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In Norse Mythology , Ullr ‡ is a son of Sif and a stepson of Thor . While extant sources are scant he appears to have been a major god in prehistoric times, or even an aspect of the head of the Proto-Germanic Pantheon , mentioned on the 3rd century Thorsberg Chape . THE ''PROSE EDDA'' In the '' Gylfaginning '' part of Snorri Sturluson 's '' Prose Edda '' there is a brief description of Ullr. In '' Skáldskaparmál '', the second part of the Prose Edda, Snorri mentions Ullr again in a discussion of Kenning s. Snorri informs his readers that Ullr can be called ski-god, bow-god, hunting-god and shield-god. In turn a shield can be called Ullr's ship. Despite these tantalising tidbits Snorri relates no myths about Ullr. It seems likely that he didn't know any, the god having faded from memory. SKALDIC POETRY Snorri's note that a shield can be called Ullr's ship is borne out by surviving Skaldic Poetry with kennings such as ''askr Ullar'', ''far Ullar'' and ''kjóll Ullar'' all meaning Ullr's ship and referring to shields. While the origin of this kenning is unknown it could be connected with the identity of Ullr as a ski-god. Early skis, or perhaps sleds, might have been reminiscent of shields. A late Icelandic composition, '' Laufás-Edda '', offers the prosaic explanation that Ullr's ship was called ''Skjöldr'', "Shield". The name of Ullr is also common in warrior kennings, where it is used as other god names are. Ullr brands rand-Ullr Ullr almsíma Three skaldic poems, '' Þórsdrápa '', '' Haustlöng '' and a fragment by Eysteinn Valdason , refer to Thor as Ullr's stepfather, confirming Snorri's information. THE ''POETIC EDDA'' Ullr is mentioned in '' Grímnismál '' where the homes of individual gods are recounted. The name ''Ýdalir'', meaning "yew dales", is not otherwise attested. The Yew was an important material in the making of bows, and the word ''ýr'', "yew", is often used metonymically to refer to bows. It seems likely that the name ''Ýdalir'' is connected with the idea of Ullr as a bow-god. Another strophe in ''Grímnismál'' also mentions Ullr. The strophe is obscure but may refer to some sort of religious ceremony. It seems to indicate Ullr as an important god. The last reference to Ullr in the ''Poetic Edda'' is found in '' Atlakviða ''. Again we seem to find Ullr associated with some sort of ceremony, this time that of swearing an oath by a ring. Both ''Atlakviða'' and ''Grímnismál'' are often considered to be among the oldest extant Eddic poems. It may not be a coincidence that they are the only ones to refer to Ullr. GESTA DANORUM In Saxo Grammaticus ' '' Gesta Danorum '', where gods appear Euhemerize d as powerful humans, Ullr, under the name Ollerus, is described as a cunning wizard, having magical means of transportation. When Odin was exiled, Ollerus was chosen to take his place. Ollerus ruled under the name Odin for ten years until the true Odin was called back, whereupon Ollerus retired to Sweden where he was slain by Danes. OTHER EVIDENCE The name ''Ullr'' is probably cognate with the Old English word ''wuldor'' and the Gothic word ''wulþus'', meaning "glory". The appearance of Ullr's name in numerous Danish, Norwegian and Swedish place names (for example Ulleråker "Ullr's field" and Ullevi "Ullr's shrine") is further evidence that Ullr had at some point a religious importance greater than is immediately apparent from the scant surviving textual references. See also Nerthus . RYDBERG'S THEORIES In Viktor Rydberg 's idiosyncratic ''Teutonic Mythology'' Ullr is the son of Sif and Egill- Örvandill , half-brother of Svipdagr - Óðr , nephew of Völundr and a cousin of Skaði . His father, Egill, was the greatest archer in the mythology, and Ullr follows in his father's footsteps. Ullr helped Svipdagr-Eiríkr rescue Freyja from the giants. He also ruled over the Vanir when they held Ásgarðr during the war between the Vanir and the Æsir. While most of Rydberg's theories are dismissed as fanciful by modern scholars his idea that Ullr is connected with the elves of '' Völundarkviða '' is not absurd. Both seem associated with skiing and hunting and since Ullr's father is not identified as one of the Æsir he may have been of another race. REFERENCES Eysteinn Björnsson (ed.) (2005). ''Snorra-Edda: Formáli & Gylfaginning : Textar fjögurra meginhandrita'' . Eysteinn Björnsson (2001). ''Lexicon of Kennings: Domain of Battle''. Eysteinn Björnsson. Eysteinn Valdason: From a Thor poem. Finnur Jónsson. ''Lexicon Poeticum'', "Ullr". 1931. S. L. Møllers Bogtrykkeri, København. Entry available online at {Link without Title} . Jón Helgason (Ed.). (1955). ''Eddadigte'' (3 vols.). Copenhagen: Munksgaard. Rydberg, Viktor (1889). ''Teutonic Mythology'', trans. Rasmus B. Anderson. London: Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Reprinted 2001, Elibron Classics. ISBN 1402193912. Reprinted 2004, Kessinger Publishing Company. ISBN 0766188914. Saxo Grammaticus, ''Gesta Danorum'' , Books I-IX, translated to English by Oliver Elton 1905. Saxo Grammaticus, ''Gesta Danorum'' , from the Royal Library in Copenhagen, Danish and Latin. Snorri Sturluson ; translated by Jean I. Young (1964). ''The Prose Edda : Tales from Norse mythology''. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0520012313. Thorpe, Benjamin . (Trans.). (1866). ''Edda Sæmundar Hinns Froða: The Edda Of Sæmund The Learned''. (2 vols.) London: Trübner & Co. 1866. (HTML version available at Northvegr: Lore: Poetic Edda - Thorpe Trans. ) FAMILIAR FORMS In Modern Icelandic Ullr is usually referred to as ''Ullur''. In the mainland Scandinavian Languages the familiar form is ''Ull'', without the Nominative Case marker -r. The latter form is sometimes used as an Anglicization , as is ''Uller''. |
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