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Skuld

Norn and Valkyrie in Norse mythology

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Skuld ("debt" or "obligation"; sharing etymology with the English "should") is a Norn in Norse mythology. Along with Urðr (Old Norse "fate") and Verðandi (possibly "happening" or "present"), Skuld makes up a trio of Norns that are described as deciding the fates of people. Skuld appears in at least two poems as a Valkyrie.

01Poetic Edda

Skuld is mentioned in Völuspá, a poem collected in the 13th century Poetic Edda:

Sá hon valkyrjur

vítt um komnar,

görvar at ríða

til Goðþjóðar.

Skuld helt skildi,

en Skögul önnur,

Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul

ok Geirskögul.

She saw valkyries

come from far and wide,

ready to ride

to Goðþjóð.

Skuld held a shield,

and Skögul was another,

Gunnr, Hildr, Göndul

and Geirskögul.

02Prose Edda

Gylfaginning

In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Snorri informs the reader that the youngest Norn, Skuld, is in effect also a valkyrie, taking part in the selection of warriors from the slain:

These are called Valkyrs: them Odin sends to every battle; they determine men's feyness and award victory. Gudr and Róta and the youngest Norn, she who is called Skuld, ride ever to take the slain and decide fights."

Nafnaþulur

In the Nafnaþulur addition to Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda the following sections reference Skuld:

Mank valkyrjur

Viðris nefna.

Hrist, Mist, Herja,

Hlökk, Geiravör,

Göll, Hjörþrimul,

Gunnr, Herfjötur,

Skuld, Geirönul,

Skögul ok Randgníð.

Ráðgríðr, Göndul,

Svipul, Geirskögul,

Hildr ok Skeggöld,

Hrund, Geirdriful,

Randgríðr ok Þrúðr,

Reginleif ok Sveið,

Þögn, Hjalmþrimul,

Þrima ok Skalmöld.

I will recite the names

of the valkyries of Viðrir (Odin).

Hrist, Mist, Herja,

Hlökk, Geiravör

Göll, Hjörþrimul

Gunnr, Herfjötur

Skuld, Geirönul

Skögul and Randgníð.

Ráðgríðr, Göndul,

Svipul, Geirskögul,

Hildr and Skeggöld,

Hrund, Geirdriful,

Randgríðr and Þrúðr,

Reginleif and Sveið,

Þögn, Hjalmþrimul,

Þrima and Skalmöld.

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Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Skuld”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

Faroe stamp 431 The Norns and the Tree.jpg by Unknown author, Public domain

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Skuld

01Poetic Edda

02Prose Edda

Gylfaginning

Nafnaþulur

Sources and credits

Related topics

Antevorta

Atropos