Norse Mythology Creation & Gods

Creation Ginnungagap- chasm/gap/abyss (“magic chasm”); existed before everything –“Of old there was nothing” (Hamilton 459) Niflheim- cold land of many rivers; cold mist Muspelheim- hot land of fire (Hamilton 460) The cold rivers of Niflheim and the heat of Muspelheim combined in Ginnungagap to create a cold mist. The first humaniod and jotun, Ymir, was created (Hamilton ). (Jotuns are giants.)

Creation, cont. The first god, Buri, was also created at this point. –Gods and jotuns are separate beings. Borr, a god, was the son of Buri. Borr married Bestla, a jotun. They had three sons: Odin, Vili, and Ve. Odin and his brothers kill Ymir (Hamilton 460). They use Ymir’s body to create the world, Midgard (“middle garden”), home of humankind.

Creation, cont. 9 worlds are created in total: Midgard, Asgard, Vanaheim, Jotunheim, Niflheim, Muspelheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, and Hel. An ash tree called Yggdrasil supported the 9 worlds of the cosmos/universe (Hamilton 460). –Yggdrasil’s 3 roots tap into springs in Niflheim, Midgard, and Asgard. Bifrost is a bridge that connects Midgard to Asgard. –Bifrost is guarded by Heimdall. –Etymology- “shaking rainbow”

Creation, cont. The first man and woman are created from trees. They are named Ask (ash tree) and Embla (elm tree) (Hamilton 460, Guerber 13). Other supernatural beings--dwarfs, elves, sprites--were also created (Hamilton 460).

Fig. 1: The Nine Worlds & Yggdrasil

Gods and Goddesses, cont. Odin- “Sky-father” (Hamilton 453)/“All father” (Guerber 17) –Has the highest seat in Asgard, a chair called Hlidskailf, from which he can see all that “was happening among gods, giants, elves, dwarfs, and men” (Guerber 17) –Two ravens who bring him news of humans (Hamilton 454) –Two wolves whom he feeds Frigga- Odin’s wife and queen; goddess of atmosphere (or clouds) as well as of marital love and motherly love(Guerber 46-47) –She had the privilege of sitting on Hlidskialf (Guerber 46).

Gods and Goddesses, cont. Loki- trickster god; Odin’s brother (by birth or oath) –Gets Hoder to kill Balder Balder- “radiant god of innocence and light” (Guerber 65); son of Odin and Frigga –He became depressed because of a recurring dream, so his mother made every “animate and inanimate thing to register a solemn vow not to harm Balder” (Guerber (216). Hoder- god of darkness; blind; Balder’s brother Hermod- the “nimble god” (Guerber 65); Odin’s son; Balder’s brother –Travels to Hel in order to bring his brother Balder back (Guerber ).

Gods and Goddesses, cont. Hel(a)- goddess of death; her kingdom is daughter of Loki Thor- god of Thunder –“remarkable for his great size and strength” (Guerber 65) –“Although generally good-tempered, Thor would occasionally fly into a terrible rage....” (Guerber 65). Frey- “god of the golden sunshine and the warm summer showers” (Guerber 124); brother of Freya –originally a Vana but welcomed into Asgard (Guerber 124) –king of Alfheim, home of light elves (Guerber 124) Freya- “goddess of beauty and love” (Guerber 138); sister of Frey –originally a Vana but welcomed into Asgard (Guerber 124) –It’s believed that “she often led the Valkyrs down to the battlefields” and was “therefore often represented with corselet and helmet, shield and spear” (Guerber 139).

Other Beings Valkaries- female; do Odin’s bidding on the battlefield, bringing the brave dead to Valhalla Giants (jotuns) Dwarfs Elves Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory)- Odin’s two ravens Norns- 3 female “fates” (Urda, Verandi, and Skuld); guard the Well or Urd(a) Iormungandr- serpent; Loki’s “child”; encircles Midgard Nidhug- dragon; chews at Yggdrasil’s roots Ratatosk- squirrel; carries messages throughout Yggdrasil

Fig. 2: Odin by Burne- Jones Fig. 3: Frigga Spinning the Clouds by Dollman (Guerber 48)

Fig. 4: Thor by Fogelberg (Guerber 67) Fig. 5: Loki and Hodur Qvarnstrom (Guerber 220)

Fig. 6: The Norns by Ehrenberg (Guerber 175) Fig. 7: The Ride of the Valkyrs by Dollman (Guerber 187)

Fig. 8: The Rainbow Bridge by Hendrich (Guerber 153)

Works Cited Guerber, Helene A. Myths of the Norsemen. New York: Barnes and Noble, Print. Hamilton, Edith. Mythology: Times Tales of Gods and Heroes. New York: Grand Central Publishing, Print.