distinguished for manhood, a standing stone; which custom remained long after Odin's time. Toward winter there should be a blood-sacrifice for a good year, and in the middle of winter for a good crop; and the third sacrifice should be in summer, for victory in battle. Over all Svithjod[1] the people paid Odin a scatt, or tax,—so much on each head; but he had to defend the country from enemy or disturbance, and pay the expense of the sacrifice-feasts toward winter for a good year.
y^ Ifjord took a wife liight Skade; but she would not live with him, but married afterward Odin, and had many sons by him, of whom one was called Saming, and of this Ey vind Skaldespiller sings thus:
To Asason[2] Queen Skade bore
Saming, who dyed his shiekl in gore, —
The giant queen of rock and snow
Who loves to dwell on earth below,
The iron pine-tree's daughter she,
Sprung from the rocks that rib the sea,
To Odin bore full many a son, —
Heroes of many a battle won.
To Saming Jarl Hakon the Great reckoned up his pedigree.[3] This Svithjod (Sweden) they call Mannheim, but the great Svithjod they call Godheim, and of Godlieim great wonders and novelties were related.
Odin died in his bed in Sweden; and when he was near his death he made himself be marked with the point of a spear,[4] and said he was going to Godheim,
- ↑ Svithjod, which here means Sweden, is derived from Odin's name, Svidr and thjod = folk, people. Svithjod thus means Odin's people, and the country takes its name from the people.
- ↑ Odin.
- ↑ Norway was given to Saming by Odin.
- ↑ He gave himself nine wounds in the form of the head of a spear, or Thor's hammer; that is, he marked himself with the sign of the cross f an ancient heathen custom.
