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Sun and Moon (or Cup) Worship i^]
Sun symbolism in Scandinavia has thus been brought
down to about looo a.d. ; but
such symbols also exist there
in museums on objects classed as belonging to the Middle
Ages. In the museum at Bergen are some apparently
mythical small animals of that period, which would seem to
have been children's toys, with sun marks © on their bodies ;
and on an old Norwegian bridal crown, stated o ° o
to have come from the Sogne fjord district, and y \°
referred to the same age, there are Sun and Moon A J
symbols alternately with pendant Suns: its upper ° o °
edge is finished off with cup marks.
Plate 1 1 is a representation of a wizard's drum from Lapland,
now in the Norwegian Museum at Stockholm. Though
the Laplanders are professedly Lutheran Christians, they still
retain great faith in augury and divination. They are very
superstitious, and if on going abroad in the morning they
meet with an unlucky omen, they return home, and do not
stir out again the rest of the day. It is said also that they
still pray to their ancient idols for the increase and safety of
their herds. Drums of this kind are used by their magicians
to form prognostications ;
small
brass rings are placed on
different parts of its surface, and the drum being beaten with
a small hammer, these rings dance upon the signs represented
upon it, and the sorcerer, according to the course taken by
them, and after going through certain manoeuvres, professes to
foretell events.
The Sun, the Moon, and certain of the planets are de-
finable upon this drum ;
not so apparent ;
some
the
meaning of the other symbols is
little animals, like rats, would seem to
be worshipping the heavenly bodies.