HATI & SKOLL
Hati and Sköll, the Celestial Wolves:
In Norse mythology, the wolves Hati and Sköll are presented as relentless pursuers of the celestial bodies—the sun and the moon. Hati, colloquially known as the "moon-chaser," and Sköll, referred to as the "sun-chaser," contribute to the mythology's cosmological narrative. They are often portrayed as the progeny of Angrboða, the giantess, and Fenrir, the fearsome giant wolf. Their preordained destiny, as dictated by the ancient myths, was to relentlessly chase the heavenly orbs until the prophesied end of the world, an apocalyptic event known as Ragnarok. It is during Ragnarok, as per the mythology, that Hati will finally catch and consume the moon, while Sköll will seize and devour the sun. Consequently, the world would be engulfed in an era of darkness and turmoil, marking the onset of the cataclysmic end. The symbolic relevance of Hati and Sköll in Norse mythology extends beyond their physical pursuit. They serve as poignant metaphors for the cosmic cycles. The ceaseless chase of the sun and moon by these wolves paints a picture of the infinite cycle of day transitioning into night, the dance of light and darkness, and the relentless ticking of time. Furthermore, their dramatic roles in Ragnarok underscore the concept of cyclicality of the cosmos—an end followed by a rebirth, where the old world order succumbs to the new.
The names Hati and Sköll, derived from the Old Norse language, are imbued with meanings that reflect their respective roles in the Norse mythological universe. Hati, derived from the Old Norse term "hǫttr," translates to "hood" or "covering." This is thought to reference Hati's pursuit of the moon—a celestial body often symbolized as a luminous disc that could be shrouded or hidden by the wolf's relentless chase. On the other hand, Sköll stems from the Old Norse term "skǫll," which translates to "treachery" or "mockery." It suggests the sun-chaser's function, where the pursuit of the sun—typically a symbol of warmth and illumination—is viewed as a threat to these qualities. It is crucial to note that interpretations of Old Norse terms are often rife with challenges due to the evolution and transformation of language over the centuries. Nevertheless, the interpretations provided here are largely accepted by experts in Norse mythology.
In conclusion, the wolves Hati and Sköll command significant reverence within the rich mythological tapestry of the Norse belief system, emblematic of their eternal pursuit of the sun and the moon across the celestial dome. This perpetual chase, vivid in its portrayal and symbolic in its implication, mirrors the cyclic transition of day to night, brightness to darkness, and the inexorable march of time. Hati and Sköll, thus, encapsulate the underlying rhythms of nature and its unending cycle of transformation and rebirth, emphasizing the dynamism inherent in the fabric of existence. Yet, despite their grand roles in precipitating Ragnarok—the cataclysmic end of the world only to birth a new one—they were not deified within Norse culture. Instead, they emerged as critical cogs in the intricate cosmic mechanism that orchestrated the universe, thereby shedding light on the Norse perspective that every being, regardless of its might or minuteness, had a role in maintaining the cosmic equilibrium. The wolves' names—Hati, translating as 'hatred', and Sköll, meaning 'treachery' or 'mockery'—further amplify their characterizations as celestial figures encapsulating the capricious and ever-fluctuating cosmos. In doing so, they represent the constant interplay between order and chaos, stability and disruption, mirroring the unpredictable nature of life itself. Ultimately, Hati and Sköll serve as crucial mythological figures that provided the ancient Norse population with a metaphorical framework to understand and interpret the complex natural world around them. By personifying natural cycles and phenomena, these mythical wolves brought the celestial dynamics down to a human scale, allowing the Norse to perceive the cosmos not as a distant, impersonal expanse, but as an intimately interconnected part of their lived reality. The stories of Hati and Sköll, therefore, go beyond mere entertainment; they become lenses through which we can explore and appreciate the nuanced understanding our ancestors held of the universe's rhythmic dance.
Other Readings:
