What does the name Ratatoskr mean in Old Norse?
Modern scholars generally accept that Ratatoskr means drill-tooth or borer-gnawer. Albert Sturtevant concluded Rati is a native Old Norse word meaning The Borer Gnawer instead of rat-based tooth.
Questions about Ratatoskr
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where does Ratatoskr run up and down according to the Poetic Edda poem Grímnismál?
Ratatoskr runs up and down Yggdrasil the ash tree between an eagle and Níðhöggr. Odin disguised as Grímnir speaks these lines about the creature carrying words from above to Nithhogg beneath.
When did Snorri Sturluson write the Prose Eddas Gylfaginning chapter 16 account of Ratatoskr?
Snorri Sturluson wrote the Prose Eddas Gylfaginning chapter 16 account describing the squirrel named Ratatosk running up and down the ash. This text states he tells slanderous gossip provoking both the eagle and Nidhogg.
Why do Richard W. Thorington Jr. and Katie Ferrell believe the myth originated from real squirrels?
Richard W. Thorington Jr. and Katie Ferrell theorized the role derived from European tree squirrels giving alarm calls when danger approaches. They studied Sciurus vulgaris which scold loudly to detect nearby threats suggesting a natural origin for the story.
Which video game featured Ratatoskr as a prominent side character in 2022?
God of War Ragnarök featured Ratatoskr as a prominent side character in 2022. A ghostly version appeared in the preceding title God of War as an ally of Atreus.