The Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas on Vali

Contents > Chapter Xvi: Vali

• attestation: Vali ranked as one of the twelve deities in Gladsheim and shared his father Odin's dwelling Valaskialf; he was destined before birth to survive Ragnarok and reign with Vidar over the regenerated earth.

  "Vali, who ranked as one of the twelve deities occupying seats in the great hall of Glads-heim, shared with his father the dwelling called Valaskialf, and was destined, even before birth, to survive the last battle and twilight of the gods, and to reign with Vidar over the regenerated earth."

• attestation: Vali is god of eternal light, always represented as an archer; his month (mid-January to mid-February) was called Lios-beri (the light-bringing) in Norwegian calendars, later dedicated to St. Valentine.

  "Vali is god of eternal light, as Vidar is of imperishable matter; and as beams of light were often called arrows, he is always represented and worshipped as an archer. For that reason his month in Norwegian calendars is designated by the sign of the bow, and is called Lios-beri, the light-bringing."

Contents > Chapter Xxi: Balder

• attestation: The Vala revealed that Vali would neither comb his hair nor wash his face until he had avenged Balder's death by burning Hodur on his funeral pyre.

  ""In the caverns of the west, By Odin's fierce embrace comprest, A wondrous boy shall Rinda bear, Who ne'er shall comb his raven hair, Nor wash his visage in the stream, Nor see the sun's departing beam, Till he on Hoder's corse shall smile Flaming on the fun'ral pile.""

• attestation: Vali the Avenger entered Asgard on the day of his birth and immediately slew Hodur with an arrow, avenging Balder's death.

  "Vali the Avenger, as he was called, entered Asgard on the day of his birth, and on that very same day he slew Hodur with an arrow from a bundle which he seems to have carried for the purpose. Thus the murderer of Balder, unwitting instrument though he was, atoned for the crime with his blood, according to the code of the true Norseman."