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SACKED EDIFICES. 2ll
there is nothing improbable therein, for such decorations
were much used in the houses of the Norse
Chieftains of antiquity ; but when it is said of the
temple in which Hakon Jarl worshiped Thorgerd
Horgabr-dd, that it was inwardly adorned with in-
layings of gold and silver, and furnished with so
many glass windows (glar-gluggar), that there was
nowhere any shadow, it may be received as one of
the embellishments added to the legend by a later
age. Neither can we place implicit confidence in
the glowing descriptions given of the Temple at
Upsala, by Adam of Bremen and his commentator
for as the former speaks of it being " all decorated
with gold " (so must we understand Mum, ex auro
paraturfb), and the latter tells of the ever-green tree
that grew by it, it appears that through ignorance
they transferred the myths of the "gold-roofed Val-
halla " and the " ever-green Ash Yggdrasill " to
that last celebrated relic of the heathen worship
of the Northmen.*
The temples were sometimes dedicated to a single
Deity, but much more frequently to several of
them ; there is even an account of one in Gothland
containing one hundred statues of the Gods ;f a
statement, however, which appears to be exaggerated.
But even when there were many Gods worshiped in
a temple, it was mostly but one or two that occupied
the first rank ; and it has already been observed that
in Norway and Iceland, Thor usually enjoyed this
honor.:]:
» A4 Brem.: de eitu Danin, 138.
t Jomsv. S. in Fornm. S. Zl M.
% Chap.XYir.
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