In Norse mythology

Norse mythology

Norse mythology, a subset of Germanic mythology, is the overall term for the myths, legends and beliefs about supernatural beings of Norse pagans. It flourished prior to the Christianization of Scandinavia, during the Early Middle Ages, and passed into Nordic folklore, with some aspects surviving...

, Sköll (Old Norse

Old Norse

Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....

 "Treachery") is a wolf that chases the horses Árvakr and Alsviðr, that drag the chariot which contains the sun

Sun

The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...

 (Sól) through the sky every day, trying to eat her. Sköll has a brother, Hati, who chases Máni

Mani

Mani is a name or word occurring in several etymologically unrelated languages and cultures, including:* Maní - a legend of the indigenous tribe Tupi in Brazil.* Mani , the founder of Manichaeism....

, the moon

Moon

The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...

. At Ragnarök

Ragnarök

In Norse mythology, Ragnarök is a series of future events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures , the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water...

, both Sköll and Hati will succeed in their quests.

Sköll, in certain circumstances, is used as a heiti

Heiti

A heiti is a synonym used in Old Norse poetry in place of the normal word for something...

 to refer indirectly to the father (Fenrir) and not the son. This ambiguity works in the other direction also, for example in Vafþrúðnismál

Vafþrúðnismál

In Norse mythology, Vafþrúðnismál is the third poem in the Poetic Edda. It is a conversation in verse form conducted initially between the Æsir Odin and Frigg, and subsequently between Odin and the giant Vafþrúðnir...

, where confusion exists in stanza 46 where Fenrir is given the sun-chasing attributes of his son Sköll. This can mostly be accounted for by the use of Hróðvitnir and Hróðvitnisson to refer to both Fenrir and his sons.

Popular culture

• Sköll is the name of a rare wolf character in World of Warcraft
  World of Warcraft
  World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
  
  . The area he appears in is strongly influenced by Norse mythology.
• In one episode of Tiziano Sclavi's Dylan Dog
  Dylan Dog
  Dylan Dog is an Italian horror comics series featuring an eponymous character created by Tiziano Sclavi for the publishing house Sergio Bonelli Editore...
  
  , the Nightmare Investigator, Sköll and his brother Hati, were used as characters in tale N°289 "La via degli enigmi" ("The Way of Puzzles") and N°290 "L'erede Oscuro" ("The Dark Heir"); in which they are evil creatures who serve the main antagonist.
• In the 2nd season episode "Død Kalm
  Død Kalm
  "Død Kalm" is the nineteenth episode of the second season of The X-Files science fiction television series created by Chris Carter. It aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company on March 10, 1995.-Plot:...
  
  " of The X-Files
  The X-Files
  The X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
  
  , Special Agent Dana Scully tells the story of Sköll in a voice-over
  Voice-over
  Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
  
  .
• In the Anita Blake novels the Skoll and Hati are the enforcers of the Ulfric (Werewolf leader).
• In the MMORPG Runescape, Skoll's brother Hati appeared during the winter to give double experience in any combat skill.
• A.A.S.R.Skøll is the name of the Amsterdam Student Rowing Club Skøll
• Sköll is the surname of the norwegian bassist Hugh Steven James Mingway who has played in Ved Buens Ende
  Ved Buens Ende
  Ved Buens Ende is a Norwegian heavy metal band. Their sound is diverse with quiet instrumental jazz influenced sections and aggressive black metal blast beats and vocals...
  
  , Arcturus (band)
  Arcturus (band)
  Arcturus is an avant-garde metal band formed in Norway in 1987. They named it Arcturus , after the Behenian fixed star Arcturus.-Biography:The band has released four official full-length albums...
  
   and Ulver
  Ulver
  Ulver is a musical group from Norway. Since their first, folklore-influenced black metal release entitled Bergtatt – Et eeventyr i 5 capitler , Ulver’s musical style has been fluid and increasingly eclectic, blending genres such as rock, electronica, symphonic and chamber traditions, noise and...
  
  .