56 MYTHOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS RITES. 
There are a few representations of him, which we give in pi. 11, figs. 
7-10, but they are much more imperfect. In the two first we see his gar- 
ments covered with Runic characters. These runes were the written letters 
of the ancient Scandinavians, and consisted chiefly of oblique lines placed 
upon a perpendicular one, so that their individual character and meaning 
had to be determined by their number and direction. The well known 
runic stones (figs. 17 and 18) had generally a border in the shape of 
two intertwined serpents, whose bodies were covered with these lines. They 
were used either as tombstones, monuments, genealogical registers, or 
records of treaties. The runic calendar (jig. 19) is covered with the same 
kind of characters. 
Vile and Ve, the brothers of Odin, who assisted him in the creation of 
the world, are not afterwards mentioned in the Edda, and appear never to 
have Buon objects of worship. 
Thor, the god of thunder, the most powerful warrior, and the oldest son 
of Odin and Hrigga, was the first in rank after Odin. He was called Asa 
Thor (the lord Thor). His splendid palace, situated in the air, had in it 
540 halls, and was called Blskirnir. He is represented (pl. 18, fig. 2) 
seated on an iron chariot (the rolling of which causes the thunder) drawn 
by two wild goats. Hence his other name Avka Thor (the driving Thor). 
His attributes are the three precious presents which he received, and which 
make him powerful and feared, namely: in his right hand the hammer 
Mjélnir with the short handle, which, when hurled against his enemies, not 
only kills, but returns also to his hand of its own accord; it was also sometimes 
used to bless the marriage tie. Around his body is the belt of prowess, 
Megingiadir, which increases his strength twofold; and upon his hands are 
the enchanted iron gloves, which enable him to feandle his hammer with 
greater efficacy. On account of his influence and power he is also seen ( pl. 11, 
jig. 6) at the right hand of Odin when the latter is seated on his rrdtne? 
The hammer in his hand he wields as a symbol of lightning. 
Tyr, another son of Odin, is the god of battle-fields. He is the protector 
and friend of all heroes who combat one another in open and honest fight, 
for he himself is without guile or deceit. He is generally represented (pi. 
13, fig. 6) as a powerful-looking man in the vigor of life, with a cuirass- 
like tunic, and the warrior’s cloak thrown over his shoulders, a helmet upon 
his head, the lance in his right hand, and the buckler by his side. Behind 
him lies the ram. He is distinguished for courage and boldness, and was 
therefore appointed to feed the terrible wolf Henris, who has such enormous 
jaws that when he opens them his nose touches the heavens, and he dis- 
plays teeth so large that the highest towers would seem small by their side. 
Tyr’s fearless courage caused him afterwards to lose his right hand by means 
of this wolf. The myth which relates the circumstance tells us, that the 
wolf Fenris was a son of ZLoke, and then continues. When the gods who 
raised the monster saw how rapidly he grew in size and strength, and more- 
over knew that he would at a future period prove fatal to them, they 
attempted to chain him, but he broke the strongest fetters as if they were 
made of cobwebs. 
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