Sol and Moon
Moon and Sol were brother and sister. Sol (Sun) was the goddess of the sun, while her brother Moon was the god of the moon. Sol was also called Alfrodul. In German myth, Sol was called Ostara, while Moon was called Mani.
In the Second Merseberg Charm, written in the 9th century in Old High German, Sol was referred to by the name Sunna, with Sunna being the sister of the goddess Sinthgunt, who was possibly the goddess of the moon. Sinthgunt, along with the goddess Frija (Frigg) and Wodan (Odin) were names invoked in the charm to heal the sprained ankle of Baldur's (Baldr's) horse.
They were the offspring of Mundilfaeri. Sol was the wife of Glen, but the gods did not favour this marriage.
Sol and Moon were placed in the sky. Sol drove in a chariot drawn by two horses: Arvak and Alsvinn. Her chariot was like the sun that moved across the sky.
Moon had a male and a female companion named Hiuki and Bil, children of Vidfinn, carrying a tub (Saeg) on their shoulders from the well or spring called Byrgir.
Sol was chased by a giant wolf called Skoll, while Hati Hrodvitniddon pursued the moon. One of the signs that Ragnarök was almost upon the gods was that the two wolves would devour the brother and sister, causing the world to fall in darkness and winter to last for a whole year.
After Ragnarök, Sol's daughter would take over her role, riding the sun-chariot across the sky, so a new sun was born.
Related Information
Name
Sol, Sun.
Alfrodul.
Ostara (Germanic).
Sunna (Old High German).
Moon.
Mani (Germanic).
Related Articles
See also Ostara.
Skoll and Hati.
Ragnarök.
Facts and Figures: Astronomy.
By Jimmy Joe