· Viking Social Structure   · Material Culture   · Gods, Goddesses, and Legends   · Viking Age Women   · Trade   · Vikings Head West   · Leif Eriksson's Voyage   · Links to Viking Sites		Gods, Goddesses of the Viking World Click on the images below to view enlargements The sagas tell us that during his boyhood in the late 900's A.D., Leif Eriksson's mother commissioned the building of Greenland's first Christian church, near the family's Brattahlid farm. This at a time of religious transition, when much of the population - including her husband, Erik the Red, and many of his men - still called upon the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon for protection, plenty, fertility and the continuation of the generations. Indeed, however steadily Christianity garnered followers, Norse people continued to celebrate the old customs and holy days associated with gods and goddesses of Norse mythology. Their deities are still with us today Ancient Norse gods or goddesses who were specially honored on a particular day are still honored in our age. They are, in fact, well represented in the English names for the days of the week - which emphasizes the common roots shared by the language of the Vikings and modern English. Tuesday, for example, was Tyr's day. Wednesday was Woden's (Odin) day. Thursday was Thor's day. And Friday was Freya's day. Realms within realms There are many, many Viking myths and legends and we cannot cover them here. ( Please see Links to Viking Sites.) They portray a vast, cosmic drama in which the perennial themes of humanity are played out. Though they share some common themes with Greek mythology, there are many aspects of Norse myths that are quite distinctive - due, perhaps, to the very different environment of the North. Most of what we know of Norse mythology and legend is from the Eddas, two authoritative collections of Old Norse writings: the Poetic Edda , by the 12th-century Icelandic poet and historian, Snorri Sturluson, and the Elder Edda, a collection of poems collected in the Codex Regius. (For modern interpretations of these myths, we recommend exploring the works of Joseph Campbell, Mircea Eliade, and H.R. Ellis Davidson.) The following is a brief introduction to the primary gods and goddesses - and other matters - you'll find when you delve more deeply into the Norse myths. The myths continue to be told today, and surely continued to exert their influence on Leif Eriksson and his men as they set forth for the New World nearly 1000 years ago. Several of the Realms of Norse Mythology and Their Inhabitants Asgard - Like lofty Mount Olympus in the Greek myths, the Norse gods and goddesses had a primary realm from which they set forth to participate in the lives of mortals. In Norse mythology, this realm was called Asgard - one of the nine worlds, and the homeland of the Aesir. It was located on the highest of these worlds and surrounded by a high wall of tightly-fitted stone blocks. Other worlds surround Asgard on this level, including Valhalla (see below). Odin, the father of the gods is portrayed on this cross, which was carved during the period of religious transition around 1000 A.D. Photo credit: York Archaeological Trust - York, England   Midgard - The "middle world." This middle portion of the earth, allotted to humankind was on the same level as the land of the dwarfs, the dark elves and the giants. The gods built Midgard as a defensive fortress to protect humankind from the giants. Valhalla - The gigantic Hall of the Slain. It has 540 doors and is presided over by Odin. Warriors slain in battle are brought there by the Valkyrie, Odin's messengers and war spirits, to await Ragnorak - the Twilight of the Gods (the final battle depicted in Wagner's Götterdämmerung). When this battle ensues, 800 warriors will march out of each door, side-by-side - ushering in the end of the Norse cosmos. A cosmos which will then be regenerated and begin anew when a new world rises from its ashes. Niflheim - The abode of darkness beneath the World Tree. Muspell - The realm of fire, the heat from which helped in the creation of the world. The Aesir - The warrior gods of Norse mythology. Most prominent among them were: Odin, Thor, Frigg, Balder, Loki, Heimdall, Forseti, Honir and Mimir. They lived in Asgard and were formerly opposed by the Vanir, an older race of gods who were eventually assimilated by the Aesir after a hostage exchange which took place after they had made peace. The Vanir - Originally a group of nature and fertility gods and goddesses. The masters of magic and bringers of health, fertility, youth and wealth in Norse mythology. Among those who were assimilated (as noted above) were some of the most prominent of the Vanir, including Njord and his children, Freyr and Freya. The Primary Gods and Goddesses Balder - The son of Odin and Frigg, Balder was loved by both the gods and man. He was the god of light, purity, joy, beauty, innocence, and reconciliation. Forseti - The son of Balder, who was named the law-giver among the gods. Frigg - The wife of Odin and the mother of Balder, whose death she attempted to prevent by extracting oaths from every object in nature except the mistletoe. According to Norse mythology, Loki tricked Balder's blind twin brother into flinging a mistletoe dart at Balder; it pierced his heart and killed him. Frigg is one of the foremost goddesses of Norse mythology. She is the patroness of marriage and motherhood, and the goddess of love, beauty and fertility - many aspects which she shares with the goddess Freya, of whom she is possibly a different form. Gerd- A beautiful giantess who is an earth goddess, and personification of the fertile soil. She is the reluctant wife of Freyr. Heimdall - The son of nine mothers, and the god of light. He kept watch over Bifrost, the "rainbow bridge," and the only entrance to Asgard. He carries the horn, Gjell, to warn of danger there. As the father of all created beings, he created the three races of mankind: the serfs, the peasants, and the warriors. Loki - One of the Aesir who is often called the Trickster, Shape Changer and Sky Traveler. He is an ambivalent figure who frequently causes mischief for the other gods and goddesses while at the same time being the one who "fixes it." He has been chained to the earth as punishment, and on Ragnorak will break free to lead the giants into battle against the gods. Mimir - A wise being who was often associated with Yggdrasil, The World Tree. Njord - The god of winds, sea and fire; and especially associated with ships and the sea. Originally one of the Vanir, and the father of Freyr and Freya. Odin/Wotan - Also called Allfather, Odin was one of the Aesir, and the chief divinity of the Norse pantheon. He is the father of the gods Balder, Hod, Hemond, and Thor. And is the god of war and death, as well as the god of poetry and inspiration. He was noted for his discovery or invention of runic letters by which the Germanic peoples represented both learning and magic lore. Tyr - The god of war. Tyr sacrificed his hand in order to bind Fenrir the wolf with Gleipnir, and keep him from wreaking further destruction on mankind. Magical Objects and Animals   Yggdrasil/The World Tree - A giant ash tree that links all the worlds and shelters them. The realms of Asgard, Jotunheim and Niflheim lie beneath its three roots. Three wells lie at its base: the Well of Wisdom, the Well of Fater, and the Roaring Kettle, the source of many rivers. On the day of Ragnarok, the fire giant, Surt, will set the tree on fire. Brisingamen - The great treasure of Freya, a necklace or breastpiece of great beauty obtained from the dwarves who fashioned many of the magical objects for the gods and goddesses. Fenrir - a gigantic and terrible monster in the shape of a wolf who was eventually restrained from acts of destruction against the gods and goddesses by Gleipnir. In order to bind him, Tyr sacrificed his hand. On the day of Ragnarok, he will break his chains and join the giants in a battle against the gods, slaying and devouring Odin. Gleipnir - A magical ribbon or chain of immense strength fashioned from six elements: the noise made by the footfall of a cat, the roots of a mountain, a woman's beard, the breath of fishes, sinews of a bear, and a bird's spittle. Midgard Serpent - The World Serpent, which encircles the earth and beneath the sea. It will break loose at Ragnorak, the final battle. Mjollnir - The hammer of Thor, made by the dwarves to protect the gods from their enemies. Every time he threw this magical hammer, lightning flashed after it returned to his right hand on which he wore an iron glove. Thor was said to have had many battles with evil giants and monsters, in which he killed them by clubbing them with his hammer. During the early Viking age, many objects were fashioned in the shape of Thor's hammer, and worn as protective talismans. Hlidskjalf - Odin's throne in his hall in Asgard. From it, he observes all that happens. Sleipnir - Odin's eight-legged horse, who could travel over land, sea and through the air. Top of Page
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