328 BURIALS. 



mou ml opposite to King Beli, on this side of the fjord, near 

 the sea, for then it will be easy for us to call to each other 

 before great events.' The foster-brothers of Fridthjof were 

 Bjorn and Asmnnd ; they were tall and strong men. A short 

 time after Thorstein died ; he was mounded as he had pre- 

 scribed, and Fridthjof got his land and personal property " 

 (Fridthjof's Saga, c. 1). 



Several persons were often buried in the same mound ; and 

 after a battle many of the slain were buried together. 



"After this Hjalmar died. Odd then placed the Berserks 

 in a heap, and piled upon them boughs. This was near the 

 sea. He put with them their weapons and clothing, divesting 

 them of nothing. He covered this with turf and cast sand 

 over it. He then took Hjalmar on his back, carried him to 

 the sea, and laid him down on the shore. He went out on the 

 ships, took ashore every one who had fallen, and there threw 

 up another mound over his men. It is said by those who have 

 gone thither, that to this day are seen those mounds which 

 Odd there made " (Orvar Odd's Suga, c. 14). L 



" On the following morning Hrolf had the field cleared, and 

 divided the booty among his men. There were raised three 

 very large mounds. In one Hrolf placed his father Sturlaug 

 and Krak, H rain's brother and all the best champions of their 

 host who had fallen. In that mound were put gold and silver 

 and good weapons, and all was well performed. In the second 

 was placed King Eirik, Brynjolf and Thord and their picked 

 men. In the third was Grim ^Egir, near the shore, where it 

 was thought least likely that ships would approach. The 

 warriors were buried where they had fallen ' (Gongu Hrolf s 

 Saga, ch. 34). 



From many descriptions we see with what awe the ancient 

 Vikings regarded the mounds under which renowned chiefs 

 were buried. Over the mounds of great warriors flames were 

 seen at night, and the ghost of the departed was believed to 

 remain there. 



When the burning did not take place, the warrior was buried 

 with his weapons and entire equipment. Sometimes he slept 

 with his sword under his head. Angantyr's shoulders rested 

 upon the famous sword Tyrfiny, and Angrim's sons were 

 buried there in that manner. Many of the weapons placed 



1 Of. also Goiigu Hrolf's Saga, c. 3. 



