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PCRN

Pre-Christian Religions of the North: Sources

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The account describes a boat burial in Iceland. Þórgrímr is placed in a boat, with a stone to anchor it, and a mound raised over the top.

text

[excerpt from] Gísl ch. 17b

17b. [kafli]

..segir Gísli;"Viljum vér til þess bjóðast að heygja Þorgrím og eigið þér það að oss er það skylt að vér gerum það með sæmd."

Þetta þiggja þeir og fara allir saman á Sæból til haugsgerðar og leggja Þorgrím í skip. Nú verpa þeir hauginn eftir fornum sið.

Og er búið er að lykja hauginn þá gengur Gísli til óssins og tekur upp stein einn, svo mikinn sem bjarg væri, og leggur í skipið svo að nær þótti hvert tré hrökkva fyrir en brakaði mjög í skipinu og mælti: "Eigi kann eg skip að festa ef þetta tekur veður upp."

Það var nokkurra manna mál að eigi þótti allólíkt fara því er Þorgrímur hafði gert við Véstein er hann ræddi um helskóna.

...says Gísli; "We will take it upon ourselves to make a burial mound for Þorgrímr. This we owe you, and it is our duty to carry it out with honour."

They accepted his offer and all returned to Sæbol together to build a mound. They laid Þorgrímr out in a boat and raised the mound in accordance with the old ways.

When the mound had been sealed, Gísli walked to the mouth of the river and lifted a stone so heavy it was more like a boulder. He dropped it into the boat with such a resounding crash that almost every plank of wood gave way.

"If the weather shifts this," he said, "then I don't know how to fasten a boat."

Some people remarked that this was not unlike what Þorgrímr had done with Vésteinn when he spoke of the Hel-shoes.

[status: referenced copy]

commentary

context

This episode occurs in the short version of Gísla saga Súrssonar.

commentary

(Contributed by Anna Millward.)

tags

Main text: Gísla saga Súrssonar

Attributes: Ritual Forn siðr Mound Burial Ship Funeral customs Honour Weather Ritual Space

Named things:

Text sections: Anon Gísl 17bV

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