Norse mythology

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Freyja – goddess of fertility and war

Freyja is the goddess of fertility, love and beauty, but she is also associated with magic and war. She is the daughter of the sea god Njord and the twin sister of Freyr, who, like her, belongs to the family of gods known as the Vanir.

The worlds and beings of Norse mythology

Old Norse mythology and the Viking worldview are rich in realms and mythological beings. Evocative names such as Midgard, Asgard, Utgard and Nifelhel. Giants, gods and monstrous creatures.

Thor – God of Thunder

Thor is the mighty god of thunder in Norse mythology. He is often called “the Thunderer”, for he commands thunder and lightning. Thor is also the god of farmers and free men. He is known for his fiery temper, his red hair and his thick, bushy brows.

Skadi – goddess of the wilderness

Skadi is the goddess of the wilderness, who hunts in the mountains on her skis. Her father is the giant Thjazi. And despite being a giantess, she is accepted by the gods of Asgard when she marries the sea god Njord.

Odin – leader of the gods

Odin bears many names and is both a god of war and a god of the dead. Half of all warriors who fall in battle come to his hall, Valhalla. He is the one-eyed Allfather, who sacrificed an eye in order to see everything that happens in the world.

Sources for Norse mythology

How do we know what we know about people’s beliefs, mythological tales and ideas about the afterlife a thousand years ago – in the era known as the Viking Age?

The mythological world of the Vikings

Norse mythology forms the foundation of the Vikings’ religious and mythological beliefs. During this period, people in Scandinavia worshipped multiple gods. Stories of gods, giants, and humans and originate from the time before Christianity.

Iðunn – goddess of youth and vitality

Iðunn is known as the goddess of youth and renewal. Her most famous attribute is that she guards and dispenses the golden apples that keep the Æsir young. Without her apples, the gods would age like ordinary mortals, and so she plays a crucial role in the world of myth.

Heimdall – forefather of humankind

Heimdall is the forefather of humankind, and he teaches them many things, such as the knowledge of runes. He is a mysterious god, connected to the world tree Yggdrasil. One interpretation of his name is “He who shines over the world.”

Frigg – mistress of Asgard

Frigg is the mistress of Asgard, the home of the gods, and the wife of Odin. She is the protector of marriage and motherhood, and is mother to Balder, Höðr and Hermóðr.

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