Norse Mythology

1. Norse Mythology The collective myths of the Scandinavians (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland).

2. Viking Era There are several similarities between Norse Mythology and Greek/Roman Mythology • Norse myths were codified during the Viking era: 780 - 1070 • Travel as far east as the Caspian sea • Fashioned after the fall of the Roman empire • Made many expeditions into Britain

3. Norse Society An extension of the society that fashions it • Similar to Greek and Roman Mythology • Explanation of the powerful forces which affect and shape it • weather, the elements, and nature • Gods and Goddesses • super-human powers • fraught with very human frailties and flaws

4. Gods • There are three Gods who do not have Roman/Greek/Norse counterparts • Thor • Son of Odin • God of thunder • axe-hammer – Mjolnir • iron gloves and a belt of strength • Athena • Greek/Roman Goddess • Daughter of Zeus and Metis • Virgin Goddess • embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity • Loki • Giant • Enemy of the Norse Gods • Became God through Odin • Son is Fenris (Wolf)

5. Paganism • Europe was Christianized for almost a thousand years, but the Norwegians were still worshipping their old pagan gods. • Cold and Heat • Ymer • A giant troll • left armpit: a male and a female emerged • Feet: a son with six heads • Rime Giants, sometimes called trolls, but best known as Jotuns • Audhumla • a colossal cow • Licked rock to create first God • Created Bure • descended the gods, whom we call Æsir.

6. The Vikings • Teutonic people (Germanic) • Great chivalry • Barbaric cruelty (war, looting, aggression, rape and other crimes) • Pillaged eastern coastline • Killing men, killing children, and raping women • Methods of slaughtering peasant fisherfolk were horrendous • Galwegian warriors • Impaling babies

7. Videoclips • http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/audio_video/