Pursued through the heavens by two ravenous wolves, the Norse deities of the sun and moon, Sol and Mani, bore a significant but daunting responsibility. Each day and night, they operated chariots that lit the sky, all while attempting to escape their dire fate of being captured by the wolves. Their respective roles were divided, with Sol taking charge during daylight hours and Mani ruling over the night.
This narrative is echoed in various cultures worldwide, revealing the enduring resonance of Sol and Mani’s tale across different mythologies. Numerous ancient civilizations have tales of sun and moon gods as siblings journeying across the sky in some form of vehicle. Yet, what are the origins of such tales? How did the Norse conceive the creation of their celestial bodies and who were the divine figures involved?
The Norse Sun and Moon Gods Sol and Mani in the Gylfaginning
Written accounts of Sol and Mani are somewhat fragmented, but one of the richest sources available is the Prose Edda, penned by the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson in the 12th century. Despite being one of the more extensive Norse texts, his work likely involved creative interpretation due to the scarce nature of existing written records from the era, leading him to fill in many blanks.
The Prose Edda opens with the Gylfaginning, detailing the adventures of a noted king from Sweden, Gylfi. He embarked on a journey for enlightenment, during which he discovered the narrative of Sol and Mani as relayed by the gods.
According to Sturluson, Gylfi was informed of a Midgardian man named Mundilfari (interpreted as ‘The One Who Moves According to Particular Times’) who viewed his children as exceptionally lovely, leading him to name them after the mighty sun and moon. He wed his daughter, Sol, to a man called Glenr (‘Opening in the Clouds’).
The gods took offense to Mundilfari’s arrogance and:
“took the siblings and put them in heavens, let the Sun drive those horses dragging the chariot of the sun which the gods made to lighten the world from the glowing stuff coming out of Muspellheim” (Faulkes, 2005).
Muspellheim served as the fiery realm of the fire giants, from which the sun emerged, fashioned from sparks. Sol and Mani were given the steeds named Árvakr and Alsviðr, meaning “early-awake” and “very quick,” destined to pull their chariots across the sky tirelessly.
The myth of Mundilfari and his offspring is also mentioned in the poem Vafþrúðnismál (“Ballad of Vafthrudnir”). Here, Odin competes against a giant to demonstrate his mythological prowess, revealing:
“He is called Mundilfari, Father to the Moon Also father to the Sun; They will float On the sky every day, So we can tell time.” (stanza 23).
Sol’s duty was to navigate the chariot during the day, while Mani would take over at night. Yet, their journey was perilous. Sol was relentlessly pursued by a wolf named Hati (“Hate”), while Mani faced the threat of Hati’s sister, Skoll (“Mockery”). Some narratives suggest these wolves were progeny of Fenrir, the fearsome offspring of Loki.
“There are two wolves, and Skoll is the name of the one chasing her. She fears him, and he will get her; the one leaping in front of her is called Hati, son of Hrodvitnir [possibly Fenrir], and he will get the moon, so it must be.” (Faulkes, 2005)
The siblings continually managed to evade their pursuers until the foreboding event of Ragnarök, which foretold the end of days in Norse lore, when they were ultimately caught and devoured, shrouding the world in darkness. Some accounts further describe the wolves descending to Midgard, consuming the remains scattered across the land.
Despite this despair, Sturluson highlighted that light would not remain extinguished indefinitely. Before facing her demise, Sol bore a strikingly beautiful daughter who survived the cataclysm of Ragnarök. The gods who endured followed that event, returning to Asgard to create a fresh land for human habitation. The revival of humanity took shape when a couple emerged from Yggdrasil’s branches. Subsequently, Sol’s daughter ascended to take her mother’s place in the skies, tasked with illuminating the new realm.
Other Perspectives
Without Sturluson’s writings, reconstructing the entirety of the myth remains challenging. Other scant written fragments exist, offering intriguing glimpses into the beliefs of the Norse people. Notably, some of these accounts contend that Sol and Mani were not born of human parents but rather created explicitly to illuminate the world and mark the passage of time, suggesting that the cosmos arose from sheer void. Völuspá tells of a prophetess providing visions of both creation and destruction:
“The sun, sister of the moon, Shone from the south, With her hand Over the rim of heaven; The sun did not know yet Where her home should be, The moon did not know yet What power he had…” (stanza 5).
Eventually, the deities converged to regulate the cycle of days, seasons, and moon phases. Odin played a pivotal role, instructing Sol and Mani on their celestial paths, ensuring they followed the correct trajectories.
The Poetic Edda mentions a character named Svalinn accompanying Sol in her chariot with the purpose of shielding the earth beneath from fire. Similarly, Mani was said to be aided by children named Bil and Hjúki, who would maintain visibility of a cask and pole from Earth.
Parallels with Other Cultures
Many overlapping themes exist between the narrative of Norse sun and moon gods and other global mythologies. Virtually every ancient culture featured a pair of deities to represent or embody solar and lunar forces, their stories often drawing parallels with those of Sol and Mani.
Confusion has arisen between Norse and Roman tales since the Latin term for sun is ‘sol’, leading to similar denominational attributes for the sun gods. However, linguistic connections do not necessarily imply substantive similarities. In cultures outside Scandinavia, Sol’s name adapted to local terms, such as Sunna in German, which ultimately contributed to the English ‘sun’.
Additionally, diverse ancient cultures often presented their sun and moon deities as siblings of contrasting genders. For example, Greek myths feature such figures as Apollo and Artemis or Helios and Selene, mirroring the sibling relationship seen in the Norse gods.
Other myths frequently utilized chariots or vehicles for celestial travel. In Egypt, the sun god Ra was often illustrated riding a boat, while Helios and Selene in Greek mythology also drove chariots across the sky.
Conclusion
The narrative of Sol and Mani reflects a rich tradition that intertwines myth, culture, and history. While discerning the original myth from later embellishments is a complex task, it is evident that, at its core, the tale is influential across different cultures.
Archaeological findings, including carvings and artifacts left by Norse peoples, enhance historian understanding, shedding light on their mythological cosmos. This tangible evidence continues to inform and deepen the exploration of Norse creation mythology.
