354 



OCCUPATIONS AND SPORTS OF MEK. 



Thor sitting in a high-seat; in front of him was a splendid 

 table covered with silver. . . . He saw a chess-board and chess- 

 pieces of bright gold " 1 (Sturlaug's Saga Starfsama, ch. 18). 



The people often spent their time during the long winter 

 evenings in playing chess. 



" In Brattahlid (a farm), in Grosnland, during the winter, 

 they often amused themselves with chess-playing (toft), and 



Fig. 1333. Chess piece of Fig. 133-i. Chess piece of 

 Fig. 1332. Chess piece of bone, found with two clay, found with three 

 bone. Norway. real other pieces. Norway. others. Norway. real 



size. 



real size. 



size. 



Fig. 1336. 



Fig. 1335. 

 Chess, backgammon, or draughtsman, of 



bone, showing hole for peg, found with Fig. 1337. Draught piece of bone. 

 fragments of a double-edged sword, iron Ultuna find. Real size, 



spurs, &c. Norway. real size. 



saga-telling, and many things that could improve their home- 

 life" (Thorfinn Karlsefni, c. 7). 



It was customary for women, as well as men, to play at the 

 game. 



"He (Grunnlaug Ormstunga) and Helga often amused 

 themselves with chess ; they soon liked each other well, as 



1 Lysigull (bright gold) probably 

 meant yellow gold, and we find that red 



gold is also often mentioned. 



