1. Norse Gods and Goddesses—Mrs. Thaler
Asgard – Heaven
Midgard – Earth
Yggdrasil – World Tree

2. Norse Mythology Objectives: You will be introduced to
the world of Norse Mythology--and gain
understanding of the culture, belief system,
Learn the gods/goddesses of early Viking culture
(Nordic countries) and Nordic folklore.
Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

3. Viking Maps

4. Journal: You have now entered Yggdrasil…

5. THE WORLD TREE
Yggdrasil—World Tree with Asgard at the top

7. Fatalism
Foundational cultural belief in their own eventual destruction.
Fate, predestined to face inevitable doom
Fight between good/evil, tragic
Gods will fight to the end in War to have a seat at Valhalla (in Asgard)
Death inevitable—triumph, victory, honor
Predates Christianity/Pagan beliefs

8. Two Tribes Vanir Aesir Two groups of Gods
After the big war, Vanir becomes a subgroup
Of the Aesir and become a single tribe

9. The NINE worlds of Norse
Niflheim
World of ice
“Abode of Mist”, fog, “mist world”
Muspelheim
--World of Fire
--Fire demon’s home, Surtyr is ruler

10. Worlds..continued 3. Vanaheim World of the Vanir (Vanr singular)
A place of fertility, wisdom, and ability to see the future
Njord and his children Freyr and Freyja are
Famous Vanirs.
At war with the Aesir

11. Worlds continued 4. Asgard—world of the Aesir, Home of the Gods
Associated with Power and War
Asynja (feminine, plural)
Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr, and Tyr are famous
warriors from Asgard
Vile, Ve
Home of Valhalla—heaven for great warriors, Odin’s hall, home of Einherjar—the souls of the greatest warriors, Selected by Valkyries

12. 5. Jotunheim—world of the Jotnar (Frost Giants)
Superhuman strength
Stand in opposition to tribes of Aesir and Vanir, but intermingle and marry both.
An area separated from Midgard (humans) by high mountains and dense forest

13. 6. Midgard Land of average human existence
Somewhere in the middle of Yggdrasil
Surrounded by water or ocean that is impassible.
AKA—”middle earth” in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy

14. 7. Alfheim World of the Alfar (Elves)
Divine/Semi-Divine beings endowed with magical powers
8. Svartalfheim
--World of Svartalfar (Black Elves)

15. 9. Nidavellir (Hel) World of Nioavellir (Dark Fields)
Home of the Dwarves
Hreidmar is the king here

16. Other Parts: Rainbow—(Bifrost)
Burning rainbow bridge connecting Midgard and Asgard
Heimdallr guards it from the jotnar (frost giants)
Will be destroyed at Ragnorok (end of the world battle)

17. Ratatosk(r) Messenger Squirrel Carries messages between Eagle at top
and the Nidhogg at the bottom

18. Nidhogg Midgard serpent (Snake/Dragon)
Grows so that it stretches around the world
Will bring doom to the Gods/Universe
Represents the end of the world/the edge
Danger
Ultimate adversary of Thor

19. 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)

20. 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

21. Thor/ Thunor God of thunder and lightning
Mjollnir (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
“Thursday” son of Odin and Jord
Thor’s Helmet

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

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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)

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

32. 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

33. 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)

34. 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

35. Wyrd
Wyrd is a concept in Anglo-Saxon culture roughly corresponding to fate or personal destiny…do you believe in fate? What is your personal destiny?