The Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas on Uller
Contents > Chapter Xi: Uller
attestation: Uller was the winter-god, son of Sif and stepson of Thor; his father is unmentioned but implied to be a frost giant, for Uller loved cold and travelled on broad snowshoes or skates.
"Uller, the winter-god, was the son of Sif, and the stepson of Thor. His father, who is never mentioned in the Northern sagas, must have been one of the dreaded frost giants, for Uller loved the cold and delighted in travelling over the country on his broad snowshoes or glittering skates."
attestation: As god of hunting and archery, Uller lived at Ydalir (vale of yews) and was represented with a quiver of arrows and a huge bow; the yew was his favourite tree.
"As god of hunting and archery, he is represented with a quiver full of arrows and a huge bow, and as the yew furnishes the best wood for the manufacture of these weapons, it is said to have been his favourite tree. To have a supply of suitable wood ever at hand ready for use, Uller took up his abode at Ydalir, the vale of yews"
attestation: As winter-god, Uller was considered second only to Odin; during the winter months he usurped Odin's place, taking possession of Frigga, and exercised full sway over Asgard and Midgard.
"As winter-god, Uller, or Oller, as he was also called, was considered second only to Odin, whose place he usurped during his absence in the winter months of the year. During this period he exercised full sway over Asgard and Midgard, and even, according to some authorities, took possession of Frigga, Odin's wife"
attestation: Uller was also god of death and was supposed to ride in or lead the Wild Hunt; he spoke magic runes over a bone transforming it into a vessel that bore him over land or sea.
"Uller was also considered god of death, and was supposed to ride in the Wild Hunt, and at times even to lead it. He is specially noted for his rapidity of motion, and as the snowshoes used in Northern regions are sometimes made of bone, and turned up in front like the prow of a ship, it was commonly reported that Uller had spoken magic runes over a piece of bone, changing it into a vessel, which bore him over land or sea at will."
attestation: In Germany, Uller was called Holler and considered husband of Holda; the Scandinavians said Uller married Skadi, Njord's divorced wife, and they lived in perfect harmony.
"in some parts of Germany he was called Holler and considered to be the husband of the fair goddess Holda, whose fields he covered with a thick mantle of snow, to make them more fruitful when the spring came. By the Scandinavians, Uller was said to have married Skadi, Niórd's divorced wife, the female personification of winter and cold, and their tastes were so congenial that they lived in perfect harmony together."
attestation: Uller's sacred ring on his altar could shrink violently to sever the finger of any premeditated perjurer; people visited his shrine in November and December to entreat him for snow.
"Numerous temples were dedicated to Uller in the North, and on his altars, as well as on those of all the other gods, lay a sacred ring upon which oaths were sworn. This ring was said to have the power of shrinking so violently as to sever the finger of any premeditated perjurer."
attestation: Uller was considered nearly akin to Balder as both sent out glorious aurora borealis flashes and both spent part of the year in Niflheim with Hel.
"According to other authorities, Uller was Balder's special friend, principally because he too spent part of the year in the dismal depths of Nifl-heim, with Hel, the goddess of death. Uller was supposed to endure a yearly banishment thither, during the summer months, when he was forced to resign his sway over the earth to Odin, the summer god, and there Balder came to join him at Midsummer"