Norse Mythology Basics
Why Important?
A. Norse mythology is quite en vogue right now
(Thor, The Avengers, Loki, tattoos, etc) because
of various cultural issues
B. The Norse invaded England. The combination of
their culture and the existing Anglos created
English
--Norse becomes British, British becomes
American
--THEREFORE, we’re still influenced by this culture
established thousands of years ago
C. It’s fun
Basic Gods
THE AESIR
The collective name for the principal race of Norse gods;
they who lived in Asgard, and under the leadership of the AllFather, Odin, ruled the lives of mortal men.
• Balder (god of beauty)
• Freyr (god of fertility, who
originally was from the Vanir)
• Heimdall (guardian of the bridge)
• Loki (god of fire and ally of the
frost giants)
• Thor (god of thunder)
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Bragi (god of eloquence)
Forseti (god of mediation)
Hod (the blind god)
Njord (the sea god, and another
ex-Vanir)
Tyr (god of war)
Vili (brother to Odin)
Ve (brother to Odin)
Vidar (Odin’s son)
ODIN, The All-Father
• God of Knowledge
– In one story he gave up
his eye for complete
knowledge.
• Poetry
• Two ravens on his
shoulder watched the
kingdoms
• Characteristics
FREYJA
• Warrior Goddess
• Goddess of Love and
Beauty
• Queen of the Valkyries
– Valkyries chose who died
in battle and sent them
to Valhalla (afterlife)
• The word “Friday”
stems from her name
Balder
• Son of Odin
• Really nice guy
• Killed when a mistletoe
was thrown at him.
Heimdall
• Guard and watchman of
Bifrost
– Bifrost was the rainbow
bridge leading to Asgard
– The rainbow bridge is in
many traditions
– Represents connection
between god and men or
connection between the
body and the soul
• Carries a sword, horn,
and wears helmet
– His horn signaled the end
of the world
Loki
• Not a god, but lives with
them
• He is a giant (giants
were evil)
• He was a shape-shifter
• Foster brother of Odin
• Unstable, flawed,
troublesome
• See next slide
Loki, The Trickster
• “…handsome and fair of
face, but has an evil
disposition and is very
changeable of mood. He
excelled all men in the art
of cunning, and he always
cheats. He was
continually involving the
Aesir in great difficulties
and he often helped them
out again by guile.”
Asgard
• Where the Norse
gods lived
• The equivalent to
Olympus
• “It is a grave and
solemn place, over
which hangs the
threat of inevitable
doom
Bifrost
• The rainbow bridge that
connects Asgard with
the other realms
– There are nine realms
– Asgard is separated from
humans
Valhalla
• Where brave people and warriors go after
death
• It is a hall in Asgard
• After a person dies, Odin or Freyja pick the
souls that are worthy to go to Valhalla
Ydgradisill
• The tree of life
• It supports the universe
• It’s roots extend to each
world (there are three
stacked on top of each
other, Asgard, middle
earth where humans
are, underworld
The Nine
Worlds
• Asgard-top
• Midgardmiddle,
humans
• Lower world
Bad guys
(giants, dead)