Skaði

winter and the hunt

Skaði is the goddess of the cold mountain world, of hunting with the bow and of skiing.

💡 Did you know? Some derive the name „Scandinavia“ from her.

only by the feet

As atonement for her father's death, Skaði could marry a god: but recognise him only by his feet.

💡 Did you know? She chose the fairest feet hoping for Baldr: but it was the sea god Njörðr.

with a crude joke by Loki

To appease Skaði, Loki tied a goat by a rope to his own body: a game that ended in pain.

💡 Did you know? Only this grotesque sight drew a laugh from the grim giantess.

that of her father Thiazi

Skaði's father, the giant Thiazi, was killed by the gods; so she marched on Asgard in armour.

💡 Did you know? As atonement the gods offered her a marriage and reconciliation.

with skis and bow

Skaði roams the snowy mountains on skis and with a bow: „the snowshoe goddess.“

💡 Did you know? In the end she preferred the cold mountains to the sea of her husband Njörðr.

they quarrelled over where to live

Skaði could not bear the loud sea, Njörðr not her silent mountains: so they lived apart.

💡 Did you know? An early myth about two people unwilling to give up their homes for each other.

as goddess of skiing

“Öndurdís”: the snowshoe goddess.

💡 Did you know? Norway's skiing tradition likes to invoke her.

with a billy goat

He tied himself to the goat: a crude spectacle.

💡 Did you know? Only then did the mourner laugh: the redress was fulfilled.

two stars

Odin cast them into the sky as amends.

💡 Did you know? Thus the giant shines on above his daughter.

Thrymheim

“Din-home”: her father's legacy.

💡 Did you know? There she returned after parting from Njörd.

with Ullr

Skis and bow are common to both.

💡 Did you know? Place names attest both cults across Scandinavia.

she hung up the venomous serpent

Right above the bound god's face.

💡 Did you know? Her late revenge for her father Thiazi.