Ratatoskr

“Ratatosk is the squirrel who there shall run

On the ash-tree Yggdrasil;

From above the words of the eagle he bears,

And tells them to Nithhogg beneath.”

-       Grímnismál, Bellows Translation

At the top of Yggdrasil, the World Tree, lives an Eagle. Deep under the roots of the tree, the dragon Nithhogg is trapped. Within the tree lives a squirrel named Ratatoskr. His name means “drill – tooth.”

Every day Ratatoskr climbs up to the eagle and claims that the dragon says foul things about the eagle’s character. Then Ratatoskr runs down to the roots and tells the dragon that the eagle claims slanderous gossip about the dragon. There is no clear reason behind Ratatoskr mischief, he simply wishes to provoke the eagle and the dragon, as neither can reach the other. Such is the nature of squirrels.

This painting was an opportunity to do something fun. Squirrels are such interesting creatures. Apparently that was true in Viking times as well. Hopefully you can enjoy a bit of mischeif and this painting of Ratatoskr.

The original fantasy painting was done in oil and measures 11" x 14".