Ullr

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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.

1 The Prose Edda
2 Skaldic poetry
3 The Poetic Edda
4 Gesta Danorum
5 Other evidence
6 Rydberg's theories
7 References
8 Familiar forms

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The Prose Edda

In the Gylfaginning part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda there is a brief description of Ullr.

Ullr heitir einn, sonr Sifjar, stjúpsonr Þórs. Hann er bogmaðr svá góðr ok skíðfœrr svá at engi má við hann keppask. Hann er ok fagr álitum ok hefir hermanns atgervi. Á hann er ok gott at heita í einvígi. [1]

Ull, Sif's son and Thór's stepson, is one [too]. He is such a good archer and ski-runner that no one can rival him. He is beautiful to look at as well and he has all the characteristics of a warrior. It is also good to call on him in duels. — Young's translation

In Skáldskaparmál, the second part of the Prose Edda, Snorri mentions Ullr again in a discussion of kennings. 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.

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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 – Ullr of sword – warrior

rand-Ullr – shield-Ullr – warrior

Ullr almsíma – Ullr of bowstring – warrior [2]

Three skaldic poems, Þórsdrápa, Haustlöng and a fragment by Eysteinn Valdason, refer to Thor as Ullr's stepfather, confirming Snorri's information.

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The Poetic Edda

Ullr is mentioned in Grímnismál where the homes of individual gods are recounted.

Ýdalir heita

þar er Ullr hefir

sér of görva sali.

Ydalir it is called,

where Ullr has

himself a dwelling made. — Thorpe's translation

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.

Ullar hylli

hefr ok allra goða

hverr er tekr fyrstr á funa,

því at opnir heimar

verða of ása sonum,

þá er hefja af hvera.

Ullr’s and all the gods’

favour shall have,

whoever first shall look to the fire;

for open will the dwelling be,

to the Æsir´s sons,

when the kettles are lifted off. — Thorpe's translation

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.

Svá gangi þér, Atli,

sem þú við Gunnar áttir

eiða oft of svarða

ok ár of nefnda,

at sól inni suðrhöllu

ok at Sigtýs bergi,

hölkvi hvílbeðjar

ok at hringi Ullar.

So be it with thee, Atli!

as toward Gunnar thou hast held

the oft-sworn oaths,

formerly taken -

by the southward verging sun,

and by Sigtý’s hill,

the secluded bed of rest,

and by Ullr’s ring. — Thorpe's translation

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.

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Gesta Danorum

In Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum, where gods appear euhemerized as powerful humans, Ullr, under the name Ollerus, is described as a cunning wizard, having magical means of transportation.

Fama est, illum adeo praestigiarum usu calluisse, ut ad traicienda maria osse, quod diris carminibus obsignavisset, navigii loco uteretur nec eo segnius quam remigio praeiecta aquarum obstacula superaret. [3]

The story goes that he was such a cunning wizard that he used a certain bone, which he had marked with awful spells, wherewith to cross the seas, instead of a vessel; and that by this bone he passed over the waters that barred his way as quickly as by rowing. — Elton's translation

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.

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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.

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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.

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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 [4].

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.)

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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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