letter D being, for want of space, the only one missing.

Bracteate found at Trollhättan, Sweden. Real size.

Bracteates found at Slangerup, Zeeland. Real size.

One of the facts which attracts great attention is the different mystic signs[227] found upon bracteates and other numerous objects represented in these pages. These no doubt had some symbolical meaning, just as the Christian cross when used as an ornament, or placed upon a grave as a symbol.

Some of the signs appear to have been common to various nations, who probably adopted the same religion from which they spring, just as to-day the Christian cross is the emblem of numerous nations or tribes scattered over the globe.

The cross with four arms of equal length seems to be one of if not the most ancient of symbolic signs; it is seen on the rock-tracings of Bohuslan (of which several illustrations are given in this work), sometimes surrounded by a ring, at others a double cross is represented by itself. Such tracings cannot be taken for wheels or shields.

Bronze knives, with a cross surmounted by a ring, are also to be seen.

The _svastika_, or hooked cross, in its various modifications, seen on so many objects in the North, is of very ancient origin, and occurs in the Vedaic religion.

Other remarkable signs are the triad, in the shape of dots placed in a triangle, and the _triskele_, which are seen on many objects. There was evidently importance attached to the numbers “Three” and “Nine;” but it is impossible to tell what was the true meaning in the mythology of these people of the triad, which is very common on the jewels and other objects illustrated in this work,[228] and it is remarkable that some of the graves are made to represent the above signs.[229]

Footnote 226:

Some magnificent works have been published on bracteates, the finest being ‘Atlas for Nordisk Oldkyndighed,’ Copenhagen, 1857; but since then many valuable additions have been discovered.

Footnote 227:

We find constant mention of the numbers 3 and 7, 9 and 12, which seem to have been holy:—

Heimdall had ix sisters for his mothers.

Ægir had ix daughters.

In Helgi Hundingsbani, ii., ix Valkyrjas help Helgi in a storm and save his ships.

Halfdan the old had ix + ix sons, of which ix were born first, and ix after.

Dag, one of Halfdan’s sons, had ix sons, and from all Halfdan’s sons there are ix generations to Harald Fairhair.

Draupnir begets 8 rings every ix night, and is itself the ix. The ring did not get this quality before going through the fire on Baldr’s pyre.

The following will show the frequent occurrence of the number Nine in the literature of the North:—

With Harald Hilditönn were ix Scalds (Sögubrot, c. 8).

IX nights had Frey to wait for Gerd.

Njörd and Skadi watched in turns every ix nights by the sea or on mountains (S. E. i. 92, 94).

IX days at a time were Sigmund and Sinfjötli in wolves’ shapes.

IX nights in succession comes King Siggeir’s mother as a she-wolf and kills ix Volsungas (Volsunga, c. 5).

IX nights did Odin hang on the windblown tree (Hávamál, 138).

IX nights did Hermod ride through deep and dark valleys without any sun, when he was going to Helheim.

IX days lasted the battle on Dunheath.

IX times 60 doors there are in Valhalla.

IX times 60 halls in Bilskirnir.

IX paces did Thor go from the Midgard’s serpent and die.

IX paces are red-hot irons carried (Fornmanna Sögur, i.).

IX red-hot plough-shares are stepped upon (Fornmanna Sögur, vii. 164, x. 418).

Footnote 228:

The S sign is also common, especially in the bronze age.

Footnote 229:

A kind of trinity of the higher deities is represented in Persia, India, Chaldæa, and other countries.