CHAPTEE XXXII. 



SUPERSTITIONS. DREAMS. 



Faith placed in dreams Kevelations of the gods in dreams Their interpre- 

 tation an important gift Absence of dreams considered a misfortune 

 Magical sleep. 



THE faith of the Northmen in dreams 1 was almost as great 

 as that which they placed in their gods ; like the ancient 

 Egyptians, Greeks, Jews, and other earlier nations, they 

 believed that by them they were informed of coming events. 

 Instances frequently occur in the Sagas of men wishing to 

 dream in order to know the future. Those dreams which were 

 of greatest importance were believed to be influenced by the 

 revelations of the gods to the sleeper. Odin in a dream 

 showed King Eirik the Victorious how it would go in the 

 battle against Styrbjorn. 2 



The place where any one dreamt was considered important, 

 especially if the dream was in a new house ; the interpretation 

 of dreams consequently was considered an important gift, and 

 men and women who could explain them were called draum- 

 spekingar (dream-wise), 3 amongst whom the Queens Ingigerd 

 and Thyri had great renown. 



" Harald was a Jarl who ruled over Holtsetaland (Holstein) ; 

 he was nicknamed Klakldiarald. He was a wise man, and had 

 a daughter Thyri, who was the wisest of women, and inter- 

 preted dreams better than others. She was also handsome. 

 The Jarl looked to her for the rule of the land, consulted her 

 in everything, and loved her much. When Gorm had grown 

 up and had taken the kingship, he left, and intended to ask 



1 In Helgakvida Hundingsbaua, sleep 

 is called draum-thing (dream-meeting). 



2 Halfdan dreamt of the greatness of 

 his family, Halfdan the Black, c. 7. Some- 



times there were different explanations 

 of the same dream (Vatnsdsela, 42). 

 3 Lasdffila, 33 ; Atlamal, 14-25. 



