122 ANTIQUITY OF MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS. 



some of them, as, for instance, Wodne's Beorgh, or Woden's 

 Barrow, are probably mythical, but there seems no reason to 

 doubt that some for instance, Alfrede's Beorh, ^Ethelwolde's 

 Beorh, Cissan Beorh, Cwichelme's Hlcew, Oswolde's Hloew, 

 etc. retain the name of the person really buried within.* It 

 appears that in England the habit of burying under tumuli 

 was finally abandoned during the 10th century. 



The Danish Sagas also tell us that in the middle of the 

 8th century, Sigurd King, having conquered his uncle, King 

 Harald Hildetand, in the battle of Braavalla, " washed the 

 corpse, placed it on Harald's war chariot, and buried it in a 

 tumulus which he had formed for the purpose. Harald's 

 horse also was slain and buried with him, with the saddle, so 

 that Harald might either ride to Valhalla, or go in his chariot, 

 as he preferred. King then gave a great feast, after which 

 he recommended the chiefs present to throw their ornaments 

 and arms into the tumulus in honour of Harald. Finally the 

 tumulus was carefully closed."^ 



Most of these monuments, however, are doubtless far older. 

 Some, indeed, were ancient and mysterious even in the days of 

 Homer. Thus at the burial of Patroclus, when Nestor is 

 pointing out to his son Antilochus the course for the chariot 



race, he says, 



" Plain is the goal 



That now I tell thee of ; nor canst tliou miss it : 

 * * * * * 



On either side 



Where narrowest is the way, and all the course 

 Around is smooth, rise two white stones, set there 

 To mark the tomb of some one long since dead, 

 Or form a goal for men in ages past." J 



* For an interesting memoir on Gramniaticus. His. Dan. 1. x. ch. 



notices of heathen interment in the xii. 



Codex Diplomatics, see Kemble, J Iliad, xxiii. 384. I have quoted 



Arch. Jour. vol. xiv. p. 119. from Mr. Wright's translation, 



t Engelhardt. Guide Illustre du which, in this passage at least, is 



Musee des Antkj_uite.s du Nord a more i'aithful than any other with 



Copenhague, 18G8. See also Saxo which I am acquainted. 



