100 WEAPONS. 



In the sea-fight between Olaf and Svein jarl 



" The latter had more men, but the king had picked men 

 on his ship, avid they were so well equipped that every one 

 had a brynja; and on this occasion they did not get wounded" 

 (St. Olaf s Saga, c. 47). 1 



Helgi Hardbeinsson, was told by his herdsman that he 

 had seen many armed men, who had come to kill him, and he 



Fig. 887. 



Fig. 888. 



Bronze plates, with raised figures, fouud in Oland. f real size. Frey's boar. 

 The horned helmet similar to one in the British Museum. 



thus described the war-dress of one of them, as they sat in 

 a circle taking their morning meal (day-meal) : 



" He had on a coat of plate-mail 2 and a steel cap, the brim 

 of which was as wide as a hand's breadth, and a shining axe 

 on his shoulder, the edge of which seemed to be two feet long. 

 He had black eyes, and was very viking-like in appearance" 

 (Laxdcela Saga, c. 63). 



Helmets (hjdlm) are often mentioned; they were generally 

 gilt, or of gold. On the front of them was a JttrkumU (war- 

 mark). From several bronze plates we see that they were 

 sometimes made in the shape of animals. The Saga says of 

 King Adils that he had a helmet called Hildir/olt (war-boar). 

 In the finds they are extremely rare; one of silver has been 

 found, and a fragment of another inlaid with gold, and one or 

 two of iron. 



Of. also Fsereyinga Saga, c 1 . _4. 



2 SpangaJtrynja. 



