Norse Gods and Goddesses

Norse Gods and Goddesses Asgard – heaven Midgard – Earth Yggdrasil – World Tree

Viking Maps

Odin/ Woden/ Wotan • Chief of the gods • Father of Thor, Balder, and other gods • Odin pierces himself with a spear and hangs on Yggdrasil for 9 days and nights to learn the secret knowledge of runes • Has one eye because he traded it for a drink from the spring of clairvoyance His two ravens are called Huginn and Muninn (Thought and Memory)

Valkyries and Valhalla • Valkyries are female spirit warriors that ride the battlefields and find worthy slain warriors and takes them to Valhalla where they will train until Ragnarok. • The northern lights are light shining off of their shields • Valhalla is the Hall of the Slain. It exists in Asgard, home of the gods “Ride of the Valkyries” Richard Wagner

Thor/ Thunor • God of thunder and lightning • Mjolnir (the destroyer) – an ax-hammer that can destroy giants and mountains in a single blow • Has a chariot pulled by two goats. He can kill these goats and eat them and they will come back to life. • Is constantly fighting the World Serpent – Jormungand • He is capable of drinking an ocean Thor’s Helmet

Balder • “The Beautiful” and “The Good” • Primarily known for his death and resurrection • The favorite child

Loki • God of mischief and fire • Trickster figure • Unknown parentage • Responsible for Balder’s death and punished by having snake venom drip on his forehead • Jormungand, Hel, and Fenrir are his children • Will begin Ragnorak

Bragi • God of poetry and eloquence • Loki calls him “Braggart” and the verb “to brag” comes from his name. • Married to Idun

Idun • Goddess of immortality • Keeps the golden apples of youth • Major story deals with a giant who, with Loki’s help, stole the apples, causing the gods to wither

Freyr / Frey • God of agriculture, fertility, and plenty • Twin to Freyja (they are VERY close) • Unlike the other gods, Freyr and Freyja are earth dieties • Has a sword that can fight by itself • The boar is his symbol

Freyja • Goddess of love and fertility • Twin sister of Frey • Slept with four dwarves to get a flaming necklace, which becomes her symbol of fertility • Leader of the Valkyries • She takes some of the dead warriors for herself • Has a chariot drawn by cats Freyja’s hair

Frigg / Frigga / Frea • Mother Goddess • Wife of Odin • Weaves clouds • She knows events in the present and future, but is powerless to change them • Learning of her son’s (Balder) death, she makes everything promise not to harm him – except the mistletoe

Tyr • God of war and justice • Precursor of Odin • Boldest of the gods • Lost his hand to Fenrir, Loki’s wolf-son • His symbol is the spear which has become a symbol of justice

Heimdall • “World Brightener” • God of the dawn • Great hearing (can hear grass grow) and eyesight • Is the look out on Bifrost (the rainbow bridge to Asgard)

Hod • God of winter and darkness • Blind • Tricked by Loki into killing Balder • Vali killed Hod in revenge for Balder • Will return during Ragnarok

Hel • Daughter of Loki • Giantess • Goddess of death and the underworld • Half black/ half white • Her face and body are human but the legs are of a corpse • Has two servants: Ganglati and Ganglot • Spread the plague with a rake or a broom

Hel / Helheim • The underworld • The road to Hel is an icy river (Gjoll) full of weapons • Guarded by a large dog (Garm) and Modgud (an ugly goddess) • Nothing can leave Hel, not even gods • The wicked go here and the people who do not die a glorious death in battle • A giant in the form of an eagle sits and flaps his wings, making a freezing wind. His name is Hraesvelg (corpse eater)

Garm • Garm guards the entrance to Hel • Has four eyes and a bloody chest • Could be appeased with cake as long as they gave the poor bread in life • Will join the giants in Ragnorak

Norse Gods and Goddesses