in 1734 are divided distinctly by points. They are

written in an ancient form of Norse, and give the

maker's name. We may therefore conjecture that the horn was of native workmanship. Under this in the middle of the broadest ring and in the highest Valhalla stands the Source of runes and all things-Odin the All-father. He wears a horned helmet with horns and ear-lappets, just as on the bronze plate found in Öeland. Round his body is a broad quadrangular ring tapering to a point at the sides, of the same form as a large body-belt of gold alloyed with silver found in Denmark, and presumably intended for an idol.18 In his right hand he holds the spear Gungner and in his left the gold ring Dröpner and a sceptre. His sacred symbol the triskele with the mark of Freya in the midst is thrice repeated round his head. Under him is the boar Saehrimner. On his right between two stars formed of Frigg's mark ("Frigg's wheel" or Orion's belt) are seen two Einherier or possibly Valkyries armed for battle with helmet neck-ring and sword, and with Freya's mark or star-ornament on their shields and garments. To the left-again with two of the abovementioned marks of Odin-are represented his two wolves Gere and Freke, between them the stag Eykthyrnir, and under these the goat Heidrun, from whose udder flowed the mead for the drinking-bouts of the Einherier, 19

On the extreme left of Odin stands the god Frey.

18 As regards the railings and doors of Helheim, and particularly the dress of the gods,―among them of Odin and his son Balder,—the latest and least accurate pictures of the Horns, which were made long after the loss of the Horns in 1802, are everywhere here amended according to the oldest and apparently most correct drawings of the In passing we may refer to the pictures in E. Müller's Prisskrift om Guldhornerne. Kbnhvn., 1806, 4to. J. J. A. W. 19 Einherier, the Chosen or Elect.

same.

66

Round his body is a broad ring; in his right hand he holds a sickle, in his left a sceptre. Between the horns of his helmet appears his mark the cross, and under him his sacred hog Gullinbörste or Sharp-tusk." Among his attributes we may also reckon, as on other parts of the horn, the fish and hog engraved between the Einherier or Valkyries. The stars around are all formed from the sacred signs.

The next ring, which comprises Valhalla proper, represents Thor the third and chief god. But here, just as on numerous nearly contemporaneous three-headed images of triads among the Gauls, and corresponding three-headed idols in India, he is represented as a distinct triad or triune deity with three heads on one body. Round each neck is the mark of trinity, a triangle. He has also two signs of Freya, and beyond doubt is represented with a mark of virility or symbol of fertility. A little rough three-headed figure in bronze from about the same time was once found in Bornholm, and also doubtless represents a deity. The mark of Odin and Saehrimner on the left and Frey's sceptre of ears of corn and his hog on the right show that Thor occupies the middle and chief place. In his left hand he holds a he-goat, under which another is engraved,-the goats he drove in his rolling thunder-car. In his right he grasps his axe or hammer.

After the three chief gods follows Loke the evil spirit of Valhalla and a pictorial representation of his three greatest misdeeds. He is symbolised by a huge snake with Idun's apple in its mouth. With him are two youths (Valé and Narfé). The snake with the apple reminds us involuntarily of the Christian representation

of the serpent and the apple in Paradise. His theft of Idun and the apple is indicated more clearly by the giant Thiasse, transformed into an eagle, which is pecking at Loke, turned into a salmon. The unusually large star (Freya's star) placed, contrary to custom, in the centre of the ring, facing a hog (Freya's Gullinbörste), and by the side of the largest snake, certainly indicates Loke's theft of Freya's necklace the Brisingamen. So too the archer provided like a god with helmet neckand waist-rings, who is aiming at a hind very prominent with its fawn near a very singular symbol (a cross with angles over the arms), is doubtless meant to denote a god. This naturally refers to Loke's last and greatest misdeed, the slaughter of Balder the god of gentleness, shot by the blind Höd unwittingly. Speaking generally, the mark and hind, which typify Balder, have their counterpart in the Christian symbolism developed at this time on an oriental-classic basis, which represents Christ sometimes by a hart a lamb or a fish, and sometimes by a sacred mark. Balder is here denoted by a hind or female beast. So too Loke, Balder's real "bane-man," 20 is represented in the Northern mythology as a cow, and even as a woman,—since he begat his monstrous wolf-children down in the earth with Gygen, or the giantess Angerbode.21 With Balder the picture of the high Valhalla closes. Its special significance as the heavenly home of the gods is brought out strongly by the rows of stars, which are unusually rich, as compared with the other rings of the horn. And generally, these in themselves as early as the

20 "Bane-man"-applied to Höd in Doom 40.

21 C. P. B., vol. i. 104, cf. p. 206.

Asiatic and classic olden times were used in pictorial representations as distinctive signs of divinity.

On the next ring therefore we see the gate of Valhalla with the head of a beast (the horse) carved on each side and a spiked lattice (on the top). The fishes which follow are in pairs one above another on the outsides of the ring. These denote the stream round Valhalla, in which Thjodvitner's fish sported. Outside the gate stands a horse with human head, or Centaur, one of the Bjergriser ("Mountain-Giants"), who always threatened Valhalla. Wherefore Thor kept constant watch over them with his hammer. Further we see the ash-tree Yggdrasil, to reach which Thor, when the gods held council ("Thing") there, had to wade over nine streams. Under the ash is the serpent Nidhög, which lay at its roots; and lastly the stag which stood by Yggdrasil, and perpetually nibbled off its twigs.

The scene now returns to the myth of Balder's death and burial, to the sorrowing of the gods and Hermod's mission to Hel on Odin's horse Sleipner, to procure Balder's liberation. Hermod is returning from Hel unsuccessful. He is armed with a spear and mounted on Sleipner. Under the horse's head are two coiled rings of gold, namely Dröpner, laid on Balder's pyre by Odin, and a ring which Balder and his bride Nanna in the Hall of Hel gave Hermod, to bring back to Odin and the goddess Fulla. Behind Hermod is the bridge Bifrost with Frigg's (the Earth's) mark and with a star (Odin's star), the mark of the heavens, signifying that the rainbow Bifrost is a bridge between Earth and Heaven. Near Bifrost begins the funeral of Balder, at which the gods and goddesses, according to the