MYSTIC 



One of the facts which attracts great attention is the 

 different mystic signs * found upon bracteates and other 

 numerous objects represented in these pages. These no 

 doubt had some symbolical meaning, just as the Christian 

 cross when used as an ornament, or placed upon a grave as a 

 symbol. 



Fig. 1310. Runic stone with three horns in the shape of triskele. Snoldelev, Zeeland. 



Some of the signs appear to have been common to various 

 nations, who probably adopted the same religion from which 



1 We find constant mention of the 

 numbers 3 and 7, 9 and 12, which seem 

 to have been holy : 



Heimdall had ix sisters for his mothers. 



jEgir had ix daughters. 



In Helgi Hundingsbani, ii., ix Val- 

 kyrjas help Helgi in a storm and save 

 his ships. 



Halfdan the old had ix + ix sons, of 

 which ix were born first, and ix after. 



Dag, one of Halfdan's sons, had ix 

 sons, and from all Halfdan's sons there 

 are ix generations to Harald Fairhair. 



Draupnir begets 8 rings every ix 

 night, and is itself the i.\. The ring 

 did not get this quality before going 

 through the fire on Bahlr's pyre. 



The following will show the frequent 

 occurrence of the number Nine in the 

 literature of the North : 



With Harald Hilditonn were ix Scalds 

 (Sb'gubrot, c. 8). 



IX nights had Frey to wait fur (n'rd. 



Njb'rd and Skadi watched in turns 

 every ix nights by the sea or on moun- 

 tains" (S. E. i. 92/94). 



IX days at a time were Sigmund and 

 Sinfjotli in wolves' shapes. 



IX nights in succession comes King 

 Siggeir's mother as a she-wolf and kills 

 ix Volsungas (Volsunga, >. 5). 



IX nights did Odin hang on the wind- 

 blown tree (H;ivam;'il, 138). 



IX nights did Hermod ride through 

 deep and dark valleys without any sun, 

 when he was going to Helheim. 



IX days lasted the battle on Dunheath. 



IX times 60 doors there are in Val- 

 halla. 



IX times 60 halls in P.ilskirnir. 



IX paces did Thor go from the Mid- 

 gard's serpent and die. 



IX paces are red-hot irons carried 

 (Fornmanna Sogur, i.). 



IX red-hot plough-shares are stepped 

 upon (Fornmanna Sogur, vii. 164, x. 418). 



