SACREDNE8S OF HIGH-SEAT PILLARS. 361 



l 



went to Norway every third summer for himself and for his 

 mother's brother Flosi, to sacrifice in the temple which his 

 grandfather Thorbjorn had guarded " (Landnarna v., ch. 8). 



Inside the principal door of the temple stood the high-seat 

 pillars, which were highly venerated, and in which were placed 

 ihe so-called reginnaglar (sacred pegs). It was the custom 

 for families to take these pillars when they left their old home 

 for Iceland, and when at sea to throw them overboard, and 

 settle where they came ashore : they, the timbers of the temple, 

 and the mould under the altars of the gods, were considered 

 sacred. 



" The summer that Ingolf and Hjorleif went to settle in 

 Iceland, Harald Fairhair had been king in Norway for twelve 

 years. There had passed from the beginning of this world 

 six thousand and seventy-three winters ; but from the birth of 

 our Lord, eight hundred and seventy-four winters. 



" They sailed together till they saw Iceland, and then 

 separated. When Ingolf saw Iceland, he threw overboard his 

 high-seat pillars for luck, saying that he would settle where 

 the pillars went ashore. 



" Ingolf took up his abode where his high-seat pillars had 

 come to land ; this was at Reykjarvik, and there the high-seat 

 pillars still remain in a hall " J (Landnarna). 



" Thorolf Mostrarskegg made a great sacrifice, and inquired 

 from his beloved friend Thor whether he should reconcile him- 

 self to the King (Harald Fairhair), or go away from the country 

 and seek other fate. The answer pointed out to him Iceland. 

 Thereupon he got a large seagoing ship, and made it ready for 

 the Iceland journey, and took with him his household and live 

 stock. Many of his friends went on the journey with him. 

 He took down the temple and carried with him most of the 

 timbers which had been in it, and also the earth and mould 

 from under the altar on which Thor had sat. Thereupon he 

 sailed out to sea with fair winds, reached the land, and went 

 along the south coast westward past Reykjanes. Then the 

 fair wind ceased, and they saw that large fjords went into the 

 land. Thorolf threw overboard his high-seat pillars, which 

 had been standing in the temple ; the image of Thor was 

 carved on one of them. He declared that he would live in 

 Iceland, at the place where Thor landed them As soon 

 as they left the ship they drifted to the western fjord. Then 



1 Cf. also Landnama. iv. 5 ; Kormak's Saga, 11. 



