THE DISIR THORGERD AND YRPA. 413 



bis guests.' ' Who are those guests,' inquired the king, 

 ' that he thinks it more his duty to be there than inside with 

 us ? ' The man told him they were the huskarlar (servants) of 

 Thorir hersir. The king added : ' Go to them as speedily as 

 possible, and call them in here.' When they came, the king 

 received Olvir well, and made him sit opposite him in the 

 high-seat, and his men on both sides of him. Egil was next 

 to Olvir ; then ale was brought in, and many memorial toasts 

 were drunk, a horn to be emptied at each. As the evening 

 was drawing to a close many of Olvir's men became drunk ; 

 some of them vomited in the hall, but others went outside " 

 (Egil's Saga, c. 44). 



Even at Upsala sacrifices were offered to the Disir. 



"King Adils was at a disabldt, and rode on a horse round 

 the disarsal (hall of the Disir) ; his horse stumbled and fell, 

 and the king was thrown off, and his head hit a stone so 

 that it broke and his brains lay on the stone. This caused his 

 death. He died at Uppsalir, and is mound-laid there ; the 

 Swedes called him a powerful king " (Yuglinga Saga, c. 33). 



Among the Disir two women, who are mentioned several 

 times in the Sagas, seem to have been regarded as special 

 objects of worship. These are the sisters Thorgerd Horga- 

 brud, or Holgabrud, and Yrpa. The name of Horgabrud 

 signifies the bride of the altars, and indicates her supposed 

 holiness ; and the second name, Holgabrud, undoubtedly 

 shows that she has been especially worshipped in Halogaland, 

 whence the family of the great Hakon Jarl hailed ; thus 

 Thorgerd and her sister came to be the special guardians of 

 that family (see Human Sacrifice, page 367). 



" A king called Holgi, after whom Halogaland is named, is 

 said to have been the father of Thorgerd Holgabrud. To both 

 of them sacrifices were made, and a mound was raised for 

 Holgi ; one layer was of gold and silver, which were offerings, 

 and another was of earth and stones " (Later Edda (Skald- 

 skaparmal), c. 45). 



The Disir are often spoken of as Fylgja (following spirit 1 ), 

 and Hamingja (good luck or family spirit) ; but there must 

 have been some distinction between them and the Disir proper, 

 as no sacrifices were offered to the Hamingja and Fylgja. 1 



1 (1) Viga Glum, 9 ; (2) Laxdaela, 26 ; Snorri, St. Olaf, 68, 



