Norse Mythology
Places
Ginnungagap:
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The area between Muspellsheim and Niflheim.
This is were life began.
Muspellsheim:
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Land of brightness and flames.
Homes of desolation.
Land of fire located in the southern part of Ginnungagap.
Niflheim:
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Land of mist, ice, and shadows.
Once a person dies the come here.
A person cannot enter or leave without Hel’s permission.
Located in the northern part of Ginnungagap.
Asgard:
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Home of the gods.
Protected with a wall and bridge (that is the rainbow)
Odin and his brothers created the city.
Valhalla (Odin’s palace) is located here.
Midgard:
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Were the mortals lived.
Is the world.
Jotunheim:
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Home of the Frost Giants or Jotnar.
Tormented the humans in Midgard and Asgard from here.
Darkalfeim:
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Home of the Dwarfs
Precious metal were located here.
Located under the earth’s surface
Norse Mythology Introduction
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Stories were used to explain the unexplainable (seasons,
earthquakes)
Norse mythology is the best-preserved version of the older
Germanic Paganism.
Oral history preserved these stories.
o The process of one generation telling the next generation the
stories.
Comes from the Scandinavia areas. (Norway, Iceland, Sweden,
Denmark, Finland)
Textual Origins:
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Beowulf -- Old English
Nibelungenlied -- German legends
The Eddas -- Icelandic accounts of battles, legends, religion
Modern Interpretations:
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J.R.R. Tolkien
o The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings
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Richard Wagner
o The Ring of the Nibelung
o The Rheingold (Das Rheingold)
o The Valkyrie (Die Walkurë)
o Siegfried (Siegfried)
o Twilight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung)
Norse Mythology Giants:
Odin: The Almighty God
God of the gods.
God of battles, death, and inspiration.
Never eats only drink wine.
Married Frigg, Earth, and Grid.
Has 2 ravens Hugin(thought) and Munin (memory) perched on his
shoulders.
o They fly around the world every night to inform Odin of the
events.
o His horse Sleipner had eight legs, which helped him run in the sky.
o He sacrificed one eye to gain wisdom.
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Frigg:
o Wife of Odin.
o Was the prophecy for the gods and humans.
o Women prayed to her, especially during childbirth.
Thor: The ruler of the Weather
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Oldest son of Odin & earth.
God of thunder and weather.
Married Sif.
He used his hammer to hit the clouds and cause thunder.
Constantly fights the frost giants.
Had 3 magical weapons.
o A belt of strength that doubled his strength.
o Hammer (Mjolnir) that could killed giants and always
returned to his hand.
o Iron glove that was used to catch the hammer.
Loki: The Untrustworthy God
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Was originally a Frost Giant who became a god.
He could change into any shape.
Caused mischief and the death of Balder.
Married Sigyn.
Frey: God of Weather & Fertility
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Son of Njord.
Gave humans the gift of rain and sunshine.
God of fruitfulness.
Lived in Alfheim.
o Had a magical ship that could sail on water or land.
Freya: Goddess of love, beauty, and rebirth.
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Married to Od, who dies.
Had a chariot that was drawn by 2 cats.
She cried tears of gold.
Had a feather coat that allowed her to travel between the worlds.
Heimdall: The guard of Bifrost
o Watches the rainbow bridge.
o Is waiting for Ragnarok (the worlds end) and when it come he will
sound a horn.
o His nine sisters gave birth to him.
o Had great hearing and, never sleeps, and can see in the dark.
Idun: The Goddess of Youth
o Married to Brage.
o Keeps apples that when eaten prevents aging.
Njord: The God of Wind and Sea
o Worship by sea faring people.
o Married to Skadi.
Tyr: The god of War
o Bravest god and lost his hand in a battle.
o Chose the hero’s with Odin.
Balder: The sun god.
o Was loved by the other gods.
o Father was Odin