NORSE MYTHOLOGYA Brief Overview of the Major Pantheon

Who Were the Norse? They are sometimes called North

Germanic. This included the Vikings. These stories are over a thousand years old.

Sources There are two major sources for

Norse/Scandinavian Mythology The Poetic Edda – 13th century, a written collection of

poems that were passed down over generations. There is no one author, as this is a collection of minstrel poems.

The Prose Edda – 13th century, thought to be written by Snorri Sturluson. He cites the Poetic Edda as a research source.

Other sources, many from Snorri Sturluson.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Sources_of_Norse_mythology

Sources for presentation: http://freya.theladyofthelabyrinth.com, Gods and Heroes from Viking Mythology by Brian Branston, D’aulaires’ Book of Norse Myths, Finding Middle Earth: Tolkien’s Inspiration for The Lord of the Rings

Edda

Yggdrasil

The Norse divided the world into nine realms, all of which are located on Yggdrasil, the World Tree.There are also animals around the tree:1. An eagle sits atop

the tree. He keeps watch over the tree with the assistance of a hawk who sits on his beak.

Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

2. At the base of the tree is Nidhogg, the dragon of destruction. He wants to destroy the tree.

3. Ratatosk, a busy squirrel, carries insults between Nidhogg and the hawk.Image from warviking.tripod.com

Yggdrasil

The tree is cared for by the Norns: Urd, Verdande, and Skuld. Like the Greek Fates, these immortal women spun the thread of life for men.

No one knows where the Norn came from, but everyone bows to their will, even the gods.Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

Realm One: Asgard (Ásgarðr‘)

Home of the sky gods, called the Aesir (there are two groups of gods). Here Odin and Frigg rule over the gods.Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

Realm Two: Álfheim. (Sometimes Liossalheim)

Home of the light elves, called Álfar. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

Realm Three: Vanaheim. (Vanaheimr)

Home of the gods known as Vanir. They are associated with the land, sea, fertility, wisdom, and seeing the future.Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

Realm Four: Midgard. (Miðgarðr or “Middle Earth”)

Home of humans (Menn).Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

Realm Five: Jotunheim. (Jötunheimr)

Home of the Frost and Rock Giants (called Jotun). These giants are often baddies to both Men and the Aesir.

Loki is a Jotun who became part Aesir.Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

Realm Six: Svartalheim. (Svartálfaheimr/Niðavellir)

Home of the Dark Elves (dökkálfar), who later became the dwarves (Dvergar).Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

Realm Seven: Hel

Home of the dead and corpses. There is a goddess there also named Hel, so the place is sometimes called Helheim.

English adopted this word for the Christian hell.Image from Wikimedia Commons

Yggdrasil

Realm Eight: Niflheim

Realm of ice and cold, with nine frozen rivers. This realm is not always listed.

Realm Nine: Muspellheim

Realm of fire and heat, home of the fire giants (eldjötnar).

Image from Wikimedia Commons

The Creation Myth Go to my website Click on links Open and read the creation myth Be prepared for weirdness! YAY

MAGICAL COWS!