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INFEEIOE DEITIES AS OBJECTS OF WOESnn-. 187
Thorgerd's universal surname HorgabriiSr, signifies
the Bride of the Altar or place of sacrifice (from
horgr, altar, sacrificial inclosure), and has reference
to her supposed sanctity. She was also called Haul-
gabru5r, which doubtless denotes the Eride or God-
dess of the Haleygir.
The appellation Fylgja, which, as already appears,
was synonymous with Dis or Hamingja, was also
used, though mostly of a kind of beings which were
believed to attend on mankind under the form of
animals, or rather to go before them. These Fylgjmwere
imagined to be a -lower order of spirits than
the proper Disir or Hamingjur, and there are scarce-
ly any traces to be found of their having been objects
of worship. Every man was believed to have
his Animal-Fylgia, and we usually find that the animal
was conceived to be in some degree correspond-
ing with the character or standing of the man.
Thus cunning folks were said to have foxes for then*
Fylgjur; wild warriors, wolves ; powerful chieftains,
eagles, oxen, bears, or other strong animals.* The
men who, had powerful Fylgjur were more difficult to
be overcome and more feared than those who had
weak ones. "The brothers have strong Fylgjur
(rammar fylgjur) " said the Icelandic Sorcerer Tliorolf
concerning the sons of Ingemund of Hof, when
he foresaw that they were going to attack him.f
The veteran Vifil said likewise, when it had been
revealed to him in a dream that King FroSi was
* mils S. 23, 61 ; Vols. S. 34 ; Orvar-Odds S. 4; f orstein Vi-
kiDgssons S. 12, &o., (Sec.
f Yatnsd. S. 80.