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198 EELIGION OF THE NOETHMEN.
In the ancient temple at Upsala, according to the
testimony of Adam of Bremen, there were statues
erected to Thor, Odin (Wodan), and Frey (Friceo)-
The statue of Thor had the most conspicuous place
in the middle; the two others stood one upon each
side. Thor was represented with a sceptre (the
Hammer, no doubt) in his hand ; Odin, as the God
of "War, was in armor ; and Frey, in the character of
the God of Fruitfulness, was delineated as a Pria-
pus.* In general, Odin's statues are not distinctly
mentioned in the Sagas, but Thor's very often. In
the chief-temple of Mseri in Inner Throndheim,
Thor's statue ha.d the principal place. The statue
was large and richly adorned with gold and silver.
The God was represented sitting in a splendid car,
to which were attached two goats, ingeniously
wrought of wood. Both the car and the bucks stood
upon wheels, and about the horns of the bucks was
slung a silver,chain, by which the whole group was
drawn. It was all so well made that it awakened
the astonishment of King Olaf Tryggvason when he
entered the temple.f
In a temple at Hundsthorp in Gudbrandsdal stood
a large, much-honored statue of Thor. It was of
wood, hollow within, and in the likeness of a man.
It was adorned with gold and silver, held a hammer
in its hand, and stood upon an elevation (hjallr).
The peasants led this statue forth with great solemnity
to meet Olaf the Saint when he came into Gud-
brandsdal to convert them to Christianity ; but St.
* Ad. Brem. : de situ Danise, cap. 233.
f 01. Tr. S. Skalh. 11, 24.