APPEARANCE OF THOR. , $ !77 



he was making this ravage in Gautland, Ottar Jarl, who ruled 

 over a great part of Gautland, heard of it ; he quickly started 

 and gathered all the land host against Hakon Jarl, and 

 attacked him. They at once began the battle; Hakon was 

 overpowered, and at last fled with his men, and went to Norway. 

 Thereafter Ottar Jarl summoned a Tiling, and declared at it 

 that Hakon should be called varg-i-veum (wolf in the holy 

 place), because, said he, no man had done worse deeds, for 

 he had destroyed the highest temple in Gautland, and wrought 

 many other evil deeds ; that no one knew any example of 

 such things, and that wherever he went he should have that 

 name " (Jomsvikinga Saga, ch. 12). 



"King Olaf Tryggvason (995-1000) went to Thrandheim to 

 christianize the bcendr; they agreed that he should go into 

 their temple and observe their customs. He went into the 

 temple, with a few of his men and some of the boendr. They 

 were all unarmed except the king, who had a staff ornamented 

 with gold in his hand. As they entered there was no lack ot 

 carved idols ; Thor sat in the middle, for he was most wor- 

 shipped ; he was large and ornamented all over with gold and 

 silver ; he sat in a splendid chariot, to which were harnessed 

 two very well-made wooden he-goats. Both the chariot and 

 the he-goats rested on wheels, and the rope around their horns 

 was of twisted silver. All was made with wonderful skill " 

 (Flateyjarbok L, p. 319). 



i 



Votive offerings of jewels and other valuable objects have 

 been made in temples and churches in all lands and ages, and 

 to this day the practice holds in some Eoman and Greek 

 Catholic countries. 



The use of small images as amulets by the Northmen is 

 shown by Kalf's answer when asked by the King (Olaf Trygg- 

 vason) where Halfred was. 



" ' He probably still adheres to his custom of sacrificing 

 secretly ; he has the image of Thor made of a tooth in his 

 purse, and too little is told to thee, lord, about him, and thou 

 canst not see how he really is.' The King asked them to call 

 Halfred that he might answer for himself. Halfred came. 

 The King said, ' Is it true of thee, that thou sacrificest ? ' 

 'It is not true, lord,' answered Halfred; 'now search my 

 purse ; here no trick is possible, even if I had wanted to 

 use one.' Nothing of the kind was found with him " (Olaf 

 Tryggvason's Saga). 



