Norse mythology Norse, Nordic, or Scandinavian mythology is the body of myths belonging to the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Old Norse religion and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Nordic folklore of the modern period ...

, Verðandi (

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...

, meaning possibly "happening" or "present"Orchard (1997:174).), sometimes anglicized as Verdandi or Verthandi, is one of the

norns The Norns ( non, norn , plural: ) are deities in Norse mythology responsible for shaping the course of human destinies.'' Nordisk familjebok'' (1907) In the ''Völuspá'', the three primary Norns Urðr (Wyrd), Verðandi, and Skuld draw wate ...

. Along with

Urðr Urðr (Old Norse "fate"Orchard (1997:169).) is one of the Norns in Norse mythology. Along with Verðandi (possibly "happening" or "present"Orchard (1997:174).) and Skuld (possibly "debt" or "future"Orchard (1997:151).), Urðr makes up a trio of ...

(

"fate"Orchard (1997:169).) and

Skuld Skuld (the name possibly means "debt" and is related to the English word "should") is a Norn in Norse mythology. Along with Urðr (Old Norse "fate"Orchard (1997:169).) and Verðandi (possibly "happening" or "present"Orchard (1997:174).), Skuld mak ...

(possibly "debt" or "future"Orchard (1997:151).), Verðandi makes up a trio of Norns that are described as deciding the fates ( wyrd) of people.

Etymology

''Verðandi'' is literally the present participle of the

verb "''verða''", "to become", and is commonly translated as "in the making" or "that which is happening/becoming"; it is related to the Dutch word ''worden'' and the German word ''werden'', both meaning "to become".

Attestation

''Völuspá''

She appears in the following verse from the '' Poetic Edda'' poem '' Völuspá'', along with Urðr and Skuld:

Notes

References

* Orchard, Andy (1997). ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend''. Cassell. {{Time in religion and mythology Norns Female supernatural figures in Norse mythology Textiles in folklore Time and fate goddesses Gýgjar