Norse Mythology

A very brief overview

Important Gods and Goddesses

• Odin – King of the Norse Gods, God of poetry, battle and death. Chief god of the Aesir. Also known as the “all-father”, the “terrible one”, “one-eyed” and “father of battle”.

• Thor – God of Sky, thunder and fertility. Associated with law and order in Asgard and guardian of the Norse gods. Son of Odin and Earth and husband of Sif. Also known as the “thunder god” and “charioteer”.

• Loki – The sly, trickster of the Norse gods. Son of two giants. Also known as the Sly One, the Trickster, the Shape Changer and the Sky Traveller. Becomes increasingly more evil. He is responsible for the death of Balder. Bound until Ragnarok.

• Balder – Son of Odin and Frigg. Known as a gentle and wise god. Killed accidentally by his brother Hod. Will return after Ragnarok.

• Fenrir (or Fenris) is a gigantic and terrible monster in the shape of a wolf. He is the eldest child of Loki and the giantess Angrboda

• Bragi – The Norse God of poetry and eloquence. Son of Odin and husband of Idun.

• Frigga – Main goddess. Wife of Odin and mother of Balder.

• Heimdall – Watchman of the Norse gods and owner of the horn Gjall. Son of nine mothers. Often identified with Rig, the creator of three races of men.

• Hel – ruler of Helheim, the realm of the dead

• Hod – Son of Odin. A blind god who accidentally killed his brother Balder. He will return after Ragnarok.

• Magni – Son of Thor and the giantess Jarnsaxa. Will inherit Thor’s hammer Mjollnir with his brother Modiafter Ragnarok.

• Modi – Son of Thor and the giantess Jarnsaxa. Will inherit Thor’s hammer Mjollnir with his brother Magniafter Ragnarok.

• Ran – Wife of Aegir who dragged drowning men down with her net.

• Tyr – War god. Son of Odin who sacrificed his hand in the binding of Fenrir.

• Valkyries – Beautiful women who carried dying warriors to Valhalla.

The Realms

• Asgard – Land of the Aesir (kingdom of the Gods)• Bifrost - The flaming rainbow bridge between Asgard and

Midgard• Helheim – The realm of the dead in Niflheim, ruled over by

the monster Hel.• Jotunheim – Land of the giants• Midgard – The realm of mankind.• Niflheim – Land of freezing mist and darkness and home of

Hel.• Valhalla – Hall presided over by Odin (the hall of fallen

warriors)• Yggdrasill – The world tree

The Nine Worlds of Norse mythology

• The first level: Asgard, world of the Aesir; Vanaheim, land of the Vanir; and Alfheim, land of the light elves.

• The second level: Midgard, Land of humans (middle world/garden); Nidavellir, Land of the dwarfs; Jotunheim, Land of the giants (Jotuns); and Svartalfheim, Land of the dark elves.

• The third level: Hel (Helheim), Realm of the dead; and Niflheim, World of the dead.

Ragnorak

• “Fate of the gods”• The End – literally• Cataclysmic end to everyone and everything – Norse gods

included• Exemplifies Norse Mythology themes/values of honor,

dignity, and courage• Gods will battle and perish just like humans• Provides inspiration for humans• “the inevitability of death and misfortune should not paralyze

us, but should instead spur us to hold noble attitudes and do noble deeds”

• Bards/scops will sing our praises long after we’re gone…hello Beowulf!

Need more info?

You can find a plethora of information on Norse Mythology here. ☺