Norse Mythology · deity

Víðarr

Vidar
deitysilencestrengththe avenger

The silent son of Odin, who will avenge his father by slaying the wolf Fenrir at Ragnarök.

Víðarr, by Mårten Winge (Hansen): the god straps on his shoe — Víðarr
Víðarr · Xylograph by Hans Christian Henneberg (1826-93) based on a work by Constantin Hansen (1… · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain
The account

Who they are

Víðarr is the son of Odin and (in one account) of the giantess Gríðr; he is a god of silence and of strength. At Ragnarök, he will avenge his father by slaying the wolf Fenrir, who has killed Odin, by kicking the wolf's lower jaw up and driving his sword through its head [S1]S1 · Poetic Edda (Codex Regius)c. 1270 (preserves earlier oral poetry)textOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. Víðarr is the 'silent' god — he speaks little, and his vengeance is the only one that succeeds at Ragnarök [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Worth knowing
  • The silent son of Odin [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
  • Will avenge Odin by slaying Fenrir at Ragnarök [S1]S1 · Poetic Edda (Codex Regius)c. 1270 (preserves earlier oral poetry)textOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Relationships (2)

Connections

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFOdin — Odin is the parent of Víðarr.[S2]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDFenrir — Víðarr will avenge Odin by slaying Fenrir.[S1] [S2]
Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

View
hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side
Overlays
FocusVíðarrNorse
NORSE · 40variantvariantvariant♥♥♥♥♥♥BrísingamenGjallarhornDraupnirGungnirSkíðblaðnirMjölnirAngerboagiantthe giantess mother of the monsters4 relationsAuðhumblacreaturethe primordial cow2 relationsBestlagiantthe giantess mother of the gods3 relationsBúrideitythe first god3 relationsFriggdeitymarriage2 relationsGerðrgiantthe giantess beloved of Freyr2 relationsGinnungagaprealmthe void2 relationsHöðrdeitythe blind brother of Baldr4 relationsHrungnirgiantthe giant of the iron head2 relationsJárnsaxa (Járnsaxa)giantthe giantess mother of Thor's sons2 relationsLokitrickstercunning11 relationsMuspel (fire)realmfire0 relationsNannadeitythe wife of Baldr3 relationsNiflheim (ice)realmice0 relationsNjorddeitythe sea3 relationsSídgiantthe giantess who bore Sleipnir (in one accou…2 relationsSifdeitythe wife of Thor2 relationsSkaðideitythe huntress1 relationsSurtgiantthe fire-giant3 relationsTýrdeitywar1 relationsYmirgiantthe primordial giant5 relationsBorrdeitythe ancestor of the gods4 relationsFenrirmonsterthe great wolf8 relationsFreyjadeitylove3 relationsFreyrdeityfertility7 relationsHeldeitythe dead3 relationsJörmungandrmonsterthe world-serpent4 relationsSleipnircreaturethe eight-legged horse of Odin2 relationsOdindeitywisdom15 relationsVédeityone of the three brothers who made the world5 relationsVilideityone of the three brothers who made the world5 relationsBaldrdeitylight10 relationsHeimdalldeitythe watchman3 relationsThordeitythunder10 relationsVálideitythe avenger of Baldr2 relationsVíðarrdeitysilence2 relationsFosite (Forsétir)deitypeace3 relationsMagnideitystrength3 relationsMóðideitystrength4 relationsUllrdeitythe archer1 relations
zoom 3.39× · close
  • parentage
  • marriage ♥

far = primordials · medium = all · close = detail — scroll/pan, click a deity to focus

Myths featuring Víðarr

1 story

Ragnarök (The Fate of the Gods)

At the end of the world, a great winter (the Fimbulwinter) precedes Ragnarök. The bonds break: Fenrir breaks free, Jörmungandr rises from the sea, and the ship Naglfar (built from the nails of the dead) sails with the hosts of the dead. Heimdall sounds the horn Gjallarhorn; the gods ride to the field of Vígríðr. In the great battle, Odin is swallowed by Fenrir (avenged by Víðarr), Thor slays Jörmungandr but dies of his venom, Freyr is slain by Surt (having given away his sword), and Heimdall and Loki kill each other. Surt's fire destroys the world; from the ashes, a new world rises [S1]S1 · Poetic Edda (Codex Regius)c. 1270 (preserves earlier oral poetry)textOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.

READ THE STORY →

Artworks

Depictions

Víðarr, by Mårten Winge (Hansen): the god straps on his shoe — Víðarr
Víðarr · Xylograph by Hans Christian Henneberg (1826-93) based on a work by Constantin Hansen (1… · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain
Víðarr · undated
Víðarr in the jaws of Fenrir, by J. R. Collingwood — Víðarr in the jaws of Fenrir
Víðarr in the jaws of Fenrir · W.G. Collingwood (1854 - 1932) · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain
Víðarr in the jaws of Fenrir · undated
Vidar, by Lindboe/Hansen — Vidar
Vidar · Unknown (Norsk Folkemuseum) · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain
Vidar · undated
← Norse MythologyAll galleries