Modern depictions of Thor show him as being tall, blond, muscular, and chiseled (and one time when Thor has a beer gut) or as short, red headed, stocky, and muscular, but with a big “beer belly”. These depictions come from the Marvel movies and the game God of War Ragnarock, respectively. This raises some questions: was …
No, Thor wasn’t fat in Norse Mythology (+ 3 other mistakes) Read More »
Yggdrasil is a giant mythical tree that serves as the center of the Norse cosmology in Norse mythology. It is an immense ash tree that is said to connect the nine worlds of Norse cosmology. Each of these nine worlds is inhabited by various beings, including gods, humans, and elves. The roots of Yggdrasil extend …
14 Obscure Facts about Yggdrasil, the Norse World Tree Read More »
Fenrir, a huge wolf in Norse and Germanic mythology, was the son of Loki and Angurboda. His size was so great, the gods attempted three times to bind him. He easily broke two strong chains, but he mistrusted the magic silken cord, Gleipnir. He insisted that Tyr place a hand in his mouth during the …
7 Obscure Facts about Fenrir, the Wolf of Norse Mythology Read More »
What is Jormungandr? Jormungandr (vast serpent) or Miðgarðsormr (world serpent) is a giant snake in Norse mythology that coils around the Earth (Midgard) and holds it in place, protecting the world of men from the sea and all the chaos that lay beyond it. For the Norse, the sea had many symbolic meanings, but it …
9 Obscure Facts about the Norse Serpent Jormungandr Read More »
Norse mythology is primarily known for it’s fantastical creatures such as giants, elves and dwarves and less so for its love stories. However, there are quite a few such love stories within the Norse poetic texts and scriptures. Some of these love stories were spread by Vikings during their conquests to new lands, where they …
5 Norse Viking Love Stories & Poems You May Not Know Read More »
Thor was twice married; first to the giantess Jarnsaxa (iron stone), who bore him two sons, Magni (strength) and Modi (courage). Their names come from the Old Norse words âs-megin (power, strength) and âs-módr (courage). His second wife was Sif, who also gave Thor two children: Lorride and a young giantess named Thrud. Both Modi …
Magni & Modi (Thor’s Sons): Norse Gods Who Survive Ragnarok Read More »
Who is Farbauti and Laufey (or Nal) Farbauti and Laufey are recorded in Norse mythological poems as being the father and mother of Loki, the Norse god of fire and bringer of mischief. Not much is known about them, and their names are mentioned only a handful of times throughout the Poetic Edda and Prose …
Farbauti & Laufey from Norse Myth: Pictures, Powers, Role Read More »
In Norse mythology, the cosmic realm is structured around 9 different worlds: Asgard, home of the Aesir such as Thor and Odin Alfheim, home of the elves. Midgard, home of humans. Jotunheim, a freezing world inhabited by ice giants. Muspelheim, a glowing fire world inhabited by fire giants, such as Surtr. Svartalfheim, home of the …
According to Norse mythology, the giantess Angrboda was a love interest of the fire god Loki and was the mother of his three children: the wolf Fenrir, the giant serpent Jörmungand, and the ruler of the dead Hel. For a character of such importance, there is surprisingly little information concerning Angrboda and her role in …
Angrboda: Witch Giantess, Lover of Loki & Mother of Fenrir Read More »
Who are the Vanir Though associated in cult with the Æsir or even included among them in the Norse mythological stories, the Vanir are a small but distinct group of Norse gods. They dwell in Vanaheim, not Asgard, and include Njord, Frey, and Freyja, possibly also Heimdall and Frigg (Odin’s wife). Their general functions seem …
All about Vanir Gods & Vanaheim in Norse Mythology Read More »