🔗 Click on a name to go directly to the explanation of the god
- Balder/Baldr
- Bragi
- Forseti
- Gefjon / Gefn / Gefion
- Freyja / Vanadis
- Njord
- Freyr
- Frigg / Frigga
- Heimdall / Heimdallr / Hallinskidi
- Hel / Hela
- Hödr / Höd
- Idunn
- Loki
- Meili
- Norns
- Odin / Wotan
- sif
- Skadi
- Thor/Donar
- Tire / Tiuz
- Ull
- Valkyries
- Vidar
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1. Balder / Baldr
Attributes and functions
The god Baldr is the Ase deity of light , youth, love and beauty. There are also flowers in Iceland that bear his name. Indeed, Matricaria maritimas or Matricaria perforatas plants are more commonly called "Baldr's eyelashes", in reference to their charming appearance.
Features
This god is said to be blond, eloquent, kind and wise. This already teaches us a lot about the ideal of beauty seen by the Vikings of the time.
Family
In his genealogy, we find Odin and Frigg as his parents . Baldr will have a wife, Nanna with whom he will father a son named Forseti.
Home
He is said to live in the domain of the Breidablik . It is a place where evil is banished. Others say his residence is in Sweden.
The death of the god Baldr
Balder was immune to everything by order of his parents Odin and Frigg. These had ordered nature and the elements that no one harm him. However, it turns out that they had forgotten to forbid the mistletoe from harming their child. The god Loki, deity of cunning and discord, noticed this.
It is out of jealousy that he will cause Baldr's death. To do this, he asks the god Hör, blind god and brother of Balder, to throw a stick of mistletoe towards him. This is how Baldr met death and went to Hel , the realm of the dead. In Viking mythology, death did not mean the end of everything. It was simply a passage to another form of life.
> To learn more about Baldur, discover our dedicated article:
Who is Baldur in Norse Mythology?
2. Bragi
Attributes and functions
Bragi is the god Ase of poetry and music. He is also considered the patron of the Scalds, the Scandinavian poets.
Features
This deity is often depicted with a long beard. They say he is wise and eloquent. Which is essential when one is a god of poetry.
Family
Bragi would be the son of Odin and Frigg. Others will say that he is not the child of Frigg but rather the descendant of the giantess Gunnlod. Bragi is also the husband of the goddess of youth, Idunn. It is she who is the guardian of the apples of youth. These apples have the power to rejuvenate anyone who eats them.
3. Forseti
Attributes and functions
Forseti is an Ase god of justice and reconciliation.
Family
As presented above, he is the son of the gods Baldr and Nanna.
Home
Forseti lives in his abode the "Glitnir" which is in the heavens. It is a large hall with red pillars and a silver roof. It is there that he presides over the tribunal and renders justice in all disputes. It is important to note that Forseti is a mediating god, he is there above all to ease tensions. It is said that whoever comes to find justice with him, always leaves happy and peaceful. He's the best judge in the world.
4. Gefjon / Gefn / Gefion
Attributes and functions
Gefjon is the Ase goddess of virgins and fertility. It is said to be served by all women who died while being virgins. She is also recognized as the creator of the Danish island Seeland .
The myth of the island Zealand
There are two versions of this myth, but we are going to tell you the most famous and well-known of them all.
This is happening in Sweden. A king decides to offer land to a vagrant who had made him laugh. He promised her that her land would be as large as four oxen could plow in a day and a night. However, what he did not know was that this wanderer was actually the asyne goddess Gefn.
So she used her chariot and asked four of her sons that she had had with a giant to serve as cattle. So, in the allotted time, she tore up the land she was promised. She did it so deeply that this territory broke away from the rest of Sweden and went west. This is how the island of Seeland was born.
5. Freya
Functions
Freyja is a very important Vane deity in Viking mythology. It is said to be one of the three faces of the mother goddess along with Frigg and Skadi.
She has the functions of being the goddess of love , beauty, earth, intimacy, attraction, wealth, magic, prophecy and fertility. It is therefore greatly invoked by the Vikings, especially during childbirth.
This Vane is said to be very beautiful. Sometimes she is represented as being bonde or redhead.
Attributes
Brísingar's Necklace
It is a jewel made from gold and amber. When she wears it, she exudes an irresistible magical charm.
The Valsharm coat
This garment is made from falcon feathers. When we wear it, we turn into a bird which allows us to travel between the different worlds of the Yggdrasil tree.
Freyja's chariot
This one is pulled by giant blue-colored cats. These animals can be associated with the lynxes that live in Scandinavia. These cats are known as Thófnir and Högni or Brundr and Kælinn. It depends on the versions. These were given as gifts to the goddess by the Viking god Thor.
Family
She is the daughter of Njord and Nerthus , the latter's sister. His twin is the god Freyr.
She is married to Ód, a great traveler, associated with Odin. Moreover, after his marriage, he left and never returned. With him she had two children, Hnoss and Gersimi.
Etymology
In Old Norse, the name Freya is associated with the word "Frú", which means woman. Nowadays, we find this connotation in the words Frau in German and Vrouw in Dutch which both mean "woman".
This goddess knows many other names. Among these are:
- Vanadis
- Mardöll
- Horn
- Gern
- Sýr
Home
His home is the Fólkvangr. It's the equivalent of Odin's Valhalla. What differentiates them is that Freya accepts warriors killed in combat while defending while Odin accepts those who die attacking.
> To learn more about Freyja, discover our dedicated article:
Who is Freyja, the Norse goddess of love?
6. Njord
Attributes and functions
Njörd is a Viking god Vane, his name means "life force". It has the function of being the guardian of the sea, the wind , the fire, fertility, wealth and abundance.
He brings good fortune and good fishing and is recognized as a great builder of boats and Drakkars.
Family
Officially, he is married to the giantess Skadi, who is his complete opposite, living in the middle of the icy mountains of Jotunheim.
It is therefore with Nerthus that the god will have two children, Freyr and Freyja.
Home
His residence is in Asgard, the kingdom of the gods and is called Noatun.
> To learn more about Njord, discover our new dedicated article:
Njörd: Viking God of the Sea
7. Freyr
Attributes and functions
Freyr is a Vane god of prosperity and fertility. It is he who commands the rain and the sun.
His attribute is his magic ship, the Skidbladnir . This one was made by the dwarves and has the ability to contain all the gods of Asgard at once. In addition, he is fast and his sail is always carried by favorable winds.
Family
He is Freyja's brother and Njörd's son. Freyr will fall in love with the giantess Gerd who lives in the realm of Jotunheim.
Freyr's death
It is in front of the giant Surt, during the last mythical and prophetic battle of Ragnarok that he will succumb.
Etymology
In Old Norse, his name means "lord".
It will also be known as:
- Yngvi
- Yngvi-Freyr
- Frico
> To learn more about Freyr, discover our dedicated article:
Freyr: Norse God of Light
8. Frigg / Frigga
Who is she?
Frigg is the queen of Aesir because she is the wife of the god Odin. She is also the mother of Balder and Höd. She is the only woman who can sit on the Hlidskjalf. It is the seat that allows the gods to observe all the worlds. Thus, she also advises her husband for decisions to be made.
Home
His home is called "Fensalir". She spends time there spinning clouds with a spinning wheel.
Attributes and functions
Frigg is the patron goddess of sibyls, soothsayers, and fairies. She also has the role of deity of love, marriage, motherhood, household management, healing and can even predict the future. This is called prescience in the religious field.
She is depicted as a very beautiful, majestic and imposing woman. She often wears long bright or dark dresses according to her desires. Frigga is often associated with mistletoe and yellow bedstraw (a flower that goes by the name of Frigg grass).
She is also often represented accompanied by her twelve servants. Together they weave the golden threads of fate. Among her maids are:
-
Gna
- graft
- hlin
- True
- Snotra
- Sygna
- lofn
- Fulla
To travel, Frigga can turn into a falcon, a crow or a hawk depending on the version.
Etymology
A derivative of her name is "Frijo" which means "beloved". It is also found, like other gods, under other names:
- Friggja
- Fricka
- Frea
9. Heimdall / Heimdallr / Hallinskidi
Attributes and functions
Heimdall is a Viking Ase god of light and the moon. He is the guardian of the Bifröst bridge. The rainbow that connects the realm of men, Midgard, to the realm of the gods, Asgard. He is often accompanied by his horse Gulltopp.
It is he who is responsible for warning the entire worlds during Ragnarok. To do this, he must blow into the Gjallarhorn, a large lut that lies at the foot of the Yggdrasil tree. During Ragnarok, he will be the last to die. He kills each other with the evil god Loki.
Genealogy
Heimdall is considered the son of Odin's nine mothers and adopted son.
Respectively:
- Angeyja
- Atlas
- Eistla
- Eyrgjafa
- Gjalp
- Greip
- imd
- Jarnsaxa
- Ulfrun
Etymology
In Old Norse, Heimdallr means "benevolent domestic fire" or "pillar of the world".
Home
His home is Himinbjorg and is next to the Bifröst bridge.
Who is Heimdall in Norse Mythology?
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10. Hel / Hela
Role and functions
Daughter of Loki and Angrboda , this goddess is also the sister of the wolf Fenrir and the serpent Jörmungand. She is the true goddess of the dead.
She accompanies the deceased of natural deaths in the country of Gimlé.
This deity lives in Nilfheim because she was banished by the gods of Asgard. Half of his face is dead while the other is alive. This well represents his role of bringing the living into the realm of the dead.
Remains
As said before, she lives in the world of Nilfheim in her mansion called "Eliudnir".
11. Hödr / Höd
Who is he?
The god Höd is a key figure in Norse mythology. He is the son of Odin but also the assassin of his brother Baldr.
The murder of his brother
Höd is said to be blind. It would therefore be the god Loki who would have physically pushed him to throw a spear of mistletoe in the direction of his brother. Balder being sensitive to this plant, he would have died of it.
According to some, this is a misinterpretation by the author of the sources. Höd would not be blind but would be his brother's rival and blindly trusted Loki's advice in killing his brother.
Revenge
It is the god Vali who will kill Höd. The latter having been spawned only to avenge the death of Balder.
12. Idunn
Who is she?
Asyne goddess of eternal youth, Idunn is also the wife of Bragi , the god of poetry. It is she who is the guardian of the apples of youth. These apples allow the gods to preserve their youth. Indeed, the Viking gods are mortal gods. They must stay alive until Ragnarok.
Etymology
In Old Icelandic, Idunn means "she who rejuvenates". Which corresponds well to its function.
Removal
Idunn was kidnapped by the god of discord Loki. He was accountable to the giant Thjazi and she was his bargaining chip. Of course, this did not please the gods of Asgard who forced Loki to bring back the goddess. Subsequently, the gods killed the giant Thjazi.
13. Loki
Attributes and functions
God of discord , he is accepted among the Ases although he has no relationship with them. He is considered a negative, treacherous, cunning, cunning and jealous being. He is Thor's main traveling companion and he can shapeshift. We will also note the fact that he is very often at the origin of the problems of the gods and many myths and legends revolve around his person.
Family
He is the son of the giant Farbauti and Laufey. It will spawn several monsters. These are the wolf Fenrir, the serpent Jörmungand and the goddess Hel, from the world of the dead. He is also the father of Odin's horse, Sleipnir, which he will have with Svadilfari, a stallion.
Etymology
In Old Norse, we find the word lúka which means "near". While in Old English, logþor or logþer means mischievous. We are unsure of the origin of its name and there is much debate.
We find Loki under two other names:
- Loptr
- Hveðrungr
Ragnarok
How to talk about Loki without talking about Ragnarok?
Indeed, it is he who will be at the origin of this legendary battle opposing the gods of Asgard to the forces of evil and the giants. Loki will die during Ragnarok by the hand of Heimdall as explained above.
Read more: Who is the god Loki?
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14. Meili
Considered the god of oblivion , he is the brother of Thor. He was fathered by Odin and Jörd. It would seem that he too has fallen into oblivion given the few sources we have about him...
15. The Norns
Who are they?
The three most important are
- Urd
- Verdandi
- Skuld
Their residence is near the well of Urd , also called well of destiny which is used to water the tree of life Yggdrasil. The latter being the bearer of the worlds and the center of the cosmos.
These Norns engrave the destiny of each child. Everything is inscribed with runes on wood.
16. Odin
Attributes and Functions
He is the most important god in Norse mythology. He is the god of gods and is part of the pantheon of Aesir . He is often depicted as an old man, bearded and one-eyed. He also has the ability to transform.
He is the god of the dead, of victory, of knowledge , of magic, of poetry, of prophecies, of war, of the hunt, patron of the skalds and god of the hanged.
He is often depicted with his spear Gungnir which has the ability to never miss its target and return to its thrower. He also wears his ring called Draupnir . Odin rides on his eight-legged horse Sleipnir . He is accompanied by his crows Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory) who come to tell him what is happening in the nine worlds. At her feet are two wolves, Geri and Freki .
Family
Odin is the son of Bor and the giantess Bestla. His brothers are Vili and Vé. With his wife Frigg, he will have many sons. Among these are:
- Thor
- baldr
- Hod
- Hermod
Home
His residence is called Valaskjálf. it is a building entirely of pure silver. Inside is his throne Hlidskjalf which allows him to observe the nine worlds.
There is also his palace, the Valhöll, more commonly known as the Valhalla. This is where the Valkyries bring the dead Viking warriors to attack. They feast and train for battle to prepare for Ragnarok.
Different names of Odin
Odin is found under many names. Here is a list of those:
- Woden
- Wodan
- wotan
- Wodanaz
- Alfadir
- Farmatyr
- Bolverk
- Har
- Harbard
- Jafnhar
- Thridi
- Vegtam
- Bruno
- Bruno
Mythology and genesis of the world
As you know, Odin is the creator god of the cosmos.
It was after killing the giant Ymir that he decided to create the universe with his corpse. Subsequently, it is also he who will create life in the different worlds.
> To learn more about Odin, discover our dedicated article:
Read more: Odin: King of the Gods in Norse Mythology
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17. Sif
Who is she?
We don't know much about this goddess Asyne. We know that she is the goddess of earth and fertility. She has the power to transform into a swan.
Etymology
In Old Icelandic, "sifjar" means "affinity" or "related by marriage". There is also a derivative "jörð" which means "earth".
Family
Sif is the wife of Thor with whom she will have a child, Thrud. She will also have another child from an unknown father named Ull.
Sif's story
Do you know Sif's hair expression? It is simply a second name for gold. Indeed, the god Loki having cut his hair to repair his mistake. So he asked the dwarfs Eitri and Brokk to make him golden hair that could grow back like normal hair.
18. Skadi
Who is she?
Skadi is a giant goddess. She is the representative of the mountains, bow hunting, winter and skiing. Her father is Thjazi and her husband is the god Njörd.
Etymology
Its name would be according to some at the origin of Scandinavia.
This could mean two things:
- Island of Skadi
- Territory protected by Skadi
At war with Asgard
His father, Thjazi had been killed by the gods of Asgard. Skadi therefore decided to go to war against them. In order to avoid this, the gods offer him compensation. They propose to her to choose a god in marriage. But she should choose the latter only by looking at her feet. That's how she came across Njörd.
19.Thor
Attributes and functions
Thor is the most powerful god Ase in the pantheon. He is the god of thunder, storm, strength, valor, agility, victory, fertility, warrior strength and protector of men in the face of chaos.
He uses lightning and has the power to calm or irritate storms. His colossal strength makes him a mighty warrior. And it is in particular thanks to its attributes.
Thor has a magic belt on him called the Megingjord . She increases his strength when he uses his short-handled warhammer, the Mjöllnir . This one has the ability to return to its caster and create lightning. To hold it, Thor needs his Járngreipr glove . This hammer has a central importance in the Viking culture. There are many Nordic people who wear this as a pendant .
Thor is also accompanied by two goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr who pull his chariot. He can eat his goats and then stir them up with their bones.
Thor is the defender of Midgard and humans against the forces of chaos and the giants, his main enemies.
Family
Thor is the son of Odin and Jörd. His wife is Sif with whom he had a daughter named Thrud. He also has a mistress, the giantess Járnsaxe with whom he had a son named Magni. He has a second son, Modi, but his origin is unknown.
Etymology
In Common Germanic, the names þonaroz or þunraz mean "thunder".
We find Thor under two other names:
- Asa Thor
- Aka-Thor
Home
His home is named Bilskirnir. it is a gigantic mansion with hundreds of rooms.
Read more: Who is Thor in Norse mythology?
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20. Tire
Attributes and functions
Týr is a very ancient god Ase. It is said to be the first sovereign god before Odin. however, it will lose its importance during barbarian invasions.
He is the god of the sky, of just war, of justice, victory, strategy, oaths, procedures and rights. He is a very wise and very brave god. We can notice it in the mythology where it is said that he sacrificed his hand in the mouth of the wolf Fenrir in order to be able to chain him.
Etymology
Again, this is a god with many other names. Here is the list:
- Teiws
- Ziu
- Tīw
- tig
- Tiwaz
Regarding the latter name (Tīwaz), it means "day sky" or "bright sky" in Common Indo-European. In Old Norse, the name Týr simply means "god". which reinforces the theory of the sovereign god.
Family
He is the son of Odin or the giant Hymir according to the texts and stories.
Ragnarok
During Ragnarok, Týr will fight the guardian dog of the kingdom of the dead, Garm. They will both end up killing each other.
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21. Ull
Attributes and functions
This Ase god of hunting and winter is the most important celestial god. He will even replace Odin as ruler for 10 years. Some believe it is actually the god Týr himself. Ull is a good skier and a brave warrior.
He carries with him a very powerful and very precise bow. He also has a warrior protection shield. He can also choose to sail on his shield.
Family
Ull is the son of Sif and is adopted by Thor. He will also marry the giantess Skadi.
Home
His residence is in Ydalir, the valley of the yews. Indeed, it is thanks to this wood that he makes his bow.
Ull's Death
Ull will die during the final battle of Ragnarok.
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22. The Valkyries
Who are they?
They are maiden warriors serving the god Odin. They wear armor and have wings to fly. Their role is to take the heroes who died in battle to Valhalla. These will form the army of Einherjars to fight alongside the gods during Ragnarok.
Some say they ride stallions while others claim they ride wolf wolves.
They are represented by the crows that fly over the battlefields and are there to choose who will die.
It is also said that these women formed glows in the sky which can be associated with the polar aurora borealis.
Etymology
The words "Val" and "Kyrja" mean "to choose" and "to bring down" respectively. Thus, we understand their function which is to choose the deceased.
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23. Vidar
Attributes and functions
Vidar is the Ase god of revenge and silence. It is quite recent because there is no mention of this deity before the 10th century. Vidar is calm and solitary. It is said to be the strongest god after Thor.
He wears a magic shoe at his feet. He is often accompanied by his horse and his sword.
Family
Vidar is the son of Odin and the giantess Gridr.
Etymology
In Old Icelandic, the word "Víðarr" means "He who rules afar".
Home
As previously explained, Vidar is a solitary god. He lives in a forest in Asgard in his palace in the name of Vidi.
Ragnarok
During this final battle, Odin is going to be killed by the wolf Fenrir . It is Vidar who will avenge his father and kill the beast. He will be part of the generation of renewal.
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