Strange Survivals

Herodotus, iv. 103: “Enemies whom the Scythians have subdued they treat as follows: each having cut off a head, carries it home with him, then hoisting it on a long pole, he raises it above the roof of his house – and they say that these act as guardians to the household.”

7

The floreated points of metal or stone at the apex of a gable are a reminiscence of the bunch of grain offered to Odin’s horse.

8

Aigla, c. 60. An Icelandic law forbade a vessel coming within sight of the island without first removing its figure-head, lest it should frighten away the guardian spirits of the land. Thattr Thorsteins Uxafots, i.

9

Finnboga saga, c. 34.

10

Hood is Wood or Woden. The Wood-dove in Devon is Hood-dove, and Wood Hill in Yorkshire is Hood Hill.

11

See numerous examples in “The Western Antiquary,” November, 1881.

12

On a discovery of horse-heads in Elsdon Church, by E. C. Robertson, Alnwick, 1882.

13

“Sir Tristram,” by Thomas of Erceldoune, ed. Sir Walter Scott, 1806, p. 153.

14

See an interesting paper and map, by Dr. Prowse, in the Transactions of the Devon Association, 1891.