Bil - Goddess of Norse Mythology

Image of Bil, the Norse goddess of time and the moon, depicted in a modern interpretation of her appearance.
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A modern interpretation of Bil, the Norse goddess of time and the moon.

Bil (pronounced: "bill") is a goddess from Norse mythology who is the personification of time. She is also known as the daughter of Vidfinn, and sister of Hjúki. Bil is mostly associated with the moon and is commonly depicted in the form of "a month on the damage."

The name "Bil" in Old Norse runes is written as:

ᛒᛁᛚ

The story of Bil and her brother Hjúki is mentioned in the "Vision of Gylvi" (Chapter 11) in which they were stolen by Máni, the god of the moon. Their father, Vidfinn, had sent them to the source of Burgir to collect water. However, on their way back home, Máni took them to heaven, and since then, they have accompanied him everywhere.

The legend of Bil and Hjúki has been compared to the tales of the "man in the moon" found in many European cultures. Some of these stories involve a "woman with a bucket" and a "man with a pole," who were initially thought to represent lunar craters.

Bil's name appears in chapter 35 of "Gylfaginning," where she is mentioned alongside Sol, the sun goddess, as one of the goddesses. According to some theories, Bil may have been identified with a spirit called Bilwis. Other theories suggest that Bil and Hjúki represent something related to the moon.

Jacob Grimm believed that Hjúki and Bil represented craters on the moon, and this theory was also supported by Benjamin Thorpe. However, Anne Holtsmark proposed that Bil and Hjúki represented the rising and descending moon, respectively.

Bil is not mentioned in many sources, and it is uncertain whether she was considered a goddess in pagan times. However, her name is used in many kenningar that refer to women.


Please note that the information provided about Bil and Norse mythology is complex and may be subject to interpretation and debate. The myths and stories of Norse mythology have evolved and been passed down through oral tradition and written accounts, and there may be variations in the way they are told and understood. This information should be used as a general reference and not as a definitive source on the subject.


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Other Norse Gods and Goddesses


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