Editing Víðarr (section)

===''Prose Edda''===
Víðarr is referenced in the ''Prose Edda'' books ''[[Gylfaginning]]'' and ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]''.

[[Image:Fenrir and Víðarr by Lorenz Frølich.jpg|thumb|A depiction of Víðarr defeating Fenrir by Lorenz Frølich, 1895]]
Víðarr is referenced in the book ''Gylfaginning'' in chapters 29, 51, and 53. In chapter 29, Víðarr is introduced by the enthroned figure of High as "the silent god" with a thick shoe, that he is nearly as strong as the god [[Thor]], and that the gods rely on him in times of immense difficulties.<ref name=BYOCK37>Byock (2006:37).</ref>

In chapter 51, High foretells that, during Ragnarök, the wolf [[Fenrir]] will devour Odin, and Víðarr will avenge him by stepping down with one foot on the lower jaw of the monster, grabbing his upper jaw in one hand and tearing his mouth apart, killing him. Víðarr's "thick shoe" is described as consisting of all the extra leather pieces that people have cut from their own shoes at the toe and heel, collected by the god throughout all time. Therefore, anyone who is concerned enough to give assistance to the gods should throw these pieces away.<ref name=BYOCK73>Byock (2006:73).</ref> According to some mythologists, he owed this peculiar footgear to his mother Grid, who, knowing that he would be called upon to fight against fire on the last day, designed it as a protection against the fiery element, as her iron gauntlet had shielded Thor in his encounter with Geirrod.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/28497/pg28497-images.html}}</ref>

In chapter 54, following Ragnarök and the rebirth of the world, it is told that Víðarr along with his brother [[Váli (son of Odin)|Váli]] will have survived both the swelling of the sea and the fiery conflagration unleashed by [[Surtr]], completely unharmed, and shall thereafter dwell on the field [[Iðavöllr]], "where the city of [[Asgard]] had previously been".<ref name=BYOCK77>Byock (2006:77).</ref>

According to ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', Víðarr was one of the twelve presiding male gods seated in their thrones at a banquet for the visiting [[Ægir]].<ref name=FAULKES59>Faulkes (1995:59).</ref> At a point in dialogue between the [[skald]]ic god [[Bragi]] and Ægir, [[Snorri Sturluson|Snorri]] himself begins speaking of the myths in [[euhemerism|euhemeristic]] terms and states that the historical equivalent of Víðarr was the [[Troy|Trojan]] hero [[Aeneas]] who survived the [[Trojan War]] and went on to achieve "great deeds".<ref name=FAULKES66>Faulkes (1995:66).</ref>

Later in the book, various [[kennings]] are given for Víðarr, including again the "silent [[Æsir|As]]", "possessor of the iron shoe", "enemy and slayer of [[Fenrir|Fenrisulf]]", "the gods' avenging As", "father's homestead-inhabiting As", "son of Odin", and "brother of the Æsir".<ref name=FAULKES76>Faulkes (1995:76).</ref> In the tale of the god [[Thor]]'s visit to the hall of the [[jötunn]] [[Geirröd]], Gríðr is stated as the mother of "Víðarr the Silent" who assists Thor in his journey.<ref name=FAULKES82>Faulkes (1995:82).</ref> In chapter 33, after returning from Asgard and feasting with the gods, Ægir invites the gods to come to his hall in [[Numbers in Germanic paganism|three]] months. Fourteen gods make the trip to attend the feast, including Víðarr.<ref name=FAULKES95>Faulkes (1995:95).</ref> In chapter 75, Víðarr's name appears twice in a list of Æsir.<ref name=FAULKES156-157>Faulkes (1995:156—157).</ref>