Norse%20Mythology

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Norse Mythology

• Mythology I

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Background

• Norse refers to Danes, Norwegians, Swedes
  (a.k.a. Vikings)
• The Viking Age was 780-1070 A.D.
• Vikings spread from Scandinavia to Iceland,
  Greenland, Ireland, Scotland, Russia, and North
  America
• Norse myths reflect the nature of the Viking
  people

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Sources

• Elder Edda or Poetic Edda a group of poems by
  various authors that were probably written in the
  tenth century
• Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson
• Written around 1200 A.D.
• Includes retellings of most of the poems from the
  Elder Edda
• Influenced by Christianity

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The NORSE WORLD
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YggdrasilL

• The World Tree
• World is separated into 9 realms on three levels
• Most important Asgard (home of the gods),
  Midgard (home of men), Jotunheim (home of
  giants), and Hel/Niflheim (home of the dead)
• Asgard and Midgard are connected by Bifrost, the
  rainbow bridge

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GODS of the NORSE
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Æsir and Vanir

• Two races of gods in Norse mythology
• Æsir are the more war-like gods Odin, Frigg,
  Thor, Balder and Tyr
• Vanir are the more peaceful fertility gods
  Njord, sea god, and his children, Freyr and
  Freyja
• These clans battle, exchange hostages, etc.

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ODIN

• Son of Bestla and Bor, brother of Vili and Ve
• Father of Balder, Tyr, Heimdall, and others
• The All-Father, God of Battle
• Dwells in Valhalla, where he welcomes courageous
  warriors after death
• Possesses Gungnir, a great spear which he can use
  to start wars
• Rides Sleipner, the eight-legged horse who is the
  fastest steed in the world

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Thor

• God of Thunder, strongest god
• Son of Odin and Jord (Earth), husband of Sif
• Protects Asgard, battles giants
• Owns the war hammer, Mjolnir, which, when thrown
  at a target, returns to the owner
• Also owns a belt which boosts his strength and a
  pair of special iron gloves
• His chariot is drawn by two goats, which he can
  eat and resurrect

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Balder

• God of innocence, beauty, joy, purity, and peace
• Son of Odin and Frigg
• Killed by a trick of Loki
• Will return to rule after the end of the age

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Loki

• Son of giants, father of the Fenris-Wolf, Midgard
  serpent, Hel, and Sleipner
• Married goddess Sigyn, had two sons
• Trickster hero/god, neither fully good or bad
• Able to change shape and gender
• Never worshipped by men

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tyr

• God of single combat and heroic glory
• Once thought to be head of the Norse pantheon,
  later said to be son of Odin
• Sacrificed hand to bind the Fenris-Wolf

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frigg

• Wife of Odin
• Goddess of marriage, motherhood, fertility, love,
  household management, and domestic arts
• Has the power of prophecy but does not tell what
  she knows
• Is said to have woven or spun the clouds

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Freyja

• Daughter of Njord, the sea god, and twin sister
  of Freyr
• Goddess of love, sex, beauty, prophecies and
  attraction
• Owned the necklace Brísingamen, and a cloak of
  feathers, which let her change into any bird
• Rides in chariot drawn by cats
• Often desired and fought for by gods, giants, and
  dwarves

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freyr

• Son of Njord, the sea god, and twin brother of
  Freyja
• Fertility god rules over rain, shining of the
  sun, and produce of the fields
• Marries a giantess, Gerd
• Rides a boar with golden bristles
• Has a magical sword and a magical ship

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Heimdall

• Guardian of the gods and Asgard
• Blows the horn Gjall if danger approaches
• Stationed at Bifrost, the rainbow bridge
• Extremely acute senses, does not sleep
• Son of nine different mothers

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The Norns

• Three women Urd (fate), Verdandi (being) and
  Skuld (necessity)
• Weave the tapestry of fates in which each
  person's life is a thread, even the gods
• Live by a root of Yggdrasill
• Guard the spring of fate

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The Valkyries

• Choosers of the Slain
• Always female
• Give victory in battle according to Odins will
• Servants in Valhalla
• Origin, names, and powers differ according to
  various myths

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Questions?