Egil, fleeing from the pursuit of King Eirik Bloodaxe and his men, got a vessel to go to Iceland.
“And when they were ready to sail Egil went upon an island. He took into his hand a hazel-pole and went on a projecting rock, pointing landwards. He took a horse’s head and fastened it upon the pole; then he said the following words: ‘Here I raise a pole as a curse, and I turn this curse upon King Eirik and Queen Gunnhild.’ He turned the horse’s head so that it pointed landwards. ‘I turn this curse on the guardian spirits who dwell in this country, so that they shall all go astray, and no one of them shall meet or find his home until they have driven King Eirik and Gunnhild from the land.’ He thrust the pole into a rift in the rock, and let it stand there; he carved runes on the pole which told all this imprecation. Thereupon he went on board ship and sailed” (Egil’s Saga, c. 30).
CHAPTER XXVIII.
VALHÖLL-VALHALLA.
Influence of the belief in “the hall of the slain”—A warrior’s death a pass to Valhalla—Figurative offer of warriors to Odin—Self-sacrifice to Odin—Entrance to Valhalla—Food and drink in Valhalla—Odin’s welcome to warriors.
The belief in a Valhalla (the hall of the slain) by the ancestors of the English tribes was destined to exert a most potent influence upon the future history of Europe. It made the people of the North most powerful and skilled warriors; it infused into their minds an utter disregard of death, and led them to accomplish great deeds of valour in their own and distant lands. To fall gloriously on a battle-field was held to assure a certain entry to Valhalla; it was a sign of the favour of Odin. This part of the Valhalla faith was so deeply rooted in the minds of the people that it lasted to the very end of the Pagan era, or about the 12th century.
In Grinismal, which gives a description of the home of some of the gods and of the goddesses, Freya and Saga, we read:—
Gladsheim[[347]] is the fifth called
Where the gleaming
Valhalla stands;
There Hropt (Odin) chooses