Gold Scattered Along the Escape Route

Why did the fleeing king scatter gold?

King Hrolf Kraki of Denmark is known for his generosity and courage. He sends warriors to help King Adils. But Adils gives them neither their reward nor the promised treasures. So Hrolf sets out for Uppsala with his warriors.

At their lodgings, Adils's servants build up the fire until the flames are hot enough to burn their clothes. Hrolf throws his shield into the fire. While it burns, he leaps over the flames, and his warriors follow. Afterwards, his mother gives him a horn filled with gold and a ring, and urges the company to leave.

As they ride away, Adils pursues them with an armed force. Hrolf grabs handfuls of gold from the horn and scatters it along the road. The soldiers dismount and begin picking it up. But Adils alone keeps riding after them, drawing closer.

Then Hrolf throws down the ring, calling it a gift. Adils bends down and picks it up with the tip of his spear. Hrolf watches him do it, and the two part ways. Because of this event, gold came to be called “Kraki's seed”.

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