Norse Mythology

Norse Mythology

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"Norse mythology is the body of myths of the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Norse paganism"

Norse mythology is the body of myths of the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Norse paganism and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Scandinavian folklore of the modern period.

Norse mythology is the traditional belief system of the people of Scandinavia, which includes the myths, legends, and religious beliefs of the ancient Norse. Here are a few examples of famous myths from Norse mythology:

  • The story of the creation of the world: According to Norse mythology, the world was created by the god, Odin, Vili and Ve. They created the world from the body of the giant Ymir.
  • The story of Thor: Thor is the god of thunder and is known for his strength and courage. He is often depicted as a fierce warrior, wielding a powerful hammer.
  • The story of Odin: Odin is the chief of the gods and is known as the All-Father. He is the god of wisdom, poetry, and war, and is often depicted as a one-eyed old man.
  • The story of Loki: Loki is the trickster god of Norse mythology and is known for his cunning and wit. He is often depicted as a shape-shifter and is considered a bringer of chaos and mischief.
  • The story of Ragnarok: Ragnarok is the end of the world in Norse mythology, where gods, giants and monsters will fight in a great battle that will ultimately lead to the death of many gods and the destruction of the world.

These myths, along with others, are used by the Norse people to explain the origins of their people and their customs and to reinforce their traditional beliefs and values. Norse mythology is polytheistic, with a pantheon of gods and goddesses, and it was an important aspect of the Norse religion.


Norse Mythology Legends

einherjar

Einherjar

In Norse mythology, the einherjar (Old Norse literally "army of one", "those who fight alone"[1][2]) are those who have died in battle and are brought to Valhalla by valkyries. In Valhalla, the einherjar eat their fill of the nightly-resurrecting bea...
bdvar_bjarki

BÃdvar Bjarki

BÃdvar Bjarki (Old Norse: BÃðvar Bjarki), meaning 'Warlike Little-Bear', is the hero appearing in tales of Hrólf Kraki in the Saga of Hrólf Kraki, in the Latin epitome to the lost SkjÃdunga saga, and as Biarco in Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum.
aslaug

Aslaug

According to the 13th-century Tale of Ragnar Lodbrok, Aslaug was the daughter of Sigurd and the shieldmaiden Brynhildr,[2] but was raised by Brynhildr's foster father Heimer. At the deaths of Sigurd and Brynhildr, Heimer was concerned about Aslaug's...
haki

Haki

Hake, Haki or Haco, the brother of Hagbard, was a famous Scandinavian sea-king, in Norse mythology. He is mentioned in the 12th century Gesta Danorum, and in 13th-century sources including Ynglinga saga, Nafnaþulur, Völsunga saga. If historical, he...
angantyr_the_berserker

Angantyr the Berserker

Angantyr's father Arngrim had given him the magic sword Tyrfing, which cut through anything as if through cloth, and which killed a man every time it was unsheathed. He was the tallest of the twelve sons of the berserker Arngrim, and he and his eleve...
helgi_the_sharp_ringerike

Helgi the Sharp (Ringerike)

Helgi the Sharp in Ragnarssona þáttr

In the saga "Ragnarssona þáttr," Helgi the Sharp emerges as a notable figure. This tale is part of the larger Norse mythology and sagas that detail the exploits of the legendary Viking Ragnar Lothb...

gumundr

Guðmundr

Guðmundr (Old Norse, sometimes anglicised as Godmund) was a semi-legendary Norse king in Jotunheim, ruling over a land called Glæsisvellir, which was known as the warrior's paradise.
heidrek

Heidrek

Heidrek or Heiðrekr is one of the main characters in the cycle about the magic sword Tyrfing. He appears in the Hervarar saga, and probably also in Widsith,[1] together with his sons Angantyr (Incgentheow) and Hlöð (Hlith), and Hlöð's mother Sif...
bjrn_ironside

BjArn Ironside

BjÃrn Ironside was a historical Norse Viking chief and Scandinavian king. According to the 12th- and 13th-century Scandinavian histories, he was the son of the notorious Viking king Ragnar Lodbrok and himself a legendary king of Sweden. He lived in t...
gjki

Gibica

Gibica (also known as Gjúki, Giuki, or Gibicho) is a figure from Norse mythology, prominently featured in the Völsunga saga and in the Nibelungenlied, a Middle High German epic poem. In these sagas, he is portrayed as a king and the father of a signi...
egil_brother_of_volund

Egil, brother of Volund

Egil is a legendary hero of the Völundarkviða and the Thidreks saga. The name is from Proto-Germanic *Agilaz[1] and the same legend is reflected in Old English Ægil [æɡiɫ] of the Franks Casket and Alamannic Aigil of the Pforzen buckle. The Pro...
odin

Odin

Odin, the supreme deity, had, besides the title of All-Father, many other names. He was called Ygg (The Awful), Gagnrad (He Who Determines Victories), Herjan (God of Battles), Har (The High One), Jafnhar (Even as High), Thridi (Third), 1 Nikar, Nikud...

Norse Mythology in POP Culture

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Thor

Two worlds. One hero.

The warrior Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is cast out of the fantastic realm of Asgard by his father Odin (Sir Anthony Hopkins) for his arrogance and sent to Earth to live amongst humans. Falling in love with scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) teaches Thor much-needed lessons, and his new-found streng...

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Thor: Ragnarok

No Hammer. No Problem.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanche...

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Thor: The Dark World

There was darkness.

Thousands of years ago, a race of beings known as Dark Elves tried to send the universe into darkness by using a weapon known as the Aether. Warriors from Asgard stopped them, but their leader Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) escaped to wait for another opportunity. The warriors find the Aether, and...


Norse Mythology based games

Age of Mythology

Age of Mythology

Age of Mythology is a real-time strategy game set in the ancient world, players control one of three civilizations (Greek, Egyptian, Norse) and use the powers of their gods to defeat their enemies.

Release Date: 2002-10-01

Developer: Ensemble Studios

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Platform: PC

Genre: Real-time strategy

Rating: 8

Bayonetta

Bayonetta

An action hack and slash game in which players control a witch named Bayonetta as she fights against angels and other supernatural enemies.

Release Date: 2009-10-29

Developer: PlatinumGames

Publisher: Sega

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U

Genre: Action

Rating: 8.5

Titan Quest

Titan Quest

An action role-playing hack and slash game set in ancient Greece, Egypt, and Asia.

Release Date: 2006-06-26

Developer: Iron Lore Entertainment

Publisher: THQ

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360

Genre: Action role-playing

Rating: 8

God of War

God of War

God of War is a story of a father and his son, set in the realm of Norse gods and monsters. The game follows the journey of Kratos, a former Spartan warrior, who is now a father and must learn to control his rage to save his son and the world.

Release Date: 2018-04-20

Developer: Santa Monica Studio

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Platform: PlayStation 4

Genre: Action-Adventure

Rating: 9

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

An action-adventure game in which players control a young man named Link, who sets out on a quest to rescue Princess Zelda and defeat Calamity Ganon.

Release Date: 2017-03-03

Developer: Nintendo EPD

Publisher: Nintendo

Platform: Nintendo Switch, Wii U

Genre: Action-adventure

Rating: 9.5


Norse Mythology Facts

Mythology in POP Culture
    • Loki - In Norse mythology, Loki is the god of fire and mischief.
    • Thor - In Norse mythology, the god Thor was known for his strength and his hammer, Mjolnir.
    • Amaterasu - In Japanese mythology, Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun and the ancestor of the imperial family.
    • Zeus - In Greek mythology, the god Zeus was known for his power and his ability to control the weather.
    • Isis - In Egyptian mythology, the goddess Isis was known for her magical powers and her role as a protector of the dead.