Hati and Sköll: The Celestial Wolves of Norse Mythology and Their Eternal Chase

In Norse culture, Hati (“He Who Hates”) and Sköll (“Treachery”) are far more than monstrous wolves—they are primal forces personifying the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Their ceaseless pursuit of the sun (Sol ) and moon (Mani ) across the sky reflects the Vikings’ deep reverence for nature’s cycles and the inevitability of change. These wolves are not mere antagonists but sacred agents of balance, ensuring the rhythm of day and night persists until the apocalyptic climax of Ragnarök .

Origins: Born of Chaos and Trickery

Hati and Sköll are the offspring of Loki , the trickster god, and Angrboða (“She Who Brings Anguish”), a fearsome giantess. Their lineage ties them to chaos and transformation: Loki’s mischief and Angrboða’s association with sorrow and peril foreshadow their destiny to disrupt cosmic order. They are siblings to Fenrir , the colossal wolf bound by the gods, and Jörmungandr , the Midgard Serpent—a family destined to challenge the gods’ reign.

This connection to Fenrir is critical: while Fenrir battles Odin during Ragnarök, Hati and Sköll target celestial bodies, symbolizing the multi-layered threats to divine authority. Their shared ancestry underscores the Norse belief that destruction and renewal are intertwined, woven into the fabric of existence by Loki’s chaotic bloodline.

The Celestial Chase: Wolves Hunting Sun and Moon

According to the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda , Sol and Mani were appointed by the gods to guide the sun and moon across the heavens in a chariot pulled by celestial horses. Yet Hati and Sköll, driven by insatiable hunger, relentlessly pursue them. The wolves’ chase is not a simple hunt but a cosmic dance:

• Sköll stalks Sol, his jaws snapping at the sun’s chariot, creating eclipses when he nearly catches it.
• Hati harries Mani, threatening to plunge the world into darkness.

The Vikings interpreted solar and lunar eclipses as moments when the wolves nearly succeeded in their quest. To scare them away, people would bang shields, blow horns, and make loud noises—a ritual echoing their belief in humanity’s role in resisting chaos.

Hati and Sköll in Ragnarök: Harbingers of the End Times

Ragnarök begins when Hati and Sköll finally devour Sol and Mani, plunging the Nine Worlds into Fimbulwinter —a three-year winter of darkness and strife. This event triggers the collapse of societal bonds, as described in the Völuspá :

"Brothers will fight and kill each other, sisters’ sons will defile kinship. It is harsh in the world, whoredom rife—an axe age, a sword age—shields are riven—a wind age, a wolf age—before the world falls."

With the sun and moon destroyed, stars vanish from the sky, and the earth quakes. Fenrir breaks free from his bonds, Jörmungandr rises from the seas, and Surtr ignites the realms in fire. The gods, though forewarned, meet their doom: Odin is swallowed by Fenrir, Thor slays Jörmungandr but dies from its venom, and Freyr falls to Surtr.

Yet Ragnarök is not the end. The world is reborn from the waters, fertile and green. Survivors like Baldr and Höðr emerge, and a new sun (a daughter of Sol) guides the heavens—a testament to the Norse worldview that destruction breeds renewal.

Symbolism: Beyond the Hunt for Light

Hati and Sköll’s myth carries profound philosophical weight:

1. Cyclical Time: Their chase mirrors the Norse understanding of time as a loop, not a line. Just as winter follows summer, chaos follows order, and rebirth follows destruction.
2. Mortality and Impermanence: Even gods are not eternal. The wolves’ eventual victory over Sol and Mani underscores the inevitability of death and decay.
3. Balance: Light cannot exist without darkness. The wolves’ pursuit ensures the world remains dynamic, never stagnant.

The Vikings saw these themes reflected in their own lives: harsh winters, fleeting summers, and the precarious balance between exploration and survival.

Legacy in Modern Culture

Hati and Sköll continue to inspire art, literature, and media:

• Literature: Their cosmic role is echoed in Tolkien’s The Hobbit , where wolves serve as agents of chaos.
• Pop Culture: Marvel’s Thor comics and films reimagine Fenrir and Hati as antagonists in Asgard’s trials.
• Astronomy: The phenomenon of “wolf moons” and Nordic-inspired celestial names honor their mythic legacy.