Hati Hróðvitnisson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hati Hróðvitnisson
Norse mythology character
"Far away and long ago" (1920) by Willy Pogany.
Information
Aliases	Mánagarmr
Species	Warg
Family	Fenrir (father)

In Norse mythology, Hati Hróðvitnisson is a powerful wolf. His name means "He Who Hates" or "Enemy". He is known as a warg, which is a giant, mythical wolf.

Hati has a very important job in the sky. He chases Máni, the moon, across the night sky. Another wolf, named Sköll, chases Sól, the sun, during the day. This chase continues until a big event called Ragnarök. At Ragnarök, these wolves are fated to catch and swallow the sun and moon.

Hati's Family in Norse Myths

Hati's full name, Hróðvitnisson, tells us about his father. It means "son of Hróðvitnir". Hróðvitnir is another name for the famous wolf Fenrir. So, Hati is the son of Fenrir, a very powerful and feared wolf in Norse myths.

According to ancient stories, Hati's mother is a giantess. Her name is not mentioned, but she lives in a forest called Járnviðr ("Ironwood"). This forest is to the east of Midgard, the world of humans. She is a witch and raises many giant sons, all of them in the form of wolves. Hati and Sköll are among these wolf-sons, making them brothers.

Some old poems say that one of this giantess's sons will swallow the moon. This wolf will also eat the flesh of the dead. This will cause blood to splatter across the heavens. Other stories suggest that Fenrir himself will destroy the sun.

Mánagarmr: Another Name for Hati

Sometimes, Hati is called by another name: Mánagarmr. This name means "Moon-Hound" or "Moon's Dog". It is believed to be an older, traditional name for the wolf who swallows the moon.

Mánagarmr is described as the strongest of the giantess's wolf-children. He is the one who will swallow the moon. He will also feast on the dead. This name shows how important Hati is in the stories about the moon and the end of the world.

See also

In Spanish: Hati para niños