux, reproduction d’après
nature en 79 planches photographiques, avec un texte historique,
descriptif et antique, par Jules Comte, conservateur du dépôt légal au
ministère de l’instruction publique et des beaux arts. Paris. J.
Rothschild, éditeur, 13, Rue des Saints-Pères. 1878.’
Footnote 258:
Eyrbyggja, 51.
Footnote 259:
Such expressions as “She was well versed in all kinds of
accomplishments that belonged to women” are often used. (Heidarviga
Saga, 21; Viglund, 17.)
Footnote 260:
1 ell = 2 feet.
Footnote 261:
Half’s Saga, i.
Footnote 262:
Implies that her linen lay bleaching.
Footnote 263:
She was with child.
Footnote 264:
Looms can be seen in the Museum of Christiania, and were still in use
a short time since in the neighbourhood of Bergen.
Footnote 265:
In the famous Bravalla and Dunheath battles, and in other cases,
Amazons are mentioned; they are called Shield-maidens (_Skjald-mær_,
pl. _Skjald-meyjar_).
Footnote 266:
Angantyr and his brothers were all very fierce tempered.