víðar

Víðar is the Icelandic form of the Old Norse name Víðarr, a figure in Norse mythology. The name is generally connected to the Proto-Nordic root við- meaning “wide” or “broad,” and is commonly rendered as “the Wide One” or “the Wide Ruler.” In Icelandic usage the name appears in myths and has also become a modern given name in Nordic countries.

In myth, Víðarr is an Æsir god associated with vengeance and silence. He is described as the son of Odin and the giantess Gríðr, and he embodies a solitary, steadfast strength. Víðarr is one of the few gods who survive Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods, and he plays a crucial role in avenging Odin by killing the great wolf Fenrir. In most sources he is noted for his quiet resolve, with some traditions calling him “the Silent One.” A common motif is that dwarish craft provides him with a special shoe or boot, enabling him to overpower Fenrir during the final battle.

Attestations of Víðarr appear in the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda, where he is described as a steadfast and formidable figure whose actions help shape the outcome of Ragnarök. His name and myth have influenced later literature, art, and modern media that draw on Norse themes and iconography.

Modern usage and cultural presence: Vidar is used as a male given name in Iceland and other Nordic countries and appears in contemporary fiction and popular culture that draws on Norse myth. The figure remains a symbol of quiet strength and decisive vengeance in scholarly and literary discussions of Norse mythology.