Vali – Son Of Odin, Who Avenged Death Of Balder And Survived Ragnarok
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In Norse mythology, Vali was the god of eternal light and the youngest son of the god Odin. His mother was the earth goddess Rindr (Rinda), a beautiful mortal woman who later became a goddess.
Vali, son of Odin. Source
Usually portrayed and revered as an archer and a brave warrior, Vali personified the light of the days, which becomes longer when spring arrives on the earth.
He was one of the few gods to survive the destruction of the world – Ragnarok.
Odin Must Mate With Beautiful Rindr To Produce A Son
Rindr was the only child of an old king, Billing, whose country was systematically threatened by invaders, but his health did not allow him to defend his land successfully. He needed allies, and he could get the help he needed through his daughter's marriage.
Unfortunately, the beautiful Rindr stubbornly refused to get married.
In the meantime, Odin, worried about his son Balder's terrifying dreams, decided to visit Völva, a seeress and magician, who predicted the destruction of the earth, gods, and powers at Ragnarok. Her prophecies were feared not only by Vikings but even by the Norse gods.
He mounted his wonderful, magical horse Sleipnir and journeyed to the underworld, Niflheim, and there, he learned that his son Balder would be killed by Odin's son, the blind Hod (Hodur). The Völva also added that this would be avenged by another son of Odin's, Vali, as yet unborn.
Vali (Vale), holding a bow, traveling through a forest. Carl Emil Doepler (1824-1905) - Wägner, Wilhelm. 1882. Nordisch-germanische Götter und Helden. Otto Spamer, Leipzig & Berlin. Page 263.
In other versions of this myth, it is Rostioff, the wizard from Lapland, who prophesied that from the union of Odin and Rind, a son, Vali, would be born, and he would avenge the death of Balder.
According to the seeress' instruction, the mighty Odin must meet king Billing's daughter, Rindr, and mate with her to produce a son, so he did.
Despite many clever disguises, Odin had difficulties winning Rind. Eventually, he succeeded by using magical runes; Rindr agreed to marry him.
The newborn son, Vali, would become an adult in only one day, and then, according to her prophecy, this young man would kill Hod (Hodur) for what he did to Balder.
Vali was conceived with one purpose: to avenge his brother Balder's death.
One Night Old Vali Takes Vengeance And Kills Hodur
Nine months passed and Vali, a newborn boy, just one night old, with dirty hands and uncombed hair, crossed the Bifrost, a burning rainbow bridge between Midgard (Earth) and Asgard, the dominion of the gods.
Suddenly, he grew in front of everyone gathered in the hall until he was as big as an adult man.
Odin realized that the boy was his son Vali. Vali drew an arrow from the quiver that he would always carry and shot it at Hodur, who died instantly. Balder's death was avenged, as the Völva prophesized it.
Vali is mentioned in poems such as Vavtrudnesmal's sayings, the third poem in the Poetic Edda, 'Gylfaginning,' the first part of Snorri Sturluson's 13th century Prose Edda, and Voluspa.
Written by - A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com Senior Staff Writer
Updated on December 1, 2022
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
More From Ancient Pages
-
Tooth Analysis Sheds Light On South Australia’s Early Colonial History
Archaeology | Jul 6, 2022
-
Isabel Neville And Unsolved Mystery Of Her Death
Featured Stories | Mar 28, 2019
-
Excavation At Tell Edfu Reveals Early New Kingdom Complex
Archaeology | Jan 10, 2019
-
Excavation Of A Mysterious 5,000-Year-Old Tomb Linked To King Arthur Has Started
Archaeology | Jul 5, 2022
-
Dreamcatcher: Powerful Protective Amulet Of North American Indian People
Ancient Traditions And Customs | Mar 20, 2020
-
This Is One Of The Oldest Pieces Of Cloth In The World And It’s Made Of Bast Fibers!
Featured Stories | Aug 26, 2023
-
Cyrus The Great Cylinder – Legacy Of The Ancients
Artifacts | Aug 25, 2015
-
Water Storage Failure And Short-Lived Koh Ker Capital Of Khmer Empire
Archaeology | Nov 1, 2019
-
Mystery Of King Solomon’s Mines: An Unsolved Ancient Enigma
Featured Stories | Aug 9, 2018
-
Unexpected Discovery Of 600 B.C Assyrian Palace In Shrine Destroyed By Isil Militants
Archaeology | Mar 2, 2017
-
Mysterious Location Of The Amazing Land Of Punt – Can This Puzzle Be Solved One Day?
Featured Stories | Jul 18, 2016
-
The Olympics In Ancient And Modern Times – What Has Changed?
Featured Stories | Jun 20, 2019
-
Mysterious Yamacutah – A Sacred Native American Indian Shrine
Artifacts | Sep 18, 2020
-
Ancient Recycling Technology Modern World Still Hasn’t Invented
Civilizations | May 5, 2018
-
Remains Of Graeco-Roman Temple Discovered Near Egypt’s Siwa Oasis
Archaeology | Apr 6, 2018
-
Medieval Paradise Cockaigne – Land Of Extreme Pleasure And Luxury
Featured Stories | Dec 12, 2018
-
Kanishka Casket – Beautiful Ancient Buddhist Treasure In Gilded Copper
Featured Stories | Jun 14, 2021
-
On This Day In History: Captain James Cook Spotted The East Coast Of Australia – On Apr 19, 1770
News | Apr 19, 2016
-
Evidence Of Brain Surgery Performed 3,000 Years Ago Discovered In Tel Megiddo, Israel
Archaeology | Feb 23, 2023
-
Why Do Some Men Think Often About The Roman Empire?
News | Oct 4, 2023