Víðarr: The other son of Odin

 Explanation:

In norse mythology, Odin and Thor are by far the most well known gods. This god is an Æsir just like them, the other son of Odin, Víðarr. Víðarr was the god of vengeance and was considered the strongest outside of Thor. For this reason, the gods considered him paramount to their martial strength. He was described as silent, with his few words being listened to with the same weight as Odin and Thor. He was foretold in the prophecy of Ragnarok to slay Fenrir. Fenrir is one of the spawn of Loki, the trickster god, said to slay Odin in the end of times. Jormangander, brother to Fenrir, is said to slay and be slayed by Thor. The monarchy is said to pass to Víðarr upon Odin's death, whereafter he rebuilds Asgard, which had been burned by the Jotunn chief Surter during the twilight of the gods. His name translates to “the wide ruler” which fits incredibly well given that after Ragnarok he rules all of creation, for it was him that saved it for the Jotunn. He imprisoned Loki, who spurred the Jotunn into retribution against the gods.

Worship:


    The worship of Víðarr consisted of abstaining from various things, a vow of silence being the most common. The origin of this means of worship comes from Víðarr’s oath following the death of Baldur. He earned the nickname “the silent god” as a result of his oath. In addition, he swore not to comb his hair or wash his hands until he avenged the slain Baldur. This was accomplished by imprisoning the perpetrator, his adopted uncle, Loki.

Conclusion:


    His immense strength and future title as king of the gods should have earned him more renown than he currently possesses. His bloodline is the strongest in the Ásatrú faith, which he exemplifies by his defeat of Loki and Fenrir. 

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