InNorse mythology,Vili (/ˈvɪli/VILL-ee;Old Norse:[ˈwile]) andVé (/ˈveɪ/VAY; O.N.:[ˈweː]) are the brothers of the godOdin (from Old NorseÓðinn), sons ofBestla, daughter ofBölþorn; andBorr, son ofBúri.
InGylfaginning (Prose Edda), Odin, Vili and Ve created the world from the primordial giantYmir. Afterwards they create the first human beings, Ask and Embla, from two trees found at the seashore. '[1]'
InVöluspá, the namesHœnir andLóðurr are mentioned instead of Vili and Ve. As Snorri Sturluson knew Völuspá, it is not unreasonable that Hœnir was another name for Vili, and Lóðurr would be Ve.
TheOld NorsetheonymVé (orVéi) iscognate withGothicweiha ('priest'), both stemming fromProto-Germanic *wīhōn, itself from the adjective *wīhaz, meaning 'holy' (cf. Goth.weihs, Old High Germanwīh).[2] A related noun, *wīhan ('sanctuary'), can also be reconstructed on the basis of Old Norsevé ('sanctuary'), Old Englishwēoh ('idol'), and Old Saxonwīh ('temple').[3][4]
Vili transparently means 'will' in Old Norse. It stems from the Proto-Germanic noun *weljōn ~ *weljan ('will, wish'; cf. Gothicwilja, Old Englishwilla, and Old High Germanwillo).[5][6]
 | This section has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
InProto-Norse, the three brothers' names werealliterating, *Wōdinaz,Wiljô,Wīhaz,[7][failed verification] so that they can be taken as forming a triad of *wōdaz, wiljô, wīhą, approximatelyinspiration (transcendent, mantic or prophetic knowledge),cognition (will, desire, internal thought that leads to action) andnumen (spiritual power residing in the external world, in sacred objects).[citation needed]
Compare to this alliteration in a verse found in theExeter Book,Wôden worhte weos "Woden wrought thesanctuaries" – when compared to the "triad" above, just the middlewill etymon has been replaced by thework etymon. The name of such sanctuaries to Woden,Wôdenes weohas (Old SaxonWôdanes wih,Old NorseÓðins vé) survives intoponymy asOdinsvi,Wodeneswegs.
Vili and Vé, together with Óðinn, are portrayed as the three brothers who slewYmir — ending the primeval rule of the race ofgiants — and are the first of theÆsir. Of the three, Óðinn is the eldest, Vili the middle, and Vé the youngest. To the first human couple,Ask and Embla, Óðinn gave soul and life; Vili (Hœnir) gave wit (intelligence) and sense of touch; and Vé (Lóðurr) gave countenance (appearance, facial expression),speech, hearing, and sight.
While Vili and Vé are of little prominence in Norse mythology as attested; their brother Óðinn has a more celebrated role as the chief of the Norse pantheon. Óðinn remains at the head of a triad of the mightiest gods: Óðinn,Þórr, andFreyr. In theGylfaginning, first book of theprose Edda, Óðinn is also styledÞriði "the third", in which case he appears by the side ofHárr andJafnhárr (the "high" and the "even-high" or "co-equal"), as the "Third High". At other times, he is Tveggi "the second". In relation to the Óðinn-Vili-Vé triad, Grimm compares Old High Germanwilla, which not only expressedvoluntas, but alsovotum, impetus, spiritus, and the personification of Will, toWela in Old English sources.[8] Keyser interprets the triad as "Spirit, Will and Holiness", postulating a kind of GermanicTrinity in Vili and Vé to be "blended together again in the all-embracing World-spirit – in Odin. [...] he alone is Al-father, from whom all the other superior, world-directing beings, the Æsir, are descended."[9]
According toLoki, inLokasenna, Vili and Vé had an affair with Óðinn's wife,Frigg. This is taken by Grimm as reflecting the fundamental identity of the three brothers, so that Frigg might be considered the wife of either. According to this story Óðinn was abroad for a long time, and in his absence his brothers acted for him. It is worthy of note thatSaxo Grammaticus also makes Óðinn (Latin:Othinus) travel to foreign lands and Mitoðinn[10] (Latin:Mithothyn) fill his place,[11] and therefore Mitoðinn's position throws light on that of Vili and Vé.[citation needed] But Saxo represents Óðinn as once more an exile, and putsUllr (Latin:Ollerus) in his place.[12]
Chapter 3 ofHeimskringla says that Odin had two brothers, Vili and Vé. While Odin was gone, his brothers governed his realm. Once Odin was gone for so long that theÆsir believed that he would not return, his brothers began to divvy up Odin's inheritance, "but his wifeFrigg they shared between them. However, afterwards, [Odin] returned and took possession of his wife again".[13]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)