372 IDEOTTIR. 



them save him, saying that it would be a deed of great bravery 

 if any one should dare to do it. When the king saw that no 

 one stirred, he threw off his cloak and ran up the rock to the 

 man as if it had been a level plain, took him under his arm, and 

 went farther up with him. He then turned to go down with 

 the man under his arm, and laid him unharmed on the ground. 

 All praised this as a great feat, and the fame thereof was widely 

 spread " (Olaf Tryggvason's Saga, vol. ii. ; Fornmanna Sogur). 1 



Wrestling was a very popular pastime, and had a beneficial 

 effect on the body, to which it gave suppleness, strength and 

 firmness ; it was a great favourite at the Things and festivals. 

 The most simple form of this sport was for the wrestlers to 

 take hold of each other's arms or waists as best they could, and 

 by the strength of their arms to throw each other off their feet. 

 The wrestlers often threw off not only the outer clothing, 

 but also their nuder-garments, in order to be more free and agile. 

 The competitors were divided by lots into two parties, each of 

 which was drawn up in a row with its leader. These paired 

 off their men to wrestle in the arena or space between the two 

 rows, one after the other. If one side was weaker in numbers, 

 or one man had had all his men defeated, he could challenge his 

 antagonist, and the result of their wrestling decided the game. 



A more difficult form of wrestling was that of grappling, 

 and attacking each other (sometimes fastened together by a 

 belt at the waist) according to certain rules, and by systematic 

 turnings and grip movements, with arms and legs, seeking 

 to bring each other to the ground. These combats for the 

 championship sometimes ended fatally. 



" The sons of Thord were the leaders of the games. 

 Thorbjorn Ongul was very overbearing, and quickly forced 

 any one he wanted to take part in the game, seizing him by 

 the hand, and pulling him forward to the field. Those who 

 were less strong wrestled first, and then one after the other, 

 which caused great amusement. When most of them had 

 wrestled, except the strongest, the bcendr talked about who 

 of these should contend against each of the sons of Thord ; 

 but no one came forward. They went before different men 

 and challenged them, with the same result. Thorbjorn Ongul 

 looked around, and saw that there sat a man of large size, 



1 Cf. also Gretti's Saga, c. 78. 



