Norse Mythology · deity

Vili

Vili
deityone of the three brothers who made the world

One of the three brothers (with Odin and Vé) who created the world from Ymir's body. Barely developed in the sources.

VI
The account

Who they are

Vili is one of the three brothers — Odin, Vili, and Vé — sons of Borr and Bestla, who together created the world from the body of the giant Ymir [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. After the creation, Vili (and Vé) largely disappear from the myths; Odin becomes the chief god, and the 'three brothers' are mostly a memory of the creation act [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. Vili is one of the 'thin' figures of Norse myth — named, but not developed.
Worth knowing
  • Co-creator of the world with Odin and Vé [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
  • Largely disappears from the myths after the creation [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Uncertainties & variants
  • Vili is a 'thin' figure; the sources give him almost no independent myth [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Relationships (5)

Connections

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFBorr — Borr is the parent of Vili.[S2]
PARENT_OFBestla — Bestla is the parent of Vili.[S2]
SIBLING_OFOdin — Odin, Vili, and Vé are brothers.[S2]
SIBLING_OFVé — Vili and Vé are brothers.[S2]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDYmir — Vili (with Odin and Vé) killed Ymir.[S2]
Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

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hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side
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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
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Myths featuring Vili

1 story

The Creation of the World from Ymir

Between the ice of Niflheim and the fire of Muspelheim, in the void of Ginnungagap, the rime formed the giant Ymir and the cow Auðhumbla. From the salt Auðhumbla licked came the first god, Búri. His descendants — Odin, Vili, and Vé — killed Ymir and made the world from his body: his blood the seas, his flesh the earth, his bones the mountains, his skull the sky [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.

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