Víðarr

In Norse mythology, Víðarr (Old Norse, possibly "wide ruler"Orchard (1997:174—175).] ) is a god among the Æsir associated with vengeance. Víðarr is described as the son of Odin and the jötunn Gríðr, and is foretold to avenge his father's death by killing the wolf Fenrir at Ragnarök, a conflict which he is described as surviving. Víðarr is attested in the "Poetic Edda", compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the "Prose Edda", written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and is interpreted as depicted with Fenrir on the Gosforth Cross. A number of theories surround the figure, including theories around potential ritual silence and a Proto-Indo-European basis.

Attestations

"Poetic Edda"

In the "Poetic Edda", Víðarr is mentioned in the poems "Völuspá", "Vafthrúdnismál", "Grímnismál", and "Lokasenna".In stanzas 54 and 55 of the poem "Völuspá", a völva tells Odin that his son Víðarr will avenge Odin's death at Ragnarök by stabbing Fenrir in the heart.Larrington (1999:11).] In stanzas 51 and 53 of "Vafthrúdnismál" , Vafþrúðnir states that Víðarr and his brother Váli will both live in the "temples of the gods" after Surtr's fire has ceded and that Víðarr will avenge the death of his father Odin by sundering the cold jaws of Fenrir in battle.Larrington (1999:48).]

In stanza 17 of "Grímnismál", during Odin's visions of various dwelling places of the gods, he describes Víðarr's (here anglicized as "Vidar") residence::Brushwood grows and high grass:widely in Vidar's land:and there the son proclaims on his horse's back:that he's keen to avenge his father.Larrington (1999:54).]

According to "Lokasenna", Loki rebukes the gods at the start of the poem for not properly welcoming him to the feast at Ægir's hall. In stanza 10, Odin finally relents to the rules of hospitality, urging Víðarr to stand and pour a drink for the quarrelsome guest. Víðarr does so, and then Loki toasts the Æsir before beginning his flyting.Larrington (1999:86).]

"Prose Edda"

Víðarr is referenced in the "Prose Edda" books "Gylfaginning" and "Skáldskaparmál":

"Gylfaginning"

Víðarr is referenced in the book "Gylfaginning" in chapters 29, 51, and 53. In chapter 29, Víðarr is introduced by the enthroned figure of High as "the silent god" with a thick shoe, that he is nearly as strong as the god Thor, and that the gods rely on him in times of immense difficulties.Byock (2006:37).]

In chapter 51, High foretells that, during Ragnarök, the wolf Fenrir will devour Odin, Víðarr will avenge him by stepping down with one foot on the lower jaw of the monster, grabbing his upper jaw in one hand and tearing his mouth apart, killing him. Víðarr's "thick shoe" is described as consisting of all the extra leather pieces that people have cut from their own shoes at the toe and heel, collected by the god throughout all time. Therefore, anyone who is concerned enough to give assistance to the gods should throw these pieces away.Byock (2006:73).]

In chapter 54, following Ragnarök and the rebirth of the world, Víðarr along with his brother Váli will have survived both the swelling of the sea and the fiery conflagration unleashed by Surtr, completely unharmed, and shall thereafter dwell on the field Iðavöllr, "where the city of Asgard had previously been".Byock (2006:77).]

"Skáldskaparmál"

According to "Skáldskaparmál", Víðarr was one of the twelve presiding male gods seated in their thrones at a banquet for the visiting Ægir.Faulkes (1995:59).] At a point in dialogue between the skaldic god Bragi and Ægir, Snorri himself begins speaking of the myths in euhemeristic terms and states that the historical equivalent of Víðarr was the Trojan hero Aeneas who survived the Trojan War and went on to achieve "great deeds".Faulkes (1995:66).]

Later in the book, various kennings are given for Víðarr, including again the "silent As", "possessor of the iron shoe", "enemy and slayer of Fenrisulf", "the gods' avenging As", "father's homestead-inhabiting As", "son of Odin", and "brother of the Æsir".Faulkes (1995:76).] In the tale of the god Thor's visit to the hall of the jötunn Geirröd, Gríðr is stated as the mother of "Víðarr the Silent" who assists Thor in his journey.Faulkes (1995:82).] In chapter 33, after returning from Asgard and feasting with the gods, Ægir invites the gods to come to his hall in three months. Fourteen gods make the trip to attend the feast, including Víðarr.Faulkes (1995:95).] In chapter 75, Víðarr's name appears twice in a list of Æsir.Faulkes (1995:156—157).]

Archaeological record

The mid-11th century Gosforth Cross, located in Cumbria, England, has been described as depicting a combination of scenes from the Christian Judgement Day and the pagan Ragnarök.Pluskowski (2004:158).] The cross features various figures depicted in Borre style, including a man with a spear facing a monstrous head, one of whose feet is thrust into the beast's forked tongue and on its lower jaw, while a hand is placed against its upper jaw, a scene interpreted as Víðarr fighting Fenrir. This depiction has been theorized as a metaphor for Christ's defeat of Satan.Schapiro (1980:264, note 66).]

Theories

Ritual silence

Theories have been proposed that Víðarr's silence may derive from a ritual silence or other abstentions which often accompany acts of vengeance, as for example in "Völuspá" and "Baldrs draumar" when Váli, conceived for the sole purpose of avenging Baldr's death, abstains from washing his hands and combing his hair "until he brought Baldr's adversary to the funeral pyre".Lindow (2001:312—313).] The shoe, he states, is certainly associated with vengeance.

Indo-European archetype

Georges Dumézil theorized that Víðarr represents a cosmic figure from an archetype derived from the Proto-Indo-Europeans.Lindow (2001:314) referencing Dumézil, Georges (1965). "Le dieu scandinave Víðarr" collected in "Revue de l'histoire des religions" 168, pages 1—13.] Dumézil stated that he was aligned with both vertical space, due to his placement of his foot on the wolf's lower jaw and his hand on the wolf's upper jaw, and horizontal space, due to his wide step and strong shoe, and that, by the killing the wolf, Víðarr keeps the wolf from destroying the cosmos, and the cosmos can thereafter be restored after the destruction resulting from Ragnarök.

Notes

References

*Byock, Jesse (Trans.) (2006). "The Prose Edda". Penguin Classics. ISBN 0140447555
*Faulkes, Anthony (Trans.) (1995). "Edda". Everyman. ISBN 0-4608-7616-3
*Larrington, Carolyne (Trans.) (1999). "The Poetic Edda". Oxford World's Classics. ISBN 0192839462
*Lindow, John (2001). "Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs". Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-515382-0
*Orchard, Andy (1997). "Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend". Cassell. ISBN 0 304 34520 2
*Pluskowski, Aleks. "Apocalyptic Monsters: Animal Inspirations for the Iconography of Medieval Northern Devourers" as collected in: Bildhauer, Bettina. Mills, Robert (2004). "The Monstrous Middle Ages". University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0802086675
*Schapiro, Meyer (1980). "Cain's Jaw-Bone that Did the First Murder", Selected Papers, volume 3, Late Antique, Early Christian and Mediaeval Art. Chatto & Windus, London, ISBN 0701125144. [http://www.jstor.org/pss/3046829 JSTOR] .