The Norse Gods
Norse Gods are the mythological characters that came from the Northern Germanic
tribes of the 9th century AD. These stories were passed down in the form of poetry
until the 11th – 18th centuries when the Eddas and other medieval texts were written.
Norse Gods
Aegir – Norse God of the sea. Married to Ran and lives under the waves near the
island of Hlesey.
Aesir – A group of warrior gods led by Odin who inhabit Asgard.
Balder – Son of Odin and Frigg. Known as a gentle and wise god. Killed accidentally
by his brother Hod. Will return after Ragnarok.
Bolverk – The alias Odin adopted when disguised as a giant to win the mead of poetry.
Bor – Son of Buri and father of Odin, Vili and Ve.
Bragi – The Norse God of poetry and eloquence. Son of Odin and husband of Idun.
Buri – Ancestor of the Norse gods. Created by the cow Audmula licking him from ice.
Day – Son of Night and Delling. Said to ride around the earth on his horse Skinfaxi.
Earth – Daughter of Night and Annar.
Einherjar – Band of dead warriors in Valhalla who await Ragnarok.
Eir – Goddess of healing
Fjorgyn – Lover of Odin and mother of Thor. Also referred to as Earth.
Forseti – God of Justice. Son of Balder and Nanna.
Freyja – Main goddess of the Vanir (fertility gods). Daughter of Njord and sister of
Freyr.
Freyr – God of the Vanir. Son of Njord and brother of Freyja.
Frigga – Main goddess. Wife of Odin and mother of Balder.
Fulla – Goddess servant of Frigga.
Gangnrad – Pseudonym of Odin when he visits Vafthrudnir.
Gefion – Fertility goddess. Associated with the plow. Tricked the king of Sweden out of
a tract of his land.
Grimnir – Pseudonym of Odin when he visits his foster son Geirrod, King of the Goths.
Gullveig – A Vanir goddess (probably Freyja) who is burned three times by the Aesir.
Harbard – Odin disguised as a ferryman when he wrangles with Thor.
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
Hermod – Son of Odin. Rode to Hel to try and rescue his brother Balder.
Hod – Son of Odin. A blind god who accidentally killed his brother Balder. He will
return after Ragnarok.
Honir – A long-legged, indecisive god. Sent to the Vanir to seal the truce between
them and the Aesir. He will survive Ragnarok.
Idun – Guardian of the golden apples of youth and wife of Bragi.
Lofn – Goddess of ilicit unions.
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.
Magni – Son of Thor and the giantess Jarnsaxa. Will inherit Thor’s hammer Mjollnir
with his brother Modi after Ragnarok.
Mimir – Wise Aesir god. Sent to the Vanir to seal the truce between the two groups of
the Norse gods. Killed by the Vanir, his head is kept by Odin.
Modgud – Maiden guardian of the bridge over the river Gjoll in Jotenheim.
Modi – Son of Thor and the giantess Jarnsaxa. Will inherit Thor’s hammer Mjollnir with
his brother Magni after Ragnarok.
Moon – Son of Mundilfari. Guides the moon on its course.
Nanna – Wife of Balder and daughter of Nep.
Narvi – Also known as Nari. Son of Loki and Sigyn who was killed by his brother Vali.
Night – Daughter of Narvi and mother of Day. Rides around the earth on her horse
Hrimfaxi.
Njord – A Vanir god associated with wind and sea. Husband of Skadi and father of
Freyja and Freyr.
Norns – Urd “fate”, Skuld “being” and Verandi “necessity”. Three goddesses of
destiny.
Od – Missing husband of Freyja who she constantly mourns for.
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”.
Ran – Wife of Aegir who dragged drowning men down with her net.
Rig – Pseudonym of Heimdall and the creator of three races of men.
Rind – Goddess and lover of Odin. Mother of Vali.
Saga – Goddess and drinking companion of Odin.
Sif – Wife of Thor whose golden hair was cut off by Loki.
Sigyn – Wife of Loki.
Sjofn – Goddess of human passion.
Skadi – Goddess of Winter and of the Hunt
Sun – Daughter of Mundilfari and guide of the sun.
Syn – Goddess of the accused at trial.
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”.
Thrud – Daughter of Thor. Promised to the dwarf Alvis.
Tyr – War god. Son of Odin who sacrificed his hand in the binding of Fenrir.
Ull – God of archery and skiing.
Vali – Son of Odin and the giantess Rind. Conceived to avenge the death of Balder.
Valkyries – Beautiful women who carried dying warriors to Valhalla.
Vanir – Fertility gods.
Var – Goddess of marriage oaths.
Ve – Son of Bor and brother of Odin and Vili.
Vidar – Son of Odin and the giantess Grid who will avenge Odin’s death after
Ragnarok.
Vili – Son of Bor and brother of Odin and Ve.
Vor – Goddess who knows all.
Ymir - the father of all Frost giants.
Mythological Realms of Norse Gods
Alfheim – The land of the light elves in Asgard
Algron – Island where Odin (Harbard) stayed for five years
Asgard – Land of the Aesir
Bilskirnir – Thor’s hall in Asgard
Bifrost - The flaming rainbow bridge between Asgard and Midgard
Breidablik – Balder’s hall in Asgard
Elivagar – The eleven rivers that flow from the spring of Hvergelmir in Niflheim.
Eljudnir – Hel’s hall in Nifleheim
Fensalir – Frigg’s hall in Asgard
Folkvang – Site of Freyja’s hall in Asgard
Franang’s Falls – Waterfall in Midgard where Loki, disguised as a salmon, was caught
by the gods.
Gimli – Hall of the gods after Ragnarok
Ginnungagap was the vast chasm (void) that existed between cold Niflheim [Land of
Mist] and hot Muspelheim (Muspell) [fire giants] before creation. Where the two places
met the giant Ymir was formed.
Gladsheim – Sanctuary of the Norse gods on the plain of Ida.
Glitnir – Silver and gold hall of Forseti, son of Balder, in Asgard.
Gnipahellir – Cave in front of Niflheim where the hound Garm is chained up.
Helheim – The realm of the dead in Niflheim, ruled over by the monster Hel.
Himinbjorg – Heimdall’s hall in Asgard
Hlesey – Island near the undersea hall of Aegir and Ran.
Hlidskjalf – Odin’s high thrown in Valaskjalf.
Hnitbjorg – Stronghold of the giant Suttung.
Hvergelmir – Spring in Niflheim under the root of Yggdrasill.
Idavoll – The central plain of Asgard. Contains the halls of Gladsheim and Vingolf.
Iving – River dividing Asgard from Jotunheim
Jotunheim – Land of the giants
Lyfjaberg – Mountain beside Menglad’s hall in Jotunheim.
Lyngvi – Island on lake Armsvartnir where Fenrir is bound.
Lyr – Menglad’s hall in Jotunheim
Midgard – The realm of mankind.
Mimir’s Well – Well of wisdom under the root of Yggdrasill in Asgard which is guarded
by the head of Mimir.
Muspell – Southern land of fire guarded by the giant Surt.
Nastrond – Site of the hall of evil-does in Hel. The dragon Nidhogg gnaws at corpses
here.
Niflheim – Land of freezing mist and darkness and home of Hel.
Okolnir – Land of warmth created after Ragnarok. Site of the hall of Brimnir.
Sessrumnir – Freyja’s hall in Asgard.
Sindri – Red gold roofed hall which will appear after Ragnarok.
Sokkvabekk – Saga’s hall in Asgard
Svartalfheim – Realm of the dark elves.
Thrudheim – Thor’s realm in Asgard and site of his hall Bilskirnir.
Thrymheim – Stronghold of the giant Thiazi which was passed on to his daughter
Skadi.
Utgard – Realm in Jotunheim ruled by Utgard-Loki.
Valaskjalf – Odin’s hall in Asgard.
Valhalla – Hall presided over by Odin where the Einherjar await Ragnarok.
Vanaheim – Land of the Vanir in Asgard.
Vigrid – Plain in Asgard where the final battle will occur.
Vingolf – Hall of the goddesses in Asgard.
Ydalir – Ull’s hall in Asgard.
Yggdrasill – The world tree (Hodmimir’s wood). It is a gigantic tree, thought to
connect all the nine worlds of Norse cosmology. It is often suggested to be an ash
tree.
Mythical Objects and Events
Bodn - One of the jars filled with the mead of poetry.
Brising's Necklace - Golden necklace given to Freyja by dwarfs.
Draupnir - Odin's golden ring which produced eight rings on every ninth night.
Finbulvetr - The three year winter that will preceed Ragnarok
Gjall - Heimdall's horn.
Gleipnir - Magical rope used to bind Fenrir.
Gungnir - Odin's spear.
Mjollnir - Thor's hammer.
Naglfar - Ship made of dead men's nails. Will carry the giants to the final battle at
Ragnarok.
Odronir - Cauldron containing the mead of poetry.
Ragnarok - The final battle between the Gods and giants. It will cause the destruction
of the nine worlds. Ragnarok is equivalent to Judgment day in the battle of good and
evil, when balance is restored and a new creation begins.
Ringhorn - Balder's boat. He and his wife Nanna were cremated in it.
Skidbladnir - Freyr's collapsible ship.
Son - One of the jars containing the mead of poetry.
Vimur - Torrment added to by the menstruation blood of the giantess Gjalp.
Von - River of Fenrir's slobber.
Animals and Monsters
Alsvid - One of the horses that pull the sun.
Arvak - One of the horses that pull the sun.
Audumla - Cow created out of ice at the creation. Suckled Ymir and licked Buri out of
the ice.
Fenrir - Wolf son of Loki and his giantess mistress, Angroboda. Bound by the gods
with Gleipnir.
Fjalar - Cockerall who will call out to warn the giants that Ragnarok has arrived.
Garm - Hound chained in the cave Gnipahellir at the entrance to Hel. He will escape at
Ragnarok.
Gullinbursti - Freyr's golden boar.
Gullinkambi - Cockerall who wakes the Einherjar and will warn the gods that
Ragnarok has arrived.
Gullfaxi - The giant Hrungnir's horse.
Hati - Wolf that chases the moon. He will catch it at Ragnarok.
Heidrun - Goat that supplies mead for the Einherjar.
Hel - Half dead, half alive daughter of Loki and Angroboda. She rules Hel.
Himinhrjot - The giant Hymir's giant Ox.
Hrimfaxi - Night's horse.
Hrodvitnir - Another name for Fenrir.
Huginn - Odin's raven.
Jormungand -Son of Loki and Angroboda. The serpant that encircles midgard.
Muninn - Odin's raven.
Nidhogg - Dragon that dwels in Nifleheim and chews the roots of Yggdrasil and eats
corpses.
Ratatosk - The squirrel that runs up Yggdrasil's trunk and carries insults to the eagle
in it's branches.
Skinfaxi - Day's horse.
Skoll - Wolf that chases the sun and will catch it at Ragnarok.
Sleipnir - Eight legged horse owned by Odin. Sired by Svadilfari, the stallion and
carried by Loki.
Svardilfari - Stallion that helped to rebuild the walls of Asgard. Sired Sleipnir.
Tanngnost - One of the two goats that pull Thor's chariot.
Tanngrisni - One of the two goats that pull Thor's chariot.
Dwarfs
Alvis - Dwarf who was promised Thor's daughter for his wife, but was tricked by Thor
and turned into stone.
Andvari - Dwarf whose treasure hord was stolen by Loki to pay the blood fine for
Otter's death. He cursed the hoard that was stolen.
Brokk - Brother of Eitri, who fashioned gifts for the gods with his brother and thus won
a wager with Loki.
Durin - Second in command of the dwarfs.
Dvalin - Turned to stone by the sun.
Fjalar - With his brother, Galar, he killed Kvasir and made the mead of poetry from his
blood.
Galar - With his brother Fjalar he killed Kvasir and made the mead of poetry from his
blood.
Ivaldi - The 'sons' of Ivaldi made three great gifts for the gods.
Lit - Dwarf who was cremated with Balder and Nanna.
Modsognir - Chief of the dwarfs.
Giants
Angroboda - Mistress of Loki and mother of Fenrir, Jormungand and Hel.
Aurgelmir - Otherwise known as Ymir.
Baugi - Brother of Sutting. He employed Odin, disguised as Bolverk, on his journey to
recover the mead of poetry.
Bergelmir - The only giant to escape the flood of Ymir's blood at the creation.
Bestla - Wife of Bor and mother of Odin, Vili and Ve.
Elli -Elderly giantess who wrestled with Thor in Utgard-Loki's court.
Farbauti - Father of Loki.
Fjolsvid - Gaurdian of Menglad's hall.
Geirrod - Attempts to kill Thor in a duel.
Gerd - Wife of Freyr.
Gilling - Giant who, with his wife is killed by the dwarfs Fjalar and Galar. His death is
avenged by his son, Suttung.
Gjalp - Daughter of Geirrod. Tried to kill THor by drowning him in blood and then by
crushing him against the rafters. Killed by Thor.
Greip - Daughter of Geirrod and sister of Gjalp.
Grid - Mistress of Odin. Loaned Thor her magic belt, gloves and staff for his fight with
Geirrod.
Gunnlod - Daughter of Suttung and guardian of the mead of poetry. Odin seduced her
to steal the mead.
Gymir - Father of Gerd.
Hraesvelg - Creates the wind while diguised as an eagle.
Hugi - Utgard loki's thought in the form of a young giant. Beat Thialfi in arunning
race.
Hymir - Owner of a giant cauldron which was taken from him by Thor. Killed by Thor.
Hyndla - Discloses Ottar's ancestors to him while he is diguised as a boar.
Hyrrokin - Pulls Balder's burial boat to the sea.
Jarnsaxa - lover of Thor and mother of Magni.
Laufey - Mother of Loki
Logi - Fire in the form of a giant. Beat Loki in an eating contest at Utgard-Loki's hall.
Mist Calf - Giant made out of clay. Created as a companion for Hrungnir during his
fight with Thor. His small heart made him quite useless.
Narvi - Father of night.
Skadi - Daughter of Thiazi and briefly married to Njord. Associated with hunting and
skiing.
Skrymir – Utgard/Loki in disguise, met with Thor and his companions on their journey
to Utgard.
Surt - Guardian of Muspell who will set the world alight at Ragnarok.
Suttung - Son of Gilling and owner of the mead of poetry.
Thiazi - Abducted Idun and her golden apples. Killed by the gods.
Thokk - Prevented Balder's return from Hel.
Thrym - King of the frost giants who stole Thor's hammer and was then killed for it.
Utgard/Loki -Ruler of Utgard and a master of illusion.
Vafthrudnir - Giant who was killed after being tricked into a knowledge contest with
Odin.
Ymir - The first giant who was formed from fire and ice. His corpse made the earth.