Skuld

Norn in Norse mythology

Skuld ("debt" or "obligation"; sharing etymology with the English "should") is a Norn in Norse mythology. Along with Urðr (Old Norse "fate"^[1]) and Verðandi (possibly "happening" or "present"^[2]), 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.

Poetic 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.

Prose 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."^[3]

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.

Notes

^ Orchard (1997:169).
^ Orchard (1997:174).
^ Gylfaginning in translation by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur (1916), at Sacred Texts.

References

Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2

Media related to Norse mythology at Wikimedia Commons

Old Norse religion and mythology

Mythological Norse people, items and places

Deities,
dwarfs, jötnar,
and other figures

Æsir	Almáttki áss Baldr Bragi Dellingr Forseti Heimdall Hermóðr Höðr Hœnir Ítreksjóð Lóðurr Loki Máni Meili Mímir Móði and Magni Odin Óðr Thor Týr Ullr Váli (son of Odin) Víðarr Vili and Vé
Ásynjur	Bil Eir Frigg Fulla Gefjon Gerðr Gná Hlín Iðunn Ilmr Irpa Lofn Nanna Njörun Rán Rindr Sága Sif Sigyn Sjöfn Skaði Snotra Sól Syn Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr Þrúðr Vár Vör
Vanir	Freyja Freyr Ingunar-Freyr Yngvi Gersemi Gullveig Hnoss Kvasir Njörðr Sister-wife of Njörðr
Jötnar	Ægir Alvaldi Angrboða Aurboða Baugi Beli Bergelmir Bestla Bölþorn Býleistr Eggþér Fárbauti Fjölvar Fornjót Gangr Geirröðr Gillingr Gjálp and Greip Gríðr Gunnlöð Gymir Harðgreipr Helblindi Helreginn Hljod Hræsvelgr Hrímgerðr Hrímgrímnir Hrímnir Hroðr Hrungnir Hrymr Hymir Hyrrokkin Iði Ím Járnsaxa Laufey Leikn Litr Logi Mögþrasir Narfi (father of Nott) Sökkmímir Surtr Suttungr Þjazi Þökk Þrívaldi Þrúðgelmir Þrymr Útgarða-Loki Vafþrúðnir Víðblindi Vosud Vörnir Ymir
Dwarfs	Alvíss Andvari Austri, Vestri, Norðri and Suðri Billingr Brokkr Dáinn Durinn Dúrnir Dvalinn Eitri Fáfnir Fjalar and Galar Gandalf Hreiðmarr Litr Mótsognir Ótr Regin Sons of Ivaldi
Heroes	List of figures in Germanic heroic legend A B–C D–E F–G H–He Hi–Hy I–O P–S T–Y people, clan, and place names in Germanic heroic legend named animals and plants named weapons, armour and treasures
Others	Ask and Embla Auðr Auðumbla Aurvandill Beyla Borr Búri Byggvir Dísir Landdísir Dragons Draugs Einherjar Eldir Elves Dark elves (Dökkálfar) Light elves (Ljósálfar) Black elves (Svartálfar) Fimafeng Fjalar (rooster) Fenrir Fjörgyn and Fjörgynn Fylgja Garmr Gullinbursti Hati Hróðvitnisson Hel Hildisvíni Hjúki Horses of the Æsir Árvakr and Alsviðr Blóðughófi Falhófnir Gísl Glaðr Glær Glenr Grani Gullfaxi Gulltoppr Gyllir Hamskerpir and Garðrofa Hófvarpnir Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi Sleipnir Svaðilfari Jörð Jörmungandr Líf and Lífthrasir Loddfáfnir Móðguðr Nine Daughters of Ægir and Rán Nine Mothers of Heimdallr Narfi (son of Loki) Níðhöggr Norns Personifications Dagr Elli Nótt Sumarr and Vetr Skírnir Sköll Shield-maiden Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr Troll Þjálfi and Röskva Vættir Landvættir Váli (son of Loki) Valkyries Völundr Vörðr

Locations

Underworld	Hel Éljúðnir Gjallarbrú Náströnd Niflhel Niðafjöll
Rivers	Élivágar Gjöll Ífingr Kerlaugar Körmt and Örmt Slidr River Vadgelmir Vimur River
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Events

Sources

Society

Religious practice	Anthropomorphic wooden cult figurines of Central and Northern Europe Blót Hof Heitstrenging Horses Hörgr Worship Öndvegissúlur Reginnaglar Sacred trees and groves Sonargöltr Temple at Uppsala Vé Wetlands and islands
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See also

Germanic paganism
Heathenry (new religious movement)
Nordic Bronze Age

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v t e Valkyries
Individual valkyries	Alruna Brynhildr Eir Geiravör Göndul Gunnr Herfjötur Herja Hlaðguðr svanhvít Hildr Hervör alvitr Hljod Hlökk Kára Mist Reginleif Róta Sigrdrífa Sigrún Skögul and Geirskögul Skuld Sváfa Svipul Þrúðr
Poems about valkyries	Völuspá Grímnismál Darraðarljóð Nafnaþulur
See also	Dís Matres and Matronae Norns Odin Shield-maiden Swan maiden Valhalla Völva
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