WORSHIP OF MEN. 381 



nobody dared or needed to doubt his judgment" (Hervara 

 Saga, c. 1). 



" Thorolf Smjor (butter, because be said Iceland was so fertile 

 tbat butter dripped from every blade of grass) was tbe son of 

 Thorstein Skrot'a, son of Grim, wbo was worshipped after his 

 death on account of his popularity and called Kamban " 

 (Landnama i., ch. 14). 



Animal Worship. The worship of animals and birds seems 

 to have sometimes taken place. 



Once some men went to Eystein and told him that a large 

 host had come into his realm so hard to deal with that it had 

 devastated all the land, and left no house standing. 



" When Eystein heard these tidings he thought he knew 

 who these vikings were. He sent an arrow-message all over 

 his realm and summoned all who were willing to help him and 

 could wield a shield. ' Let us take with us the cow Sibilja, our 

 god, and let her run in front, and I believe that, as before, 

 they will not be able to stand her bellowing. I urge you all 

 to valiantly drive away this large and evil host.' This was 

 done, and Sibilja let loose ; Ivar saw her coming, and heard 

 her fierce bellowing ; he bade all the host make a great noise 

 both with weapons and war-cries, lest they should hear the 

 voice of the evil beast which went against them. Ivar told his 

 hearers to carry him forward as far- as they could, and when 

 the cow came at them to throw him on her, and then either he 

 or she should die ; and to take a large tree and cut it into the 

 form of a bow, and also bring him arrows ; this strong bow was 

 now brought, and the large arrows he had ordered, which 

 were not manageable by any other. Ivar then urged every 

 one to do his best. Their host went onward with great rushing 

 and tumult, and Ivar was carried in front of their ranks. The 

 bellowing of Sibilja sounded so loud that they heard it as well 

 as if they had been silent and stood still ; they were so 

 startled that all, except the brothers, wanted to fight among 

 themselves. When this wonder was going on, those who 

 carried Ivar saw that he drew his bow as if it were a weak 

 elm twig, and they thought he was going to draw his arrows 

 beyond the point. 1 They heard his bowstring sound louder than 

 they had ever heard before ; they saw that his arrows flew as 

 swiftly as if he had shot with the strongest cross-bow, and so 



1 I.e., draw the string so hard that the point of the arrow is inside the curve. 



