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Ratatosk

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This image from a 17th century Icelandic manuscript shows Ratatoskr with a horn.
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This image from a 17th century Icelandic manuscript shows Ratatoskr with a horn.

In Norse mythology, Ratatoskr (drilling tooth, sometimes Anglicized Ratatosk) is a squirrel who runs up and down with messages in the world tree Yggdrasill and spreads gossip. In particular he ferried insults between the eagle at the top of Yggdrasill, and the dragon Níðhöggr beneath its roots.

Modern Appearances

Ratatosk makes a minor appearance in Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman (DC Comics Modern Age), as an accidental "midwife" to Thor in a story told by Loki. He also appears in Gaiman's American Gods.

Norse mythology
List of Norse gods | Æsir | Vanir | Giants | Elves | Dwarves | Valkyries | Einherjar | Norns
Odin | Thor | Freyr | Freya | Loki | Balder | Tyr | Yggdrasil | Ginnungagap | Ragnarök
Sources:
Poetic Edda | Prose Edda | The Sagas | Volsung Cycle | Tyrfing Cycle
Rune stones | Old Norse language | Orthography | Later influence
Society:
Viking Age | Skald | Kenning | Blót | Seid | Numbers
The nine worlds of Norse mythology | People, places and things

 


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