The mistake arises from a single passage in Gylfaginning containing the phrase "Then were taken Loki's sons, Váli and Nari". [1] The Poetic Edda. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. I’ve also written a popular list of The 10 Best Norse Mythology Books, which you’ll probably find helpful in your pursuit. "Loki admitted to being there and helping the gods kill Thjassi her father. And one night old | fought Othin's son." Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Early mistranslation or confusion has led to a single mention of a Váli who is a son of Loki: "Þá váru teknir synir Loka, Váli ok Nari eða Narfi" from the Prose Edda,[3] translated as "Then were taken Loki's sons, Váli and Nari". 1993. Hyndluljóð, stanza 29. –, "Formáli & Gylfaginning: Textar fjögurra meginhandrita", Sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, Mythological Norse people, items and places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Váli&oldid=970365387, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 30 July 2020, at 21:41. Baldrs Draumar, stanza 11. In this version of Völuspá, stanza 34 begins: "Þá kná Vála | vígbǫnd snúa", usually amended to the nominative Váli in order to provide a subject for the verb; Ursula Dronke translates it as "Then did Váli | slaughter bonds twist"[1] which presumably refers to Váli, son of Óðinn, who was begotten to avenge Baldr's death, and thus it is likely that he bound Loki, while it is highly improbable that it refers to a Váli, son of Loki, who is attested nowhere but one line of the Prose Edda. Little is known about Vali, except that he is a son of Odin and his giant mistress Rind. Little is known about Vali, except that he is a son of Odin and his giant mistress Rind. Vali - Son of Odin Vali is the Son of Odin, and the God born to avenge the death … Vali (pronounced like the English word “valley”; from Old Norse Váli) is a Norse god whom we know only from a few scattered, passing references in Old Norse literature.He’s the son of the god Odin and the giantess Rindr. The meaning and etymological origins of Vali’s name are unknown. He was born for the sole purpose of avenging the death of Balder. He was born for the sole purpose of avenging Baldr, and does this by killing Höðr, who was an unwitting participant, and binding Loki with the entrails of his son Narfi. The Old Norse Language and How to Learn It, The Swastika – Its Ancient Origins and Modern (Mis)use. “In the west Rind will give birth to Vali. In Norse mythology, Váli is a son of the god Odin and the giantess Rindr. In fact, in some ways ...", "Actually, most of the early Christian martyr stories are pure mythology. [1] When the god Baldur was killed, Vali avenged his death by killing Baldur’s slayer, another obscure divine figure named Hodr (Höðr). Looking for more great information on Norse mythology and religion? Lokasenna ...", "Well, you see, Skadi was in love with Baldur, and never forgave Loki ...", "if magni is son of thor, then who is magni's son or children? He is prophesied to survive Ragnarök. In all these tales Odin goes out immediately – either through seduction, deception, or force – to sire this son.[a]. 1964. Váli grew to full adulthood within one day of his birth, and slew Höðr before going on to Loki. [4] The only other mention of Vali apart from his role in avenging Baldur’s death comes from a poem that lists him among the younger generation of gods who survive Ragnarok, the downfall of the cosmos. [7][8], In the late period Gesta Danorum we also see that Odin is said to have a son with Rinda that will avenge his other son, Baldr's, death – though in this case the name of this new son is Bous rather than Váli. [5] The Poetic Edda. For other uses, see, Note that an avenging son would not have been needed if Odin's goal had been only the destruction of the blind and defenseless, "From the branch which seemed | so slender and fair Váli has numerous brothers including Thor, Baldr, and Víðarr. The Váli myth is referred to in Baldrs draumar: And in Prose Edda Gylfaginning (where he is described as Loki's son). © Daniel McCoy 2012-2019. He’s the son of the god Odin and the giantess Rindr. A depiction of Víðarr stabbing Fenrir while holding his jaws apart by W. G. Collingwood, 1908, inspired by the Gosforth Cross In Norse mythology, Víðarr (Old Norse, possibly "wide ruler", sometimes anglicized as Vidar / ˈviːdɑːr /, Vithar, Vidarr, and Vitharr) is a god among the Æsir associated with vengeance. Váli is often incorrectly referred to as the son of Loki, though this is most likely an early transcription error. However, Gylfaginning describes Váli as the son of Odinin two other instances. The Prose Edda also mentions him again. Learn how your comment data is processed. Came a harmful shaft | that Hoth should hurl; [b], This article is about a son of Odin in Norse mythology. But the brother of Baldr | was born ere long, However, Gylfaginning describes Váli as the son of Odin in two other instances. He may or may not have been actively worshiped by the Norse and/or other Germanic peoples (as opposed to being a merely literary figure). He is prophesied to survive Ragnarök. Vali performed this feat when he was only one day old,[3] and Vali may have been born specifically for this purpose, although the sources are ambiguous on this point. He was born for the sole purpose of avenging Baldr, and does this by killing Höðr, who was an unwitting participant, and binding Loki with the entrails of his son Narfi. p. 348. Similarly where each of these documents ascribe Váli the role of Loki's son we see only in the postscript or translation notes that this transformation was a punishment when in fact the gift of wolf's strength and rage is well attested as being granted by Odin to warriors known as ulfhednar, which would make his son Váli a Berserker and a possible origin for the ulfhednar legend. In Norse mythology, Váli is a son of the god Odin and the giantess Rindr. Translated by Angela Hall. Váli has numerous brothers including Thor, Baldr, and Víðarr. During ...". [7] The significance of this name, like most of Vali’s personality, deeds, and role in Norse mythology, will forever remain a mystery to us. [2] We find the original of the only reference to Váli as the son of Loki, while even the same text refers to Baldr's death being avenged by his brother (in Völuspá 33[6]) as well as Váli being the Son of Odin in Völuspá 51, which is repeated in Baldr's draumar. But the name Valaskjálf is elsewhere used in a more general sense to denote a dwelling-place of the divine, so this place name could also refer to a more general religious center, or could have been used simply to express a desire on the part of those who named it to live in close proximity to the gods. Not to be confused with Vali, who’s the son of Loki and Sigyn. Vali (pronounced like the English word “valley”; from Old Norse Váli) is a Norse god whom we know only from a few scattered, passing references in Old Norse literature. Required fields are marked *. Finally we see a different description in Hauksbók. The most convincing theory that has so far been put forth is that the name is derived from the Proto-Germanic word *waihalaR, “The Arguing One,” which connotes disputation and ultimately combat.[6]. Single-minded demi-God specializing in revenge Son of Odin and Grid. Merely one night old he will avenge the son of Odin. [2] All other documents found that date from this time refer to Váli only as Odin's son, with the exception of more recent copies of the original mistaken text.[3][4][5]. Thor, Baldr, Höðr, Váli, Hermóðr, Heimdallr, Bragi, Týr In Norse mythology, Víðarr (Old Norse, possibly "wide ruler", sometimes Anglicised as Vidar, Vithar, Vidarr, and Vitharr) is a god among the Æsir associated with vengeance. until Balder’s murderer burns at the stake.”, Your email address will not be published.