VIDAR, an Asa, god of wisdom and of silence; he wears thick shoes, hence he is often called by the Scalds, “the god with the thick shoes.” He never breaks silence, but his look is so penetrating that he discovers the most secret thoughts of men. He is to play a most important part at Ragnarok, and will slay the wolf Fenris. Vidar alone will survive the general conflagration and reconstruct the universe on an imperishable basis. Etym.: Icelandic word vitra (wisdom).
VIL, one of the sons of Bor, and second person of the Scandinavian triad, Odin, Vil, and Ve. Of this triad Sneedorf Birch thinks that Odin typifies air or breath; Vil, light; and Ve, warmth. The death of Ymer, therefore, by Odin, Vil, and Ve, typifies the annihilation of ice and snow, and elicitation of the products of the earth by air, light, and warmth.
VINGOLF, name of a palace in Asgard, considered as the peculiar place of rendezvous of the Asynior or goddesses.
YGGDRASSIL, name of the mythologic Ash-tree, called “The tree of the world.” Of this tree it is thus written in the prosaic Edda: “This ash is the first and greatest of all trees, which spreads its branches over the whole earth. It springs from three roots. Near one of these roots, which pushes the trunk and branches towards Asagard, flows the fountain of Urda, which contains the water of wisdom, and of which Mimer is the guardian. The gods often descend to this spot, to sit in judgment on the actions of mankind and of one another. They interrogate Urda. The second root of Yggdrassil stretches towards the region of the Hrimthusser frost-giants of Utgard. The third root extends below, as far as Niffelheim, and is continually gnawed by the dragon Nidhög.” By this, according to Finn Magnussen, is meant the gradual deterioration of the world, which will end in its destruction; for the Ash Yggdrassil is no other than the symbol of our world. May I be permitted to add my conjecture towards the interpretation of this mythe: By the first root, which pushes stem and branches towards Asagard, may be meant the elevation of our thoughts towards heaven. By the second root, extending towards the region of the ferocious Hrimthusser, may be meant the tendency of our minds to fraud, rapine and violence; and by the third root, gnawed by Nidhög, the writhings of conscience and of envy: the etymology of the word Nidhög seems at least to give some weight to my conjecture.
Of this tree it is further written in the prosaic Edda: “On the branches of this Ash dwells an Eagle: he knoweth much, and between his eyes sits a Hawk, called Väderfalner. A squirrel, called Ratatosk, runs up and down the trunk of the Ash-tree, and endeavours to excite discord between the Eagle and the Dragon Nidhög, who dwells at its root. Four stags spring round the Ash-tree, and bite its branches: their names are Dainn, Dvalen, Dunneyr, and Durathror.” Among the various interpretations given of this mythe, the following, given by Grundtvig, seems to me the most happy.
“Yggdrassil is the genealogical tree of the human race; its triple root denotes the three sorts of men who are to be found on earth, viz. Those who cooperate powerfully for a noble and eternal object (children of the gods); Those who work powerfully, but for an ignoble and temporal object (children of giants); and lastly, the idle, useless and powerless, relations of Hela. The Eagle denotes the human mind in its greatest elevation; the Squirrel denotes the tempter or type of temptation, who is in compact with the Dragon. The Hawk denotes the spirit of divination or presentiment of the future, which agitates the human brain; and the four Stags denote the four passions or desires of power, of honour, of wealth, and of sensual pleasure.”
YMER, name of the giant, the great progenitor of the giant race. He was slain by Bor and his sons, as has been already related; and from his body the world was constructed, according to the following lines in the poetic Edda in the chapter called Vaftrudnismal:
From Ymer’s body
The world was created;