InNorse mythology,Sköll (Old Norse:Skǫll, "Treachery"[1] or "Mockery"[2]) is a wolf that, according toSnorri Sturluson'sProse Edda, chases the Sun (personified as a goddess,Sól) riding her chariot across the sky.Hati Hróðvitnisson chases the Moon (personified, asMáni) during the night. Sköll and Hati are the sons of the wolfFenrir, and an unnamed giantess. It is foretold the wolves will chase the Sun and Moon across the skies untilRagnarök, at which point the wolves catch up and devour the celestial beings.
In Snorri Sturluson'sProse Edda, the mention of Sköll appears when describing the story of Sol, who drives the chariot of the Sun in Norse Mythology. The wolf is seen chasing her after she receives her chariot to carry the Sun. "[Sun] goes at a great pace; her pursuer is close behind her and there is nothing she can do but flee. … There are two wolves and the one pursuing her is called Skoll [Treachery] is the one she fears; he will catch her [at the end of the world]."[3]
According toRudolf Simek, it is possible that Sköll is another name forFenrir, and, if so, "there could be a nature-mythological interpretation in the case of Sköll and Hati (who pursues the moon). Such an interpretation suggests the wolves may be intended to describe the phenomenon of parhelia and paraselenae orSun dogs andMoon dogs, as these are called 'sun-wolf' in Scandinavian languages (Norwegiansolulv, Swedishsolvarg)."[2] Rudolf Simek theorizes that Sköll, Hati, and Fenrir are one and the same, deriving from the Hyades star cluster found in the constellation Taurus. The stars form a "V" shape that could have easily been interpreted as the mouth of a wolf.[4]