THE SCENE: Students of the “old ways” may enjoy this detailed description of the structure and rituals of a temple to Thor.
THE TEXT: Then Thorolf carried fire around his land-claim, from the Stafa river as far as the river he named Thorsa (Thor’s river). He established settlements for his crew and set up a large farm by the cove, Hofsvog, which he named Hofstadir. Then he had a temple built, and it was a sizeable building, with a door on the side wall near the gable. The high-seat pillars were placed inside the door, and nails, that were called holy nails, were driven into them. Beyond that point, the temple was a sanctuary. At the inner end there was a structure similar to the choir in churches nowadays and there was a raised platform in the middle of the floor like an alter, where a ring weighing twenty ounces and fashioned without a join was placed, and all oaths had to be sworn on this ring. It also had to be worn by the temple priest at all public gathering. A sacrificial bowl was placed on the plat form and in it a sacrificial twig – like a priest’s aspergillum – which was used to sprinkle blood from the blow. This blood, which was called sacrificial blood, was the blood of live animals offered to the gods. The gods were placed around the platform in the choir-like structure within the temple. All farmers had to pay a toll to the temple and they were obligated to support the temple godi in all his campaigns, just as thingmen as now obligated to do for their chieftains. The temple godi was responsible for the upkeep of the temple and ensuring it was maintained properly, as well as for holding sacrificial feasts in it.
When Thord Bellower established the Quarter Assemblies he made it the site for the West Fjords Quarter Assembly. It is still possible to see the judgement circle in which men were sentenced to be sacrificed. Within the ring stands Thor’s stone, across which men’s backs were broken when they were sacrificed, and the stain of blood can still be seen on the stone. The site of the assembly was the holiest of places, but it was not forbidden to relieve oneself there.
– The Saga of the People of Eyri, 13th Century AD
