NORDIC mythology [characteristics + origin + gods]

One of the most important beliefs in the history of mankind is the norse Mythology, a set of myths and legends that were important for the peoples of northern Europe and whose influence ended up being key for many European peoples in the east and west. To get to know this set of myths in depth, in this lesson by a Teacher we are going to offer a summary of norse mythology and characteristics, explaining all the relevant elements of these beliefs.

Index

1. What is Norse mythology?
2. Origin of Norse mythology
3. Characteristics of Norse mythology
4. Norse mythology gods

We know as Nordic mythology a whole set of religious stories, beliefs, myths and legends originating from the scandinavian peoples, that is, of what we currently know as Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

These towns, known as vikings, marched into Europe to conquer new lands, expanding the influence of Norse beliefs throughout nations such as Iceland, the British Isles, France, and Spain. In these places it is where the sources on the Nordic myths began to expand, being the best proofs that we have on these beliefs.

Something very important about Norse mythology is its origin, since these born from german myths, undergoing an evolution from this moment, although evolving due to the passing of the years in the Scandinavian nations. Over the years, the myths also had an Anglo-Saxon influence, undergoing modifications by some English legends that were joining the Nordic ones.

Norse mythology did not have a holy book or a series of books, since it was transmitted orally, written on a kind of poetry, but maintaining a clear oral spirit. Over the centuries, Christians wrote the Norse myths in books, being these later-written books are the best source we have for the beliefs nordic

Image: Esoterismos.com

The origin of norse mythology is more complex than that of other similar mythologies, since there are no sources to help us determine the key moment of its origin. It is only possible to theorize about its origin with the help of the different existing sources.

the norse myths spread from one town to another and from one generation to another orally, so it is difficult to establish an origin for the myths. We must take into account the moment in which the Germanic myths were differentiated from the Nordic ones.

With the few sources we have, we can say that the origin of these myths must be fixed. between the eighth and ninth centuries, centuries in which it is more viable that this tradition was born, and taking into account that at the time of the Viking invasions of Europe, the Scandinavians already had these beliefs.

As for its place of origin, it is thought that Norse mythology was born on the island of Thule, Located in what we know as the Arctic Circle. This island lives on the edge of fiction and reality, since it does not exist as such and everything seems to indicate that it is a fictional island, but some sources consider that it could have been some real northern island, but whose name change. It is said that the Vikings began to transmit myths and legends orally from this island.

Years later, in the 10th century, a group of Irish monks traveled to Iceland on one of his spiritual journeys, meeting the Viking people there and becoming interested in their beliefs. It was these monks who began to write about the Norse myths, being the first written sources.

The best way to get to know a mythology or religion in depth is to talk about its main characteristics, serving to understand what are its main attributions, its main differences with respect to other mythologies, and in general understand how these mythologies work myths.

For this reason, the main characteristics of norse mythology are the following:

• Norse beliefs were based on the relations of humans with the gods, counting on numerous myths in which men were vital for the deities, and therefore occupied a determining role in the legends.
• Norse myths and legends were passed down oral form, not using written sources for its dissemination. Each generation told the myths to the next so that they were maintained over time, and even some priests were only concerned with transmitting these events orally.
• Fate was a very important element in Norse beliefs, being the key to many of the main stories and legends of this mythology.
• The world is represented by a flat disc, on which other worlds and elements are superimposed.
• Of all the worlds, the most important was Asgard, the place where the main gods lived, and therefore a kind of capital of all Norse legends.
• The world where the gods lived was Midgard, being a place located between Asgard and Nilfheim, being known a terrestrial world that was below the rest of the worlds.
• The center of the Norse world was the tree known as Yggdrasil, being its branches that crossed the worlds and allows to change between them.
• Humans were not capable of having abilities and attributes by themselves, but they needed these gifts to be given to them by the gods.
• For the Vikings it was very important to die in combat, since in this case the Vikings killed in combat were taken to Valhalla, where they waited all eternity to fight in Ragnarok.
• Unlike other mythologies in the Norse we find differences between the different deities, existing the Aesir, the Vanir and the Jotun. These three groups are very different from each other, but all have the treatment of gods.
• New worlds existed, having great differences from each other, and each one being the home of different creatures.
• Norse beliefs were a cycle without end, leading to Ragnarok, being an event in which everything would end.

To continue with this lesson on Norse mythology: summary and characteristics, we must talk about the main gods of the Nordic beliefs, being one of the most important points of all mythologies, being the protagonists of a large part of the myths.

Here is a review of the major norse gods.

aesir

The Æsir are known as the most important gods of Norse beliefs. Most are relatives of Odin and live in the realm of Asgard. The main Aesir are the following:

• odin: The main Nordic god, creator of the universe together with Ve and Vili, god of wisdom and war, king of the gods, and observer of the 9 worlds. He lived in Asgard, from where he selected those killed in combat to go to Valhalla.
• Thor: Son of Odin, god of thunder and possessor of Mjolnir, a powerful hammer created by the dwarves and that only the worthy could lift.
• Sif: Wife of Thor and goddess of fidelity and harvests. It is said that her long blonde hair helped grow crops, until she was cut off by Loki.
• Frigga: Wife of Odin and goddess of heaven and love. Her role as Odin's consort makes her the most important female Aesir, being the only one next to Odin who could sit on the throne.
• Balder: Son of Odin and god of peace, light, and forgiveness, being, therefore, a very different god from the main Viking attributes. His main role in the myths takes place in Ragnarok, since his death is what starts the whole process.
• Tyr: Son of Odin and god of war and courage. Within the myths, his main feat was to sacrifice his hand to be able to tie the great wolf Fenrir when he was released.
• heimdal: Son of Odin and guardian god and watchman of the kingdoms. It was said that he had great hearing and eyesight, which allowed him to observe the whole world and keep an eye on it.

vanir

The Vanir were the gods of fertility and the sea who lived in Vanaheim, although they were also gods of peace and wealth. Unlike the Aesir, they were more peaceful gods, closer to magic and less warlike. Some of the main Vanir were the following:

• Freyja: Goddess of beauty, love and magic, being so important that she was sometimes considered both of the Aesir and the Vanir.
• Frey: God of rain and the rising sun. The main myth about him tells that he was the bearer of the sword of summer, but he gave it up so he could marry a giantess with whom he was in love.
• Njörðr: Father of Freyja and Freyr, and god of the fertile land and seacoasts of all kingdoms.
• Gullveig: It is said that on a visit to Asgard her gods killed her three times, resurrecting her to kill her again. According to the myths, his death was what started a huge war between the Aesir and the Vanir.

Jotun

evil gods, she is the counterpart of the Aesir and the Vanir, though she often married them. It is said that they were giants of ice and rock, very powerful and resistant, but also with a facility for magic. Some of the main Jotun are the following:

• Geror: The wife of Freyr, who is said to have been the most beautiful woman in all of Norse mythology.
• Joro: It is said that she was the mother of Thor, and therefore the wife of Odin in certain myths and beliefs.
• Ymir: The ancestor of all jotun, and whose bones are said to have been capable of creating worlds.
• Loki: The god of lies, being the main villain of the Norse myths, being the one who caused the Ragnarok that ended the whole world.

If you want to read more articles similar to Norse mythology: summary and characteristics, we recommend that you enter our category of History.

• Diaz, C. (2018). Brief history of Norse mythology. Nowtilus.
• Sturluson, S., Danorum, G., Grammaticus, S., de Rök, P., Volsunga, S., & de los Ynglings, S. NORDIC MYTHOLOGY.
• Lancers, P. (2001). The fate of the gods. Interpretation of Norse mythology. language, 2, 65.