V
Vaett – name of the female spirit, guardian of earth.
When ships approached the shore the sailors had to remove the horrifying
ornaments from the ships’ bow, so they wouldn’t frighten off the vaetts.
Vala – prophetess from Voluspa. Another Vala is mentioned
in Nordic myths: this Vala gave birth to three daughters fathered by Odin: the
three Nornas. It’s
possible that it’s the one and same person, if the name vala designates any sorceress (vovla).
Valaskjalf – the throne upon which a Nordic witch sits
in trance and predicts the future. This prophesying was one of the most
renowned Nordic rituals, which also included communion with the dead and
descending into the Underworld. The throne is also called seidhjallar.
Valhalla – dwelling-place of fallen warriors –
Einherjar. Odin’s daughters – Valkyries – brought the dead warriors to Valhalla
where they would serve them mead; for food the warriors ate meat of the
ever-regenerating boar Seshrimnir. In the Eddas, Valhalla is described as an
vast hall covered in gold. It had 540 doors through which 800 warriors could
pass at the same time.
Vali – son of Odin and Rind. The
Eddas only mention that he’s brave and a good shot.
Valkyries – maiden-warriors
whose duty was to take the best men fallen in battle to Valhalla. In the
beginning, Valkyries were depicted as blood-thirsty maidens appearing as
nightmarish beings to warriors thus foretelling their deaths. Later they were
depicted as beautiful fair-haired warriors who served the heroes in Valhalla.
The root of this word val is also in
the name Valhalla and Valknut; this root means fallen, slain.
Valknut – one
of the sacred symbols of Asatru. It’s consisted of three triangles that
together make up the number nine, a sacred number in the Germanic tradition.
This is, first and foremost, Odin’s symbol (the other name for Valknut is
Odin’s Eye), but it’s also associated with Valkyries and Freya. Valknut
translates as Knot of the Fallen;
this makes it the sign of warriors fallen in battle who belong to either Odin
or Freya after death.
Vanadis – one of the names of Goddess Freya. It means
the Goddess of the Van.
Vanaheim –
abode of the Vanir before peace was made with the Asir.
Vanir – one of the two divine tribes. The Vanir are
first of all forces of nature and fertility Gods. In the beginning of time they
entered into war with the Asir; the cause of this war was Gulveig. After the
war was ended, some of the Vanir were sent to the Asir, and vice versa. The
Vanir sent Njord, Frey, Freya and Kvasir from their ranks, and in return they
got Henir and Mimir. Hemidal is also a Van (the singular of Vanir) as well as
Egir.
Var – the Goddess who would punish unfaithful lovers
as well as other who broke oaths.
Vardlokkur – song sung by women during the ritual in
which volva foretold the future and communed with the dead. This song helped
volva to fall into trance while sitting on her throne – the valaskjalf.
Ve – Odin’s brother; together they shaped the first
humans – Askr and Embla.
Verdandi – Norna of the present, whose name means Is. She was the one who decided the
length of an person’s life line.
Vestri – name of the dwarf who was on the western side
of the world.
Vidar – Odin’s son, God of the forest, described as
the “taciturn God”. During Ragnarok, he will slay Fenriz and thus avenge his
father.
Vili – Odin’s brother who created the first humans,
Askr and Embla, together with his brothers Odin and Ve. His name means will.
Vingolf – palace of the Goddesses in Asgard.
Vitki – Nordic sorcerer.
Völsungs – Volsung was the offspring of Odin an the
father of Sigmund and Signy, who created Sinfiotilj, not knowing they’re
related. Sigmund’s other son was Siegfried (Sigurd).
Volva – a woman practicing magic.
Voluspa – part of the Poetic Edda; this text is a description of the visions of a
prophetess in trance, telling of the creation of the Universe and the coming of
Ragnarok. Because of its style the text is difficult to comprehend, so it’s
necessary to consult other sources of Nordic mythology.
