Hod, Vali, Vidar
and Ull
Concerning the four major gods Hod, Vali, Vidar, and Ull, few
references are found in Norse sources. Hod, the son of Odin, is
blind but
vigorous; he it is who unwittingly brings about the death of
Balder; he is
subsequently killed by Vali and he will not return until after the
universe
has come to destruction. Vali (also called by Snorri, less
correctly, Ali)
is the son of Odin and Rind. He has his own house in Valaskjalf,
and is a
bold warrior and a good archer. He will neither wash himself nor
clip his
hair until he has taken vengeance upon Hod for the death of
Balder, and he
will survive the destruction of the universe.
Vidar too shall return after Ragnarok. He is the son of Odin and
the Giantess
Grid, and next to Thor he is the strongest of the gods. He is
called The God
of Few Words. When Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods, is come, he
will
avenge Odin by cleaving with his thick boot the throat of the
Fenris Wolf.
His dwelling is in Vidi.
Ull is fair to look upon, a mighty bowman and ski-runner;
men do well to summon him to their aid in single combat. He is the
son of Sif
and the stepson of Thor. His dwelling bears the name of Ydalir.
Sources:
Peter
Andreas Munch: Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods
and Heroes. The American-Scandinavian Foundation, New
York. 1926, pp. 18-19.
Rasmus B. Anderson (Ed.): The Elder Eddas of Saemund
Sigfusson and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson.
Norræna Society, London-New York. 1906.
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