Northern mythology

NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY. 91
way she had also a temple most sumptuously constructed^
in which the said Hakon Jarl paid her the most profound
adoration ^ Even in Iceland Thorgerd was worshiped in
a temple at Olves-vand^ and was regarded as a tutelary
spirit by the chieftain Grimkell and his family^. Her
statue is described as having gold rings on the arms^.
THE SAGA OF THE VOLSUNGS AND GIUKINGS, OR
NIBELUNGS.
In consequence of its immediate connection with the
Mythology of the ^sir, it
has been deemed desirable to
relate the origin of the celebrated Nibelungen Hoard or
Treasure^ the calamities caused by which form the subject
of so many compositions, both Scandinavian and German.
The following condensation of the story is chiefly by the
late learned Bishop Peter Erasmus Miiller^.
There was a man named Sigi ;
he was descended from
the gods, and was called a son of Odin. There was another
man named Skadi, who had a bold and active thrall
called Bredi.
Sigi went out to hunt with Bredi, but in a
tit of jealousy at the greater success of the thrall, he slew
him. Sigi thus became an outlaw, and, conducted by
Odin, went far away, and obtained some war-ships, by
means of which he at length became king over Hunaland.
In his old age he was slain by his wife's relations, but his
son, Rerir, avenged his death on them all.
Rerir became a great warrior, but had no offspring.
and his queen prayed fervently to the gods for an heir.
Their prayer was heard. Odin sent his maiden (oskmey)^
He
* Faereyings. 23.
2 Saga of HorSi, i. 18. Lex. Myth. p. 981. Keyser, Nordm. Relig. p. 75.
3 Fornm. S. ii. p. 108.
•1
Sagabibliothek, Bd. ii. p. 36.
5 The same as a Valkyria, and probably so called from Oski, one of the
names of Odin. See p. 15 and notej and Grimm, D. M. p. 390.