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MINISTEES OF EELIGION. 161
tered upon -with, a solemn ceremonial in whicli tte
future Go6i slaughtered a ram and dipped his hands
in its blood (at rj68a sik i go5a bl68i, to sprinkle
himself with good blood).* It remained as a tem-
poral dignity, after the introduction of Christianity
upon the island, until it was subjected to the kings
of Norway. That the office and the name, like
most of the religious and judicial institutions of
Iceland, were transported thither from Norway, can-
not be doubted,,although the name Go8i is very
rarely mentioned in the Sagas as being in use in the
latter country. One of the original settlers of Ice-
land, Thorhad the Old, had been hofgoSi in the
temple of Mseri in Throndheim ;f but in general,
when those who conducted the sacred rites of heathendom
in Norway are mentioned, it is only said
of them that they ""attended to the temples"
(varSveittu hof ) ;:]: that they " counseled the most
for the sacrifices" (r68u mest fyrir bl6tum);§ that
they " supported the sacrifices " (heldu upp bl6-
tutn);|| without any name of dignity' being given
them as priests. This was, no doubt, because in Norway
the Hersir (a baron or ruler of a heraS or district)
was always a Go8i at the same time, but was
universally designated by the first-named title, as
the most distinguished. But in Iceland the name
hersir was not used, wherefore go8i took its place,
* Lj6svetninga aaga (fsL S., Vol. II., 1830).
t Landnb. IV., 6.
j lb. V. 8 ; Eyrb. s, 3.
§ Snori'i: Saga Ecikonar Gr(53a., 19.
I Snor. : S, Olafs Tryggvasonar, Y5.