1890.] 
A  Strange  Wooden  Object. 
19 
that  the  name  may  be  basecl  upon  older  traditions,  and  tliat 
similar  articles  may,  consequently,  in  ancient  times  have  had 
some  symbolical  significance.  We  meet  thus,  also  here,  with  an 
indication  of  the  possible  connection  of  such  artistic  wooden 
things  with  religion.  It  must,  howewer,  be  admitted  that  the 
remarkable  name  may  be  an  invention  of  later  times,  as  is  supposed 
iby  Prof.  Eygh.  At  any  rate  we  neecl  not  place  too  great  a  stress 
upon  that  so  long  as  it  is  exceptional.1)  The  other  puzzles  that  have 
come  to  my  knowledge  are  not  styled  Thorshammers,  and  neither 
could  they  be  so  nam  ed,  as  they  have  not  the  necessary  handle. 
Our  museum  possesses  such  an  article,  from  Nordfiord,  which  con- 
sists of  six  pieces,  and  the  model  of  another  with  nine. 
Fig.  13  shows  a  "narrestikke'*  constructed  of  six  pieces,  in  which 
all  the  encls  are  rounded,  so  that  the  article  almost  acquires  the 
form  of  a  ball.  I  have  remarked,  previously,  when  speaking  of 
the  rounded  ends  of  the  Persian  puzzle,  that  they  are  ornamenta! 
details  which  might  easily  be  hit  upon.  The  figure  is  drawn  from 
a  model,  made  according  to  recollection  of  an  old  specimen  which 
was  at  one  time  to  be  found  in  Nordfiord.2) 
Finally,  it  must  also  here  be  borne  in  mind,  that  if  there  is  really 
any  symbolical  significance  connectecl  with  the  "ring  puzzle"  found 
at  Evebo,  it  is  conceivable  that  connecting  points  may  be  found 
among  the  symbolical  marks  with  which  many  antiquities  are  sup- 
plied,  or  in  other  figurative  representations  from  ancient  times. 
We  cannot  hope  to  find  an  illustration  of  the  "ring-puzzle"  itself. 
with  its  peeuliar  projecting  lappets,  but  it  might  be  possible,  per- 
haps,  that  the  square  figure  formed  by  the  four  arms  of  the  "ring- 
x)  In  a  large  and  remarkable  grave-find,  from  the  time  of  the  Vikings, 
preserved  in  the  Trondhjem  Museum  (No.  1180 — 1209,  from  Voll)  are  found 
pieces  of  a  wooden  object,  which  may  possibly  have  been  something  similar : 
it  consists  now  —  according  to  a  drawing  kindly  supplied  to  me  by  Mr.  K. 
Hygh,  Direetor  of  the  Museum  —  of  two  j^ieces  of  wood  with  a  shallow 
square  groove  round  the  middle,  and  a  short  cuneiform  piece  that  fits  into 
the  space  between  their  ends. 
2)  In  Bavaria,  a  small  instrument  for  a  mysterious  purpose  is  met  with. 
which  is  called  "Trudenfuss".  It  .consists  of  thin  pieces  of  wood  or  bark  put 
together  in  a  eruciform,  and  is  supposed  to  nave  a  protecting  power.  "Am 
Urquell"  II,  24.,  with  illustration. 
