NORSE MYTHOLOGY

Where do these myths come from?

•Northern Europe•What is now modern-day Norway, Sweden, Denmark & Finland•Scandinavia

What’s It Like There?•What does the landscape tell us about how their people lived?•COLD!!! Did I mention that it’s cold? ☺•The weather affects its people in what ways?

The Two Families•AESIR•The main gods (Odin & Thor)•Often represented as wisdom & power.

•VANIR•Njord & his children (twins Freya & Frey/r)•Often represented (in religion & myth) w/love, fertility & material wealth.

Gods & Goddesses•Polytheistic•They would constantly walk among the mortals•Respected and revered for this trait, feared for their power

Meet the Aesir family . . .

Odin•The “great father” – leader of all gods.•God of healing, magic, runes, knowledge, as well as death, war & fate.•Gave up an eye to gain infinite wisdom•Many wealthy Anglo-Saxon tribes and families considered him their ancestor.

Loki•Trickster god•Brother of Odin, uncle of Thor•Friend or foe?•Willing to kill•Causes hero (& Christ figure) Balder to remain in Hel.•Shapeshifter•Will lead the Giants in Ragnarok

Thor•The majority of Germanic myths are about Thor.•His strength was compared to that of Hercules and some even said he rivaled the Greeks’ Zeus.•Protector of man & gods w/his hammer Mjollnir•Mjollnir is said to cause/create thunder & lightning

Frigg•Wife of Odin•Balder’s mother•Main Norse Goddess•Embodiment of womanhood•Powerful, like her husband•Can (naturally) see the future

Heimdall•Son of Odin, god of light & watchman of the Rainbow Bridge•Guarded the gates to Asgard•Razor-sharp vision•Carries a great battle horn, whose sound signals the final battle, Ragnarok.

And now. . .the Vanir family

Njord•God of the sea, fertility & winds•Father of Frey and Freya•Second wife was giantess Skadi – didn’t work out.•Considered a friendly, helpful god.

Frey•Norse god of fruitfulness & also the patron of seafarers. •Possessed a golden boar, which raced through the sky and the underworld•Also had a magical ship, which was always favored w/a fair wind.

Freyja•Daughter of Njord•Sister of Freyr. •Main goddess of the Vanir. •Associated with love, beauty, and fertility.•Goddess of Witchcraft

Vikings

Valkyries•Warriors themselves (reminiscent of the Greek Amazons) they guide the fallen (worthy) warriors to their eternal home in Valhalla.

Swords are People, too!•Swords were considered “brothers” – they fought in battle alongside their owners. Thus, they were given human names.

Stupid Frost Giants ☹

•From the beginning of time, the frost giants & gods have been at odds w/each other.•They fear Thor & his hammer above all.

Yggdrasill: The Mundane Tree or World Tree

•Goes through all levels of the universe: the heavens, the earth & the underworld.•The Bifrost Bridge (seen as a rainbow to humans) links the real & supernatural worlds.•At the roots of tree are the Norns (fate).

Asgard•The Heavens, where the gods reside when they’re not spending time on earth w/humans.

Ragnarok!

The Final Battle•Between the giants & the gods•It is expected, and will destroy most of the universe.•What does it say about the Norse & Germanic people that they know the world will end in a great battle?•A new dawn? Some sources say that a few gods & men will survive to rebuild the world.•The Frost Giants will be triumphant.

A Viking Funeral

Valhalla•Warrior heaven (hall of the slain)•Traditionally thought to be found in Asgard, but new information says that it is actually located among the humans in Midgard.

Famous Norse Myths•Beowulf•Sigurd the Volsung•The Theft of Thor’s Hammer•The Death of Balder

•Sleeping Beauty & The Lord of the Rings stories have background in Norse, Germanic and Northern European mythologies.

The End•Thank You for your attention...the first part of our journey begins w/the creation of the Norse world.•And remember, just like Odin, to attain what we ultimately want, we must SACRIFICE. ☺