Skaði

Skaði, also spelled Skadi, is a figure in Norse mythology who is commonly described as a jötunn or goddess associated with winter, mountains, skiing and hunting. Her name’s etymology is uncertain, and she is often treated as a personification of the winter season in addition to being a mythological figure.

Most sources identify Skaði as the daughter of the frost giant Thiazi. In the mythic tradition, the gods offer Skaði a husband to compensate her for her father’s death. She chooses a husband by the appearance of his feet, and selects Njörðr, the god of the sea and wind. They marry, but the arrangement is troubled because Skaði prefers the cold, mountainous landscapes while Njörðr is more comfortable at sea; the couple eventually live apart. Skaði is said to reside in a mountain hall, commonly associated with Þrymheimr, reflecting her association with high places and winter.

In some strands of the tradition, Skaði is described as having a son named Ullr, who is associated with winter, archery and skiing; other genealogies differ on Ullr’s parentage. Skaði appears in both the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, and her story is cited in accounts of the gods’ attempts to appease her after her father’s death.

In modern contexts, Skaði is often depicted as a symbol of winter and winter sports, appearing in literature, art and contemporary retellings as a powerful figure connected to snowy landscapes and outdoor prowess.