Ullr

Ullr

In Norse mythology, Ullr (Old Norse: [ˈulːz̠]) is a god associated with archery. Although literary references to Ullr are sparse, evidence, including relatively old Scandinavian place names, suggests that he was an important deity in early Germanic paganism. The Proto-Germanic *wulþuz ('glory') seems to have been a significant term, reflected in his name. This word appears as owlþu- on the 3rd-century Thorsberg chape.

NAME AND ORIGINS

The Old Norse theonym Ullr derives from a Proto-Germanic (PGmc) form reconstructed as Wulþuz ('glory'), evidenced in the compound owlþu-þewaz (ᛟᚹᛚᚦᚢᚦᛖᚹᚨᛉ), which translates to either "servant of Owlþuz" or "the glorious servant." This appears on the Thorsberg chape (3rd century CE) and in the Gothic noun wulþus ('glory, wealth'). Ultimately, it originates from the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) noun wul-tus ('sight, appearance'), derived from the root wel- ('to see').

The PGmc term wulþuz is closely related to the Latin vultus ('facial expression, appearance'). It also connects to Celtic languages, such as Old Irish filed ("seer, poet"), Middle Welsh gwelet ("to see"), and Middle Breton guelet ("sight"), all stemming from a Proto-Celtic root wel-ēt-.

The evolution of PIE wul-tus to Gothic wulþus shows a semantic shift from 'appearance' to 'respect' and 'wealth,' reflected in Croatian terms like ugled ('respect') and gledati ('to see').

The root wulþ- appears in Germanic personal names (e.g., OE Wuldwine, OHG Wuldberth, Wuldhart, Wuldrât, Goth. Wulþuwulfs) as a noun meaning 'glory,' though not as a deity's name. The Old English noun wuldor ('glory') derives from a related PGmc term wuldraz (from PIE wul-trós). It often appears in Anglo-Saxon Christian literature as a descriptor for God, such as wuldres cyning ('King of Glory'), wuldorfæder ('glorious Father'), and wuldor alwealda ('glorious Almighty').

The related Old Norse form Ullinn was likely originally connected to Ullr (similar to the doublet Óðr-Óðinn). Philologist Jan de Vries proposed that the wrathful god Óðr-Óðinn contrasted with Ullr-Ullinn, the god of majestic glory, akin to the Vedic contrast between Varuna and Mitra.

LITERARY TRADITION

Gesta Danorum

In Saxo Grammaticus's 12th-century Gesta Danorum, where the gods appear euhemerised, Ullr, Latinised as Ollerus, is described as a cunning magician with magical means of transportation:

"Fama est, illum adeo praestigiarum usu calluisse, ut ad traicienda maria osse, quod diris carminibus obsignavisset, navigii loco uteretur nec eo segnius quam remigio praeiecta aquarum obstacula superaret."

The account states that he was so skilled in sorcery that he used a particular bone (likely a sled or similar device), marked with dreadful spells, as a ship to cross the seas. He navigated obstacles as swiftly as if he were rowing.

When Odin was exiled, Ollerus was chosen to take his place and ruled for ten years under Odin's name until the true Odin was recalled.

Poetic Edda

Ullr is mentioned in Grímnismál, which describes the dwellings of the gods. The following English translations are by Thorpe:

Ýdalir heita
þar er Ullr hefir
sér von görva sali.

Ýdalir is named,
where Ullr
built himself a hall.

The name Ýdalir, meaning "Yew Valleys," is not mentioned elsewhere. Yew wood was crucial for making bows, and the word ýr ("yew") is often used metonymically for bows. This connection reinforces Ullr’s association with archery.

Another stanza in Grímnismál also refers to Ullr:

Ullar hylli
hefr ok allra goða
hverr er tekr fyrstr á funa,
því at opnir heimar
verða of ása sonum,
þá er hefja af hvera.

Ullr’s and all the gods’
favour will have
who first gazes into the flame;
open will be the halls
for the sons of the Æsir,
when the cauldrons are lifted.

This verse, though unclear, may reference a religious ritual and suggests Ullr’s prominence as a deity.

The final mention of Ullr in the Poetic Edda appears in Atlakviða:

Svá gangi þér, Atli,
sem þú við Gunnar áttir
eiða oft of svarða
ok ár of nefnda,
at sól inni suðrhöllu
ok at Sigtýs bergi,
hölkvi hvílbeðjar
ok at hringi Ullar.

"So may it be with you, Atli,
as you were with Gunnar,
for oaths often sworn
and long invoked,
by the southern sun,
by Sigtýr’s hill,
by the quiet bed of rest,
and by Ullr’s ring."

Both Atlakviða and Grímnismál are considered among the oldest surviving Eddic poems. Their unique references to Ullr hint at his connection to ceremonies, such as swearing oaths on a ring, a practice later associated with Thor in references to Norse settlers in Dublin.

THE PROSE EDDA

In Gylfaginning chapter 31 of the Prose Edda, written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century, Ullr is described as the son of Sif (with a father not mentioned in surviving sources) and therefore the stepson of Sif’s husband, Thor:

Ullr heitir einn, sonr Sifjar, stjúpsonr Þórs. Hann er bogmaðr svá góðr ok skíðfœrr svá at engi má við hann keppask. Hann er ok fagr álitum ok hefir hermanns atgervi. Á hann er ok gott at heita í einvígi.

"Ullr, the son of Sif and stepson of Thor, is one. He is such an excellent archer and skier that no one can compete with him. He is also beautiful in appearance and possesses all the qualities of a warrior. He is also good to call upon in duels." – Translation by Young

In the Skáldskaparmál, the second part of the Prose Edda, Snorri mentions Ullr again in a list of epithets and informs readers that Ullr can be referred to as the god of skiing, archery, hunting, and shields. Furthermore, a shield can be referred to as "Ullr’s ship." Despite these intriguing tidbits, Snorri does not recount any myths about Ullr, likely because such tales had faded from collective memory by his time.

SKALDIC POETRY

Snorri’s note that a shield can be called "Ullr’s ship" is corroborated in skaldic poetry, where phrases such as askr Ullar, far Ullar, and kjóll Ullar all refer to shields as "Ullr’s ship." The origin of this epithet is unclear but may relate to Ullr’s identity as a skiing god. Early skis, or possibly sledges, might have resembled shields. A late Icelandic composition, Laufás-Edda, provides a more prosaic explanation, stating that Ullr’s ship was named Skjöldr ("shield").

The name Ullr also appears in warrior epithets, used similarly to other deity names:

  • Ullr-Marken ("Ullr of the Sword") – Warrior
  • Rand-Ullr ("Shield-Ullr") – Warrior
  • Ullr almsíma ("Ullr of the Bowstring") – Warrior

Three skaldic poems, Haustlöng, Eilífr Goðrúnarson’s Þórsdrápa, and a fragment by Eysteinn Valdason, refer to Thor as Ullr’s stepfather, confirming Snorri’s information.

TOPONYMY

Ullr’s name appears in several significant Norwegian and Swedish place names (but not in Denmark or Iceland), indicating that Ullr had greater religious importance in Scandinavia at some point than the limited surviving textual references suggest. It is notable that places named after Ullr are often found near sites associated with other deities, such as Njörðr in Sweden and Freyr in Norway.

Some Norwegian place names show a variant form, Ullinn. It has been speculated that this could be a remnant of a divine twin pair and that there might have been a female Ullin, akin to divine pairs such as Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn. The name Ullr may also be present in the former Finnish municipality of Ullava, in Central Ostrobothnia.

Notable Norwegian Place Names

  • Ullarhváll ("Ullr’s Hill") – Ancient farm name in Oslo and the site of Ullevaal Stadium
  • Ullestad ("Ullr’s Place") – Ancient farm name in Voss
  • Ullarnes ("Ullr’s Promontory") – Ancient farm name in Rennesøy
  • Ullerøy ("Ullr’s Island") – Name of four ancient farms in Skjeberg, Spind, Sør-Odal, and Vestre Moland
  • Ullern ("Ullr’s Meadow") – Ancient farm names in Hole, Oslo, Ullensaker, Sør-Odal, and Øvre Eiker
  • Ullensvang ("Ullr’s Field") – Ancient farm name and historic church site in Ullensvang

Notable Swedish Place Names

  • Ulleråker ("Ullr’s Field") – Uppland
  • Ultuna ("Ullr’s Town") – Uppland
  • Ullared ("Ullr’s Clearing?") – Halland
  • Ullevi ("Ullr’s Sanctuary") – Västergötland
  • Lilla Ullevi ("Little Shrine of Ullr") – Bro, Stockholm. Excavations revealed a Vendel-era cult site with 65 amulet rings, linked to Ullr by the place name.

Icelandic Place Names
The Icelandic scholar Ólafur Lárusson suggested that some Icelandic place names beginning with Ullar- (commonly interpreted as "wool") might also be named after Ullr, especially those like Ullarfoss and Ullarklettur, which resemble other deity-related names like Goða- ("godly").

SCHOLARLY THEORIES

Evidence from place names and wulþuz cognates has led many scholars to conclude that Ullr was one of the older Norse gods, whose significance diminished long before medieval Norse texts were written. This is reflected in the absence of literary references to Ullinn. Some have suggested that Ullr may have been an aspect of the ancient Germanic sky god, possibly analogous to Týr in Denmark.

Due to the association of Ullr and Ullinn place names with Vanir deities, Ernst Alfred Philippson proposed that Ullr, despite being grouped with the Æsir in the Prose Edda, may have been one of the Vanir. Similarities between Ullr’s attributes and those of Skaði have also led to speculation about a connection between Ullr and Skaði’s husband, Njörðr.

Viktor Rydberg speculated in his Teutonic Mythology that Ullr was the son of Sif and Egill-Örvandill, connected to archery through Egill. However, Rudolf Simek notes that this theory has no foundation in the sources.

MODERN RECEPTION

In European skiing communities, Ullr is regarded as the patron saint of skiers. An Ullr medallion, depicting the god on skis with a bow and arrow, is worn as a talisman by recreational and professional skiers, as well as ski teams.

The town of Breckenridge, Colorado, has hosted an annual "Ullr Fest" since 1963, celebrating the god with events intended to gain his favour for snowfall.

Ullr appears as a playable character in the video game Smite.

In the TV series The Almighty Johnsons, Ullr is depicted as the reincarnation of Mike Johnson, played by Tim Balme.

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