Shook his brown hair,
Looked on his white shield;
Let the golden cup
Turn in his hand.
(Hamdismál, 20.)
After the burning of Njal, Skarphedin, his son, was found dead.
“He had been standing at the gable, and the greater part of his legs were burnt up to his knees, but the rest of his body was not burnt; his eyes were open and not swollen; he had bitten his moustache, and had struck with the axe so fast into the gable that its blade went in as far as its middle, and therefore it was not softened” (Njala, c. 132).
Fig. 1155.—Man with moustache; reverse of silver coin with ship.
A peculiar story is related of Ögmund Eythjófsbani, a famous Viking, full of witchcraft and devilry, who often fought against Örvarodd.