Considering the harsh conditions in Scandinavia in winter, it is no surprise that the Vikings had a god of winter and skis, who seems to have been worshipped in even pre-Viking times. Ullr, as well as being associated with winter and skiing, was a god of archery, hunting, combat, and also vows. He was clearly an extremely complex god, but little information survives to piece together his story.
Who Was Ullr?
The evidence suggests that Ullr was an old god worshipped in the northern regions of Europe, even before the Vikings migrated into the area with their Germanic religion. His Norse name, pronounced “Ool,” comes from the Old High German word “wuldor,” which means glorious or dazzling. This may be linked to the fact that he was described as having a “fair aspect,” as Balder was also described as “shining” because of his beauty.
Like most Norse gods, Ullr was associated with several domains, which overlapped with the domains of other gods.
God of Winter Wilderness
Ullr was a god associated with the winter wilderness and linked with snowshoes. It was said that no one could catch him on the snow. He is also described in one passage as crossing water on magical bones, which has been taken as a metaphor for crossing over a frozen lake on skates. He is also linked with skis, which were invented in Scandinavia about 6,000 years ago.
God of Hunting
Ullr was also a god of hunting. He had a hall in Asgard which was called Ydalir, which means Yew Grove, linked to the idea that yew was the best wood for bows, though they were also made from ash or elm. The Vikings primarily associated the bow with hunting, although they were also used in battle. The majority of Viking bows were of longbow style and measured between 1.6 and 2 metres long. The estimated draw weight of a Viking bow was 90 pounds.
God of Single Combat
Ullr was also considered by the Vikings to be extremely accomplished as a warrior, especially in single combat. In fact, it was Ullr that the Vikings would invoke for good luck before participating in a duel. The Vikings called single combat “Holmgang,” and it was considered a legally recognized way to settle disputes. In theory, you could challenge anyone regardless of social status. Not to turn up for a duel was to sacrifice one’s honor, though the weak and infirm could have a warrior fight on their behalf.
God of the Shield
Perhaps linked with the idea of Ullr as an expert warrior, he was also linked with the Viking shield. In fact, shields were often referred to as “Ullr’s ship.” There is some speculation that this may have been a reference to him using a shield-shaped object as a sled. However, this was not a common Viking-sled design, which was more sophisticated.
God of Oaths
There are also references in the surviving Skaldic verses to swearing oaths on rings sacred to Ullr. This tradition is reinforced by a shrine to Ullr found in Lilla Illevi in Sweden, where 65 rings were excavated from the shrine. These rings were probably used to swear oaths and then buried in the sacred ground of the god.
Family of Ullr
The only thing that we know for certain about Ullr is that he was the son of Sif, the fertility goddess who was the wife of Thor. But he is not the biological son of Thor, as he is always described as Thor’s stepson.
There are a few theories about who Ullr’s father could be. Some scholars suggest that he may have been the son of Aurvandil, a mortal who accompanied Thor to Jotunheim. But during the journey, Aurvandil lost a toe to frostbite, so Thor cast it into the sky and made it a star. Others suggest that his father may have been among the Vanir gods since he is associated with nature and the hunt.
We also do not know if Ullr had a wife or children. Again, some suggest that he may have been linked with Skadi, the giantess who was associated with winter and the hunt. But the German version of Ullr, Holler, was married to the goddess Holda, a wife and matriarch goddess who more closely resembled Odin’s wife Frigg than any other goddess.
Importance of Ullr
While Ullr is one of the most obscure Norse gods today (not least because he does not appear in the Marvel universe), there is evidence that he was an extremely important god in the Viking Age.
First and foremost, his name appears as part of many Norwegian and Swedish place names, but interestingly, not in place names in Denmark and Iceland. This lends support to the idea that Ullr was an older god who was popular before the Vikings, as Iceland was only colonized during the Viking era.
His importance is also suggested by the fact that the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus included Ullr in his 12th-century Gesta Danorum, which cast the gods in the roles of heroes.
In the story he appears as Ollerus, who was chosen to replace Odin as king for ten years when Odin was exiled for rape. This may be a metaphorical reference to a time when Ullr was among the most important gods, even greater than Odin. The story describes this as an interlude, since Odin was considered an old god, involved in creation, and then came to prominence again after Ullr.
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