CHAPTER XIX. 



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 Gokstad ship's sepulchral chamber The Moklebust mound. 



THE Ecldas 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. 1 



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 some- 

 times 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 manful- 

 ness 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, 



1 Such expressions occur as "i haug lagdr," mound laid ; " heygdiy' mounded. 



