BURIALS.
The two modes of burial—Burning of the dead on the pyre—The law of
Odin—Ceremonies after death—Laws and superstitions connected with
the dead—The journey to _Hel_—The burial of Sigurd and
Brynhild—Burial on waggons—Burial of weapons with the dead—Burials
in ships—The Gökstad ship’s sepulchral chamber—The Moklebust
mound.
The Eddas and Sagas abound with descriptions of funeral rites and
burials, the accuracy of which is most fully vindicated by the finds.
Two modes of burial were prevalent among the people, one that of burning
the dead, the other of burying them unburned.[189]
It was the belief of the people that the dead burned on the pyre would
go to Valhalla with all the weapons and wealth burned with them, and
that these would afterwards resume their original shapes. Horses, dogs,
falcons, or other animals which the deceased had liked, were often
added, and sometimes some of his thralls were killed and burned on the
pyre with him.
“Odin enacted the same laws in his land as had formerly prevailed with
the Asar. Thus he ordered that all dead men should be burned, and on
their pyre should be placed their property. He said thus: that with the
same amount of wealth should they come to Valhalla as they had on the
pyre; that they should also enjoy what they had themselves buried in the
ground. But the ashes should be thrown into the sea or buried in the
earth; that over great men mounds should be raised, as memorials; and
over men who had some manfulness _bautasteinar_ should be erected, and
this custom was observed for a long time” (Ynglinga Saga, c. 8).
“It was the custom of powerful men, whether kings or jarls, at that time
to learn warfare and win wealth and fame; that property should not be
counted with the inheritance, nor should sons get it after fathers, but
it should be placed in the mound with themselves” (Vatnsdæla, 21).
“The first age is called the age of burning; then all dead men were
burned and bautastones raised after them. But after Frey had been
mound-laid at Uppsalir many chiefs raised mounds as well as bautastones
to the memory of their kinsmen. Afterwards King Dan the Proud had his
own mound made, and bade that he and also his horse with the saddle on
and much property should be carried to it when dead in king’s state and
in war-dress. Many of his kinsmen did the same afterwards, and the
mound-age began in Denmark. But the burning age lasted a long time after
that with the Northmen and the Swedes” (Prologue of Heimskringla).
“The first age was the one when all dead men were to be burnt. Then the
mound-age began when all powerful men were laid in mounds and all common
people buried in the ground” (St. Olaf’s Saga. Prologue).
[Illustration:
Fig. 746.—Largest pavement of pyre, 33 feet in diameter.—Broholm,
Fyen, Denmark.
]
As we read the Sagas we get a vivid and impressive idea of the grand and
solemn pageant that must have taken place when the body of a great
warrior was put on the funeral pile, and his companions in arms,
relatives or former foes bid him happy speed to Valhalla, as the flames
ascended high up towards the sky, or the ship sailed from the land in a
lurid blaze, while the purifying fire was consuming the corpse. Then
followed the ceremony of carefully gathering the charred bones, which
were sacredly preserved in an urn or valuable vessel.[190]
The first duty to the dead was to close the eyes and mouth and pinch
together the nostrils, which ceremony was called _nabjargir_.
Ninthly I advise thee
To take care of corpses[191]
Wherever on earth thou findest them;
Whether they die from disease,
Or are drowned,
Or killed in battle,
Let a bath be made[192]
For those who are dead;
Wash their hands and head,
Comb and dry them
Ere they are laid in the coffin,
And bid them sleep happily.
(Sigrdrifumál.)
It appears to have been a case of outlawry not to cover a body with
mould, and if a slayer maimed the body of his enemy when dead he was
fined. The body seems to have been left on a cover until they could lay
it in the mound.
“No man shall have a dead man longer than five days in his house except
in a necessity, such as if there is impassable ice or a snowstorm. Then
it shall be taken to an outhouse and covered with timbers or straw, and
removed as soon as the weather is good” (Eidsivathing law II. 41).
If the deceased had during life been a wild and unruly man, fierce in
temper, who it was feared might after death, as a ghost, cause trouble
in the house where he had lived, some very peculiar ceremonies were
observed. The person who was to perform the _nabjargir_ did not approach
the body from the front, but from behind, and closed the eyes, and not
till then did any one else venture to approach to prepare it for
funeral. Such a corpse was not carried out of the house through one of
the usual entrances, but a hole was broken in the wall behind it,
through which it was carried backward.
“Snorri godi (temple priest), the great chief, had received a forest
from Thorólf Bœgifot (lame-foot), who wanted to get it back.
“Thorólf Bœgifot (after visiting his son to get his help in this matter)
came home in the evening, and spoke to no one. He sat down in his
high-seat, but did not eat that evening. He sat there when the people
went to sleep, and in the morning when they rose Thorólf still sat
there, and was dead. The housewife sent a man to his son Arnkel to tell
him the death of Thorólf. Arnkel rode to Hvamm with some of his
servants, and saw that his father sat dead in the high-seat. All the
people were full of fear, for all thought there was something frightful
in his death. Arnkel went into the hall and in along the seats to the
back of Thorólf; he bid every man to beware of walking in front of him
while the _nabjargir_ had not been performed. Arnkel then took hold of
the shoulders of Thorólf, and he had to use his strength ere he could
lay him down. Then he wrapped a cloth around his head, and prepared his
corpse for burial according to custom. Thereupon he had the wall broken
behind him, and got him out there. Then oxen were yoked to a sledge, on
which Thorólf was placed, and driven up to the valley of Thorsa; but he
was not easily brought to the place where he should be. There they
buried him carefully. After the death of Thorólf many thought it bad to
be out of doors after the sun had set; and as the summer was about to
close, they became aware that Thorólf did not rest quiet, for then men
could never be at peace outside after sunset. In the spring, Arnkel took
Thorólf’s body out on a ness, and there buried it anew. He had a fence
made across the cape above the grave, so high that nothing but a flying
bird could get over it. There Thorólf lay as long as Arnkel lived, but
when he afterwards again became troublesome his body was burned, and the
ashes thrown into the sea” (Eyrbyggja, c. 33).[193]
The ceremony was sometimes considered as an incitement for the performer
to avenge the dead.
Höskuld, an illegitimate son of Njal and Hródný, was attacked by six men
on his way home and slain. Hródný’s shepherd found the corpse and told
her. They went during the night to Njal’s farm, Bergthórshvál.
“Then they both walked to the house and knocked at the door. A húskarl
opened the door. She ... went to Njal’s bed. She asked if Njal was
awake. He answered: ‘I have slept till now, but now I am awake, and why
art thou here so early?’ She said: ‘Rise from the bed of my rival and
walk out with me, with her, and with thy sons.’ They rose and went out.
Skarphédin (Njal’s son) said: ‘Let us take our weapons with us.’ Njal
said nothing; they ran in and came out armed with their weapons. Hródný
walked in front till they came to the sheephouse. She went in and told
them to follow her. She took a creeping light (lantern) and said: ‘Here,
Njal, is thy son Höskuld. He has got many wounds and now needs to be
healed.’ Njal said: ‘I see marks of death on him but no marks of life.
Why hast thou not given him nabjargir as his nostrils are open?’ She
answered: ‘I intended that for Skarphédin.’ Skarphédin walked to the
corpse and performed the nabjargir. Then he said to his father: ‘Who,
sayest thou, has slain him?’ Njal answered: ‘Lýting of Sámsstadir with
his brothers has probably slain him.’ Hródný said: ‘I intrust it to thy
hands, Skarphédin, to avenge thy brother. I expect thou wilt do thyself
honour though he is not legitimate, and that thou wilt take the revenge
into thy hands’” (Njala, c. 98).
Before putting a body in the mound _hel_ shoes were put on for the
journey to Hell.
“Thereafter Gisli and all his household made ready for the mounding of
Vestein, his brother-in-law. He intended to mound him in the sand plain
... below Sæból. When they were on their way with the corpse Thorgrím
with many men joined him. When they had made the mound Thorgrím godi
walked to Gisli and said: It is now the custom, brother-in-law, to tie
Hel-shoes on the feet of men before they are mound-laid. For it was said
that they (the shoes) should go to Hel when the man was dead, and
therefore a man who dresses much when he goes out, or is long in
dressing, is said to prepare for Hel. Thorgrím said: I will do this with
Vestein and tie the Hel-shoes on his feet. When he had done it, he said:
I know not how to tie Hel-shoes if these are unfastened” (Gis Súrsson’s
Saga).
In the weird description of the burial of Sigurd and Brynhild[194] we
see that the mound was reddened with blood, and that human beings were
burned with them on the pyre.
I will ask of thee
Only one boon;
It will in the world
My last one be;
Let so wide a burgh
Be raised on the plain
That under us all
It be equally roomy,
Beneath us all who shall die
With Sigurd.
Surround that burgh
With tents and shields,
With welsh linen, finely painted,
And Welsh people (thralls);
Burn the Hunnish one[195]
At my one side.
Burn at the other side
Of the Hunnish one
My servants,
With good necklaces,
Two at his head
And two hawks;
Then all is
Equally shared.
Let there yet lie between us
A ring-wound weapon,[196]
A sharp-edged iron
As it before was laid,
When we both
Stepped into one bed
And were called
Husband and wife.
The shining hall-door,
The ring-ornamented[197]
Will not then
Strike him on the heel[198]
If my retinue
Follows him hence;
Then our journey
Will not be poor.
For there follow him
Five bond-maids,
Eight servants,
Of good kin,
My bond-nurse,
And the inheritance[199]
Which Budli gave
To his child.
Much have I told,
More would I tell,
If fate
Gave more time for speaking;
My voice decreases,
My wounds swell,
I told only truth,[200]
Now I will cease.
(Third Song of Sigurd.)
Another custom no less imposing was to bury the chiefs with their
carriages and horses, so that they might make their entries driving into
Valhalla, or riding on horseback; and it was considered honourable to go
to Odin with many slain.
“The second day after the battle (of Bravoll), in the morning, King
Hring caused a search to be made among the slain for the body of King
Harald, his kinsman, and a great part of the slain host lay on the top
of it. It was mid-day before the search was completed and it was found.
King Hring took the body of his kinsman, and washed the blood from it,
prepared it magnificently, according to old custom, and laid it in the
waggon which King Harald had in the battle. He then raised a large
mound, and caused the body to be carried in the same waggon with the
horse which King Harald had in the battle, and thus he had him driven to
the mound. There the horse was killed. Then King Hring took the saddle
he himself had ridden on and gave it to King Harald his kinsman, and
bade him do as he liked, either ride to Valhalla or drive. He held a
great feast to celebrate the going away of his kinsman. Before the mound
was closed, King Hring bade all his high-born men and champions who were
present to throw into the mound large rings (gold and silver) and good
weapons, to honour King Harald Hilditönn, and the mound was carefully
closed” (Sögubrot of Fornkonungum).[201]
If circumstances allowed, the deceased seems to have been placed on a
bed prepared for the purpose, until the burial could take place.
“Glúm also went home with his men, and had the dead carried into an
outhouse, where Thorvald’s body was prepared more honourably than the
others, for clothes were laid under him, and he was sewed up in a skin”
(Viga Glúm’s Saga, c. 23).
In a large burial chamber at Lower Aure, Norway, were found the remains
of a chair, thus confirming the accounts of the Sagas about men being
placed on their chair in the grave. Some of these chambers were
occasionally built of wood.
“Aran, a foster-brother of Asmund, died suddenly. Asmund had a mound
raised over him, and placed at his side his horse with saddle and
bridle, his standards, and all war-dress, his hawk and dog. Aran sat on
a chair in all his armour. Asmund let his chair be put into the mound
and sat down upon it, and then the mound was closed. The first night
Aran rose from the chair, killed the hawk and the dog, and ate them
both. The second night he rose, killed the horse and cut it to pieces,
tearing it much with his teeth; he ate the horse, the blood streaming
down from his mouth; he invited Asmund to eat with him. The third night
Asmund began to feel sleepy; and suddenly Aran seized his ears and tore
them off. Then Asmund drew his sword, and cut Aran’s head off; and
afterwards burned him to ashes. He thereupon went to the rope and was
drawn up, and the mound was closed; Asmund took with him the property
which had been placed in the mound” (Egil and Asmund’s Saga, c. 7).
“Angantyr had a large mound raised below the Havada-mountains, at the
place where the king had been slain. It was built with timber, and was
very strong” (Hervarar Saga, c. 16).
Sometimes the body of a man was divided into several portions, and each
of these buried in different parts of the country.
“While he (Hálfdán) was king there were very good years. The people made
so much of him that when they heard he was dead, and that his body had
been taken to Hringariki to be buried there, powerful men from
Raumariki, Vestfold and Heidmörk came, and all asked for leave to take
his body and mound it in their _fylki_;[202] they thought that those who
got it were likely to have good seasons. They agreed to divide the body
in four pieces, and the head was mounded at Stein in Hringariki; the
others took their pieces home and mounded them, and they are all of them
called the mounds of Hálfdán (in Snorri’s time)” (Hálfdán the Black’s
Saga, ch. 9) (Heimskringla).
Friends often wished to be buried near each other, for they believed
that their spirits could talk to each other or look over their household
before important events occurred.
“Then Thorstein fell sick. He said to Fridthjof: ‘My son, I beg of thee
that thou wilt yield to the king’s sons with regard to thy temper, for
that befits thee on account of their dignity, and I have good hope of
thee. I want to be laid in a mound opposite to King Beli, on this side
of the fjord, near the sea, for then it will be easy for us to call to
each other before great events.’ The foster-brothers of Fridthjof were
Björn and Asmund; they were tall and strong men. A short time after
Thorstein died; he was mounded as he had prescribed, and Fridthjof got
his land and personal property” (Fridthjof’s Saga, c. 1).
Several persons were often buried in the same mound; and after a battle
many of the slain were buried together.
“After this Hjálmar died. Odd then placed the Berserks in a heap, and
piled upon them boughs. This was near the sea. He put with them their
weapons and clothing, divesting them of nothing. He covered this with
turf and cast sand over it. He then took Hjálmar on his back, carried
him to the sea, and laid him down on the shore. He went out on the
ships, took ashore every one who had fallen, and there threw up another
mound over his men. It is said by those who have gone thither, that to
this day are seen those mounds which Odd there made” (Orvar Odd’s Saga,
c. 14).[203]
“On the following morning Hrolf had the field cleared, and divided the
booty among his men. There were raised three very large mounds. In one
Hrolf placed his father Sturlaug and Krák, Hrafn’s brother and all the
best champions of their host who had fallen. In that mound were put gold
and silver and good weapons, and all was well performed. In the second
was placed King Eirik, Brynjólf and Thórd and their picked men. In the
third was Grim Ægir, near the shore, where it was thought least likely
that ships would approach. The warriors were buried where they had
fallen” (Göngu Hrolf’s Saga, ch. 34).
From many descriptions we see with what awe the ancient Vikings regarded
the mounds under which renowned chiefs were buried. Over the mounds of
great warriors flames were seen at night, and the ghost of the departed
was believed to remain there.
When the burning did not take place, the warrior was buried with his
weapons and entire equipment. Sometimes he slept with his sword under
his head. Angantyr’s shoulders rested upon the famous sword _Tyrfing_,
and Angrim’s sons were buried there in that manner. Many of the weapons
placed with them were very famous and supposed to possess special or
supernatural qualities, and mounds were sometimes broken for the sake of
getting.
“A little after she (the Amazon Hervör) left by herself in a man’s dress
and weapons and went to Vikings, and was with them for awhile, and was
called Hervard. A little after the chief of the Vikings died, and
Hervard got the command of them. Once they came to Sámsey. Hervard went
up on land, and none of his men wanted to follow him, for, they said, it
would not do for any man to stay out there at night. Hervard said that
much property was likely to be in the mounds, and went up on the island
near sunset. They lay in Munarvag. She met a herd-boy there, and asked
him about news. He said, ‘Dost thou not know the island? Come home with
me, for it will not do for any man to stay out here after sunset; I am
going home at once.’ Hervard replied: ‘Tell me; where are the mounds of
Hjörvard?’ The boy said: ‘Thou art unwise, as thou wantest to search for
that at night which few dare search for at mid-day; burning fire plays
on the mounds after sunset.’ Hervard replied he would certainly go to
the mounds. The shepherd said: ‘I see that thou art a bold man, though
thou art unwise. I will give thee my necklace if thou wilt come home
with me.’ Hervard answered: ‘Though thou wouldst give me all thou ownest
thou couldst not hinder me from going.’ When the sun set they heard
hollow noises in the island, and the mound fires appeared. The shepherd
got frightened and took to his feet, and ran into the forest as quickly
as he could, and never looked back.”
As she comes by the mound she sings:—
Awake, Angantyr!
Hervör thee rouses,
The only daughter
Of thee and Svafa;
Yield to me from the mound
The sharp sword
Which the Dvergar
For Svafrlami forged.
Hjörvard! Hervard!
Hrani! Angantyr!
I awaken you all
Beneath the tree-roots,
Who are clad in
Helmet and coat of mail
With shield and sharp sword,
And reddened spear.
Sons of Arngrim!
Much harm doing,
Much have you
The mould increased,
As no one
Of the sons of Eyfura
Will speak to me
At Munarvag.
Hjörvard! Hervard!
Hrani! Angantyr!
So be the mind
Of you all
As if you were rotting
In an ant-hill
Unless ye yield
The sword forged by Dvalin;
It is not fit for ghosts
Costly weapons to hide.
_Angantyr._
Hervör, my daughter!
Why callest thou thus
Full of baneful words;
Thou art going to fare badly;
Mad hast thou become
And out of thy senses,
Mind-bewildered,
As thou awakenest the dead.
Neither father buried me
Nor other kinsmen;
The two who lived
Kept _Tyrfing_;
Although at last
One became its owner.
_Hervör._
Thou dost not tell me truth;
The As shall leave thee
Unharmed in the grave-mound
If thou hast not Tyrfing;
Thou art unwilling
To give the heritage
To thy only child.
Then the mound opened and looked as if it were all on fire and flame.
Angantyr sang:
Ajar is the gate of Hel;
The mounds are opening,
All the island-coast
Looks as if on fire;
Outside all
Is awful to behold;
Hasten thee, maiden, if thou canst,
To thy ships.
_Hervör._
Ye can not light
Such a flame at night
That I would
Fear your fires;
The _mind-town_ of thought[204]
Of the maid does not quail
Though she sees a ghost
Standing in the door.
_Angantyr._
I will tell thee, Hervör,
Listen the while,
Wise daughter,
What will happen;
This _Tyrfing_ will,
If thou canst believe it,
All thy kin,
Maiden, destroy.
Thou shalt beget a son
Who afterwards will
_Tyrfing_ carry
And trust to his own strength;
This one will the people
Heidrek call,
He will be the mightiest born
Under the tent of the sun.
_Hervör._
I thus spellbind
The dead champions
That you shall
All lie
Dead with the ghosts,
Rotting in the mound,
Unless thou yieldest me, Angantyr,
The slayer of Hjalmar,[205]
The one to armours dangerous,
Out of the mound....
_Angantyr._
Young maiden, I say,
Thou art not like man
As thou art strolling about
Among mounds in the night
With inlaid spear
And the Goth’s metal,
With helmet and mail-coat
Before the hall-door.
_Hervör._
I thought hitherto I was
A human being
Ere I called
At your halls;
Hand me from the mound
The hater of mail-coats,[206]
It will not do for thee
To hide the Dvergar’s smithying.
_Angantyr._
The slayer of Hjalmar
Lies under my shoulders;
All around it is
Wrapped in fire;
No maiden I know
Above the mould
That dares this sword
Take in her hand.
_Hervör._
I will hold
And take in my hands
The sharp _mœkir_
If I may have it;
I do not fear
The burning fire;
At once the flame lessens
When I look at it.
_Angantyr._
Foolish art thou, Hervör,
Though courage owning,
As thou with open eyes
Into the fire rushest;
I will rather yield thee
The sword from the mound,
Young maiden!
I cannot refuse it to thee.
Then the sword was flung out into the hands of Hervör.
_Hervör._
Thou didst well,
Kinsman of vikings,
When thou gavest me
The sword from the mound;
I think, king!
I have a better gift
Than if I got
The whole of Norway.
_Angantyr._
Thou knowest not,
Thou art wretched in speech,
Imprudent woman,
At what thou art glad.
This _Tyrfing_ will,
If thou canst believe it,[207]
All thy kin,
Maiden, destroy.
_Hervör._
I will go down
To the steeds of the sea;[208]
Now is the king’s daughter
In a good mind;
I fear little,
Kinsman of chiefs,
How my sons
May hereafter quarrel.
_Angantyr._
Thou shalt own it
And enjoy it long,
But hidden keep
The slayer of Hjalmar;
Touch thou not its edges,
Poison is in both,
This doomer of men
Is worse than disease.
Farewell, daughter,
I would quickly give thee
The vigour of twelve men
If thou would’st believe it;[209]
The strength and endurance,
All the good
That the sons of Arngrim
Left after themselves.
“Then she went down to the sea, and when it dawned she saw that the
ships had left. The vikings had been afraid of the thunderings and the
fires in the island”[210] (Hervarar Saga, c. 10).
_Burial in ships._—The mode of burial in ships would appear to have
belonged exclusively to the North, where it seems to have been in much
favour, and shows in a remarkable manner the seafaring character of the
people.
Until recently few descriptions have been more ridiculed by persons who
did not believe in the Saga literature, than those which gave accounts
of burials of chiefs, warriors, and others in ships. Here again
archæology has come to our aid to prove the truthfulness of the Sagas,
and in such a perfect manner as to settle the question beyond
controversy; for we find ships in which the body of the dead warrior was
not burned, and other ships which have been used as a pyre. The earliest
account of such burial is in Voluspa, amplified in the later Edda, which
gives us a vivid description of the funeral of Baldr, the son of Odin.
“The Asar took the body of Baldr and carried it down to the sea.
Hringhorni was the name of Baldr’s ship; it was larger than any other
ship. The gods wanted to launch it for the _burning-voyage_ of Baldr,
but it did not move. Then the _gyg_ (Jötun-woman)[211] in Jötunheim,
named Hyrrokkin, was sent for. She came riding on a wolf, with snakes
for reins. She leapt from the steed, and Odin called to four Berserks to
take care of it, but they could not hold it except by throwing it down.
She went to the stem of the ship and pushed it forward at the first
attempt, so that fire issued from the rollers and the ground trembled.
Then Thor grew angry, seized his hammer, and would have broken her head
if the gods had not asked him to spare her. The body of Baldr was
carried out on the ship, and his wife Nanna, Nep’s daughter, on seeing
this died from grief. She was laid on the pyre and it was set on fire.
Thor went to it and consecrated it with _Mjölnir_. At his feet there ran
a Dverg named Lit. Thor pushed him with his foot into the fire, and he
was burned. To this burning came many kinds of people. First went Odin
and his ravens and Frigg, as well as the Valkyrias. Frey drove in a
carriage drawn by the boar called _Gullinbursti_ (gold bristle) or
_Slidrugtanni_ (the awful-tusked). Heimdal rode the horse _Gulltopp_
(gold tuft), and Freyja with her cats. There came also many Hrim Thursar
and Bergrisar. Odin laid on the pyre the gold ring _Draupnir_;
afterwards every ninth night there dropped from it eight equally heavy
gold rings. The horse of Baldr was led on the pyre in full harness”
(Gylfaginning, ch. 49).
“They carried him in the snowstorm to Naustanes, where a tent was put
over him at night. In the morning, at high water, Skallagrim was laid in
a ship, and they rowed to Digranes. Egil had a mound made near the end
of the ness (cape), and in this he was laid, with his horse, his
weapons, and smithying tools. It is not mentioned that loose property
was put in the mound with him. Egil took the inheritance, lands, and
loose property; he took care of the farm” (Egil’s Saga, c. 61).
Gudrun after having slain her husband Atli said:
I will buy a ship (knörr),[212]
And a painted coffin,
Wax well the sheets[213]
To wrap thy corpse with;
Think of every need,
As if we were friends.
“Geirmund died at Geirmundsstadir, and was laid in a ship in the woods
near the farm (gard).”
Of this Geirmund much is told of in Sturlunga as a great chief.
“Thórir, An’s brother, fell in a battle against king Lugjaldi of
Naumdœlafylki.
“An had a mound made and put a ship in it and placed Thórir in its
lypting, but the king’s men he placed along both sides of the ship that
it might look as if all served him” (An Bogsveigi’s Saga, ch. 6).
“The brothers Eirik and Jorund became very famous by this deed (slaying
King Gudlaug of Hálogaland), and they thought themselves far greater men
than before. When they heard that King Haki had allowed his champions to
go away, they sailed to Sweden and collected a host, and when it was
known that the two Ynglings had returned the Swedes flocked to them in
great numbers. They sailed up into the Log (Lake Mälar) and went to
Uppsalir against King Haki, who met them on Fyrisvellir. A great battle
ensued; King Haki rushed forward with such valour that he slew all that
were near him, he finally killed Eirik and cut down the standard bearers
of the brothers, whereupon Jorund fled to his ship with his men. Haki
received such severe wounds that he saw his days would not be long. He
then had a _skeid_ which he owned loaded with dead men and weapons, he
had it launched on the sea, and the rudder adjusted and the sea sail
hoisted. He had tarred wood kindled and a pyre made on the ship, the
wind blew towards the sea. Haki was almost dead when he was laid on the
pyre. Then the burning ship sailed out to sea. This was very famous for
a long time after” (Ynglinga Saga, c. 27).
“King Hakon then took the ships belonging to Eirik’s sons, which lay on
the dry beach, and had them dragged ashore. He placed Egil Ullserk,
together with all who had fallen on his side, in a ship, which was
covered with earth and stones. He also had dragged ashore several more
ships, and into these were laid the dead. The mounds are still to be
seen south of Frædarberg. High bautastones stand at the mound of Egil
Ullserk” (Hakon the Good’s Saga, ch. 27).
Women were sometimes buried in ships.
“After this Unn, who was now quite old, as was her custom, went into her
sleeping-house to rest, but bade her guests enjoy themselves, and
ordered that they be entertained as splendidly as possible. When she
retired the feast continued until it was time to go to bed. The next
day, as Unn remained longer than usual in her sleeping-room, Olaf went
in and found her dead. He returned to the guests and announced this to
them, who all said that Unn had well kept up her dignity to the last.
“At the same time Olaf’s wedding and Unn’s _arvel_ were held. On the
last day of the feast her body was carried to the mound which had been
prepared for it. She was placed in a ship therein, and with her a great
deal of property, and then the mound was closed.” Olaf then took
possession of his grandmother’s property, and, after the feast was over,
gave fine presents to the foremost of those present, and all departed
(Laxdæla, ch. 8).[214]
Men were sometimes buried in a ship’s boat.
“Ingimund was laid in the boat of the ship Stigandi, and his body
prepared honourably as was the custom with high-born men. Thorstein said
to his brothers: ‘It seems to me right that we shall not sit in our
father’s seat at home, or at feasts, while his slaying is unavenged.’
This they did, and neither went to games nor other gatherings”
(Vatnsdæla Saga, 22).
One of the most valuable discoveries, showing the burial of a warrior in
a ship without his body being burned, is that of the Gökstad ship.
Very few things in the North have impressed me more than the sight of
this weird[215] mausoleum, the last resting-place of a warrior, and as I
gazed on its dark timber I could almost imagine that I could still see
the gory traces of the struggle and the closing scene of burial when he
was put in the mortuary chamber that had been made for him on board the
craft he commanded.
[Illustration:
Fig. 747.—Sepulchral chamber, Gökstad ship.
The greatest length of the mound was from N.E. to S.W. About 150 feet
in diameter, height above the soil 15 feet; above the sea 18 feet.
The roof of the structure had been broken through by the weight of
the earth of the mound above it. The large cut in the side was
probably made by thieves wishing to get possession of the weapons,
&c.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 748.—Bedstead, upon which the dead warrior had been placed, found
in the sepulchral chamber, Gökstad ship.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 749.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 750.
Axe, ¼ real size, found in mound.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 751.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 752.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 753.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 754.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 755.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 756.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 757.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 758.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 759.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 760.
Some objects of bronze or iron.—Gökstad ship.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 761.—Part of a sledge.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 762.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 763.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 764.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 765.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 766.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 767.
Some objects of bronze or iron. Gökstad ship. See Vol. ii.,
Frontispiece and pages 162 to 168.
]
The warrior had been buried according to his position in life; remains
at least of twelve skeletons of horses were found in different parts of
the mound on each side of the ship; there were also remains of skeletons
of several dogs. The bones and feathers of a peacock were inside the
ship, the prow of which, like that of the Tune boat, looked towards the
sea as if ready for a voyage.
One of the finest discoveries, illustrating the use of a ship as a pyre
for the burial of the dead warrior, was in a mound 12 feet high and 92
feet in diameter, opened in 1874 in Moklebust Eids parish, Bergen Stift,
Norway.
Among the objects were a vast number of rivets or clinch-nails, and a
great number of shield-bosses belonging to shields which adorned the
sides of the ship; perhaps several warriors had been burned together. On
the bottom of the mound, on the level of the ground, was a layer of
charcoal and burned soil intermingled with small pieces of bone, which
extended nearly to the sides, but was heaviest in the middle. Separated
from this by a layer of light shore-sand was another similar layer.
Inside an oval about 28 feet in length and 14 feet in width these two
layers were interspersed with burned bone-splints, clinch-nails, and
spikes.[216] In the eastern half of the charcoal layer were found six
shield-buckles; and in the western half, shield-buckles scattered about
in various ways, sometimes singly, sometimes close to one another. In
nearly every one of them lay a clinch-nail, evidently placed there
intentionally, just as some of the shield-buckles were filled with bone
fragments and charcoal.
A little to the west of the centre of the mound was found a large bundle
of strongly-bound and intentionally bent weapons and other implements.
Right under this bundle was a bridle-bit of iron, and under this, in a
hole dug below the natural level of the ground, a whole collection of
shield-bosses, which all lay with their convex sides downward, and
formed a covering for a large bronze kettle, represented above, without
any other protection but the above-mentioned bosses.
[Illustration:
Fig. 768.—Bronze kettle filled with burnt bones mixed with ashes,
charcoal, &c., and covered with twelve shield-bosses; nearly ⅓ real
size. Moklebust.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 769.—Handle of kettle; real size. Moklebust.
]
In the middle of the bones lay an arrow-point 6 inches long; also six
draughtsmen and three dice of bone. The draughtsmen were ball-shaped; on
one side a small part was cut off, so as to give a flat surface, in the
middle of which there was a small hole (fitting the pegs in the board
itself, as seen from other finds of boards with pegs which were
undoubtedly made thus for use at sea, so as to keep the pieces in
position).
[Illustration:
Fig. 770.—Enamelled bottom of kettle on p. 340 (inside), ⅔ real size;
found in a mound, Moklebust.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 771.—Enamelled bottom (outside), of most brilliant colours, real
size. Moklebust.
]
It seems as if the men of this warrior had dragged his ship ashore,
placed the corpse therein with all his weapons and one or more horses,
and had adorned it and hung their shields on its sides, hoisted the
sails, and then let the flame consume the whole. The bones were then
gathered and placed in the urn, and the twelve shield-bosses placed over
it, provisions placed at its side, and the whole covered with a mound.
But right over the urn the bridle had been placed, so as to be near at
hand; then his weapons and the remains of the ship’s chest, and then the
two layers of other remains from the pyre.
[Illustration:
Fig. 772.
]
[Illustration:
Fig. 773.
Bronze figure representing a man; with inscription. Found with a
bronze kettle containing burnt bones, a double-edged sword bent,
several spear-heads, a shield boss, melted pieces of glass, &c.;
earlier iron age. Norway.
]