SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

286 Beowulf, Swedes and Geats
reported by Gregory of Tours, which is dated 'after 515,
probably after 520, but before 530' (Chambers-Wrenn, 3).
On archaeological grounds, Lindqvist (op. cit., 344-5)
dates the mounds as follows: eastern mound, c. 500;
western, 'hardly before the middle of the sixth century';
centre mound (on the basis of position and structure, since
it is yet to be excavated), 'most probably in its original
form from the fifth century', with an added part, from 600
at the earliest. But this dating is disputed by Nils
Aberg, who from an investigation of decorative motifs on
the finds would date these mounds considerably later, to
the middle of the seventh century (see his 'Uppsala hogars
datering', Fornviinnen 42,1947,257-89, English summary
288-9). It is best to follow the caution of Professor
Stenberger here. He concludes that the Old Uppsala
mounds are possibly to be attributed to Aun, Egill, and
Atiils, but that it is even more difficult to do this than to
associate the Vendel mound with Ottarr, and no sure
conclusion is possible (Det forntida Sverige, 537).
In conclusion, then, we are left in doubt as to the
relations between Ynglinga saga (and Ynglingatal) , the
Uppsala mounds and the Beowulf account. Chronology
cannot be finally established which relate any two of the
series. Ynglinga saga has four kings in mounds at
Uppsala (Halfdan, Aun, Egill, Atiils), and one mocked by
the Danes in Vendel, Jutland, while we have three
Uppsala mounds which might be associated with the
written account. Ynglinga saga and Ynglingatal do not
completely correspond with Beowulf on the names of the
kings. What is still more important is that the quality of
the Swedish kings in the account in Beowulf is far superior
to that in the Norse account; the former appear
courageous and successful in war, the latter are a
miserable lot, who consistently lose battles, and are often
driven from their lands. Thus, all three sources of evidence
vary in important respects.