326 



DEESS OF WOMEN. 



gold, and glass, &c., and gold rings worn round the legs, were 

 most common. 



The numerous illustrations of jewels and ornaments seen 

 throughout the pages of this work show the taste of the 

 people, and the different forms worn by them, even in very 

 early times. 



To gold the poets gave many figurative names which are 

 derived from either the myths or history of the people, and 

 which often show in their metaphors the different uses to 

 which gold was appli"d : The fire of the hand, or arm ; the 

 beacon of the hawk-seat (the wrist) ; the fire of the top of the 

 masthead, &c. 



Some of the rings and necklaces were of such remarkable 

 workmanship that they had special names, and their fame was 

 known far and wide. Among the more celebrated rings were 

 the Sviagris, 1 Draupnir, and Hnitud ; and among the neck- 

 laces that of Freyja made by the Dvergar. 



" Ulf the Red was always accustomed to be with King Olaf 

 during midwinter. Ulf brought the king many precious 

 things which he had acquired during the summer. And one 

 gold ring he had got called Hnitud (the welded). It was 

 welded together in seven places. It was of much better gold 

 than other rings. This ring had been given to Ulf by a bondi 

 named Lodmund " (Thatt of Norna Gest). 



Beads are often mentioned. 



Bardi, a good champion, was going to a fight, and when his 

 foster-mother took leave of him 



" she took out of her shirt a large necklace of beads, and put 

 it round his neck over his shirt. 2 



" Thorbjorn ran at Bardi and struck his neck ; a very loud 

 crash was heard ; the blow hit the bead in the necklace, which 

 had moved when Bardi gave his knife to Njal's son. The bead 

 burst asunder, and blood gushed out on both sides of the 

 necklace, but Bardi was not wounded. Thorbjorn said : ' Thou 

 art a troll, as irons bite thee not ' ' (Viga-Styr and Heidarviga 

 c. 23). 



1 Cf. Hrolf Kraki's Saga, c. 10-12. 



2 This was probably given him as an 

 amulet to protect him ill the tight. 



