Vidar - The Silence of Vengeance 

Both the Gosforth Cross (Anglo-Saxon cross) and Thorwald's Cross at Kirk Andreas (Isle of Man) are both from the 900's, and are a combination of Christian religious symbols with Nordic religious symbology, showing evidences of the impact of Christianization of Scandinavia, and the changes in the Nordic religious mentality. Both cases have many depictions of events specifically occurring during Ragnarök, which was a myth that gain more focus after Christianization rather than in the actual Heathen Period of Northern Europe. Considering Ragnarök, there seems little doubt that the scenes on the cross at Gosforth in Cumberland, executed about the first half of the tenth century in Northern England (at a time when Viking settlers were well established there) have been based on an account of Ragnarök closely resembling that given in Völuspá, from which Snorri (in the 13th century) took inspiration from. Here monsters struggle in bonds; a woman holds a bowl beside a bound figure, suggesting Sigyn and Loki; a figure battles with a monster, holding open its jaws with hand and foot; we have a figure with a horn and a warrior riding into battle. Whoever made the Gosforth cross deliberately grouped together a series of scenes. All these scenes were capable of a Christian as well as a heathen interpretation, and as there is a Crucifixion scene on the other side of the cross, there is no doubt that it was erected as a Christian monument. In the same church there is a stone, probably part of another cross, which appears to show Thor fishing for the World Serpent. The myth of Ragnarök gained more emphasis and religious focus after Christianity, deliberately creating and altering a series of heathen myths and symbols to equate with the event of the Apocalypse. Other carved stones which have been thought to show incidents from the final battle of the gods have been pointed out in the Isle of Man. Those who raised these monuments were Christian, familiarize with Nordic myths, either being converted heathens or Nordic Christians for a very long time since Christianity was already known in Scandinavia as early as the 7th century, and due to trading routes many Northern European peoples had adopted Christianity - some were Christians and others were Christian and Heathen both at the same time, so it was somewhat easy the fusion of religious elements. The existence of these stones implies that there was a body of material available in the tenth century dealing with the end of the world and with the destruction of gods and men, which has been used in Völuspá. These were symbols and interpretations sufficiently important to be used as symbols of the overthrowing if the forces of evil by Christ, since this seems to be the message of the Gosforth Cross as a whole. The destruction of the world, and even of the gods, by the monsters, was a fitting symbol of the power of death, like the devouring dragon in Christian mythos. These carvings, along with literary sources, give us indications that the Ragnarök theme, mainly, was a widespread popular image in the heathen north from the 10th century onwards. The account of Völuspá (written around the 10th century as well) is linked with two natural catastrophes which men must have feared constantly in the Northern Europe: destruction of life by intense close, and the flooding of rivers and sea over inhabited land. There’s no doubt that a tradition about the end of the world and its subsequent rebirth of the sea existed in pre-Christian times in Northern Europe, but many elements seem to have been added to this theme after Christianization, equating with the theme of the Apocalypse; such account probably having been written by a pagan Icelander with knowledge of Christianity, which was not uncommon during this period. The Völuspá and raised stones with such religious symbology of the 10th century, show a clear fusion between heathen and Christian religious elements. These would greatly influence the 13th century Christian Icelander Snorri Sturluson (who was writing for Christians and not for pagans) in the composition of the Prose Edda.

Fascinating. Vitharr’ has been my patron deity ever since I became Heathen over 30 years ago. Yet I did not have a clue as to the knowledge you inferred upon me today. And I thank you for that. I will add this to my personal ritual and ceremony, and in my own way continue the search for more knowledge about this most elusive character from the Aesir.

One theory could be that she was indeed a "wise woman" or "medicine woman" in her society. The reason for the jaw was so like you said her lower mandible was kept as a relic or even talisman to carry on her power, and legacy. Also I do have a theory about the severing of the head. If indeed she is a powerful woman, perhaps the decapitation of the head was done in good measure so she would not be possessed and her body and power exploited in death. Thus severing head from body preserves her Hugr and Minni from corruption. Thought and memory.

I saw the picture first i thought it was a music video i was like "ooooh i have to see that". Then i realised you made a new video ! You made my day ! Can't wait to watch !!!

I really appreciate that you put the writing of certain words in the video. I studied Old English a bit in college and it's cool to see certain letters pop up here and there, but is also very helpful given the unique sound of the words - at least from an American standpoint. 💜 Your vids.

I've been hoping you would do a video on this god this has made my day

Always good vids.

During Ragnarok, the gods - the divine forces who uphold the cosmic order - and the giants - the divine forces of chaos and destruction - battled, and most of those involved on both sides were slain. The god Odin was devoured by the wolf Fenrir. Vidar, a son of Odin by the giantess Gríðr,[2] immediately set upon the wolf to avenge his father’s death. He wore a shoe that had been crafted for this particular moment. It was the strongest and sturdiest of all shoes, and surely also charged with magical properties. With it, Vidar kicked open the wolf’s lower jaw, and then, holding the beast’s upper jaw open, he sliced Fenrir’s mouth to pieces with his sword, killing the monster and ending his devastating rampage.

The symbolism and somewhat suggestions of "sympathetic magic" is fascinating. Love the idea and the depth of it....love how you think, Arith, and connections you are making.

Thanks you for sharing your lesson 🙏✌

I’m late to this post but I learned many things and some things I never heard before. You gotta love a man with knowledge

The placement of old shoes or shoe strings has been described as personal votive acts that may be symbolic of a journey contemplated or carried out in the European "folk magic". Like "the path is complete, there is no way to come back", including the impossibility to break an oath or a promise. A sort of a "sayonara-sake" cup for a Japanese kamikaze pilot.

Great video as always, that was a lot of information and very interesting. Thanks again ❤️

Is that a witcher scar on your face?? You look Terrific!

Great analysis and I really enjoyed the interpretations you’ve given and your insights! Love the burial reference you put forth as well- I’m curious on your thoughts of Vidarr being a interpretation of Vishnu, and perhaps his silence is one of being a god of a different pantheon. Many ancient cultures overlapped their gods and their similar pantheon aspects, and I’m curious if Vidarr is simply Vishnu, a god of another pantheon (Aesir/Vanir adjacent?), and this had no direct correlation to the Norse pantheon of old or one specific god, hence the aspect of silence being attributed it him. Then twist some Christianity into it, and Vidarr is now amongst the pantheon through the guise that “heathenry is heathenry, it’s all the same pagan religion in Jesus’ eyes”. Sorry for being 2 years late to party lol

The symbolic interpretation of Vidarr being the Order that violently rebukes the Chaos caused when Loki destroys light and beauty (Baldur) is a very poetic tale. Everything is a cycle. The Kali Yuga will end and the Golden Age will return. It just takes time and people will have to suffer a chaotic world for possibly generations, but the hope that the world is not entirely awful and can be restored to glory and restart the cycle, through violence. It's beautiful. Even Ezra Pound would shed a tear.

Vidar is simply the last line of defense for his family.

this made me cry a single tyr

The story of Vidar and Fenrir has a counterpart in Hinduism and the gosforth cross has loads of information about Vidar i think(only Thor was stronger than Vidar) and (only "9 horses" where stronger than Gulltoppr) also i think vidr means forest in old Norse.

as i see it you can count the days of the week sunday to friday into a hierachy of the gods with the sun highest, then the moon, then tyr the lord of the sky, then odin, then thor the son of odin, and frigg the wife of odin, and the saturday, or in scandinavian laugardagur, was the cleansing of the week, dusting away the past week and become pureified for the new week to come.

Seems like a bit like Tyr hundreds of years before, what you had to make an oat to Vidar instead of Tyr. Knows they uses to make oats at a big golden ring at ting with Tyr as protector, during the early Nordic ironage at the Tings. Frej

HEY EVERYBODY!!! its Arith's birthday today!!!! Lol.

I hope im not the only one, but i like his home as well as the content haha

I have a serious question. You say that Thor being the enemy of Jǫrmungandr and Víðarr/ Óðinn/ Týr being the enemy of Fenrisúlfr is the result of christian interpretation and is not originally a pagan concept. Why could they not be rival families of deities battling for control of Midgard and/or the other realms? Or for any number of reasons or offenses for that matter? The early Germanic tribes were absolutely warlike and fought for control of certain lands and resources in the ancient world. Would that not be a part of life applied to their mythology?

the video was very interesting, I was finally able to find an explanation for the lack of so much archaeological evidence about Vidar ... once again a Christianization of Nordic myths ahaha ... you raised another point that caught my attention particularly on tyr which I would like more infomartions about it ... well at the moment I read the Icelandic Sagas and Vedas at the same time I would like to know if you see parallelism or links between Vedism (I prefer not to speak of Hinduism because many of the belives were added between the arrival of the Vedas in India and the current belief) I ask you the question because you have repeatedly proved that the Nordic beliefs predate the arrival of the Indo-Europeans "aryas"

My middle Sons middle name, one of the Gods I gravitate towards the most.

Love your stuff kick on love it

In regards to the burial of the woman with the pig jaw: I think the idea that it was done out of spite or hate is completely wrong. As you speak about afterwards, the boar was quite well respected/revered. I was reminded of another burial where a warrior suffered a wound from bladed weapon that seems to have been deflected downward, below his shield and severed the femoral artery in his upper thigh. The slash also cut off his penis. In his burial the missing penis was replaced with a boar's tusk.

I really enjoy your point of view on these topics! Always a pleasure to see a new video of yours. Ever think about writing your own book on spirituality? Also I would like to know more on and how chanting works. Thanks Arith

Are you aware of Thors Stone/Rock on Thurstaton The Wirral (Near Liverpool) England. And theres an assembly feild near by as well. The Wirral was a Sacred Place for the Vikings.

THANK YOU.

Saludos! As always another excellent video. Since over in Puerto Rico where I reside it's now 649 am. What time do you have now? As for the context always looking at all angles is great. I do have a question though. Isn't it posible that the burial of the woman was more a positive one? Because she was buried with her belongings of stature. Also since the pig was held in esteem it would have been like a proper exchange so to speak. On the other hand If I wanted to bury her in spite I would also take those belongings and have her travel the spirit world also with nothing. Unless the act of taking her jaw was after they buried the woman. Thoughts? And always please keep with the instruction!

Again another awesome enlightening video thank you brother! Such a good interpretation of her burial to me makes so much sense, where there no ritual items found in her grave? I need to explore this further now lol. On a personal note the use of the word Pagan I though was a Christian influence so can you put me right please oh wise one.

that split tongue reads serpent..

Some scholars have drawn parallels between Vidar and the Trojan hero Aeneas, I really don't know how since they live in different countries in different time periods.

Awesome, dont know much about this deity asides the ragnarok story and his magical shoe altho i hadnt really.researched him much lol thanks

..you know that saying "if you could walk a mile in my shoes" ?

At 38:37 you cite Virsu & Viskjol as Vidar-named places. Do you have GPS points for these locations?

🔥🔥🔥💜🤘

Greetings Arith härgar. I was curious with your knowledge of many historical contents, how much do you know about the Dacians and their interactions with ancient celts

Is it had that finding out about the etymology of the word volva just makes me chuckle, seeing as it can be seen as calling them literally "wanders?" If I'm just being dumb, tell me. But I appreciate the video nonetheless

I love your videos and I've been watching for a while now and I have a suggestion. Can u make a video about the burials where they are buried with the parts of a animal and explain more on the gaining of attributes and what it may imply it would help alot with the understanding of the ritual

Listen very carefully to this, you sound like my old teachers from grammar school. Putting your foot down is used in vernacular for standing your ground or being so resolved that you will not change your mind, could it also be so symbolic in the story of Vidar at Ragnarok? The Birka woman may have been a gourmet or maybe just ate like a pig?

💙

The Sigma Male God...Vidar!!! Tyr...also a Sigma God of Norse mythos!

So many were gods were made up just make parallel with Christianity. I wonder if ragnarök ever happened🤔 or it was made up too.

I hope you do not plan to have vengeance for the ouch.. would seem to be kitten scratch x

We were cool until "grotesque" cousin. Shall V let the wolf eat or not? Are we to strange for the general public?

When they opened the casket of Dante Alighieri in 1921, there was no lower jaw also. :) Maybe due to the same reason.

Your Interpreting Was Interesting... Brings Into Mind The Old Idea Of A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing... Would Explain A Few Things After Burial... Having Shown The Clothing Of Said Wolf Pretending To Be A 🐑 And The Head Of The Wolf Removed Shows Both Sides So That When One Entered The Afterlife... Everyone There Would Have Full Awareness Of... One Having Been A Wolf Masquerading As Something Else And The Costume Would No Longer Apply.. Apply That To Today's World When Some Are Found Out To Be A Wolf, Yet Yrs Of Pretending To Be Kind, Loving, Compassionate Yet Hidden In The Background... A Wolf Fooling Many... Then When The News "Comes Forth"😏 That's After The Wolf's Cover Of Protection, Be It Place, Rank And Or... Cause The Law's Today Actually Hid The Fact That Most Laws Are Written To Protect The Wolf's Control... Of Course, Vengeance Exist Because Of The Deception From The Wolf's Hidden Within The 🐑.. And Since Others Respected The Dead Back In The Day, Wanted To Deliver The Message... Here Is A Wolf, These Are Its Sheep Clothing... Beware My Friends In The Afterlife👍

Wow 😂 😂 😂

Christians creating gods, I thought that was some type of abominable heresy for them?

....

I love how pork has always been very important and religious food, and nowadays some special folks want to get rid of all pork meat on the world - either their sandreligioins or their new vegan religions. Pork has the highest amount of Creatine, only topped by Hering - and Creatine is the most important factor for developing our brain (even more than vitamin b12 from beef). So you can basically say that populations that eat the most hering and pork are easily the smartest.

Shave that head bro, you'll look like a true viking with a shaved head and beard.