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Norse Mythology.

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Presentation on theme: "Norse Mythology."— Presentation transcript:

1 Norse Mythology

2 Where do these myths come from?
Northern Europe What is now modern-day Norway, Sweden, Denmark & Finland Scandinavia It is the mythology of the North Germanic people stemming from Norse paganism and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia and into the Scandinavian folklore of the modern period.

3 The Beginning Ginnungagap was the great emptiness before there was a world, or any living things in it. Far to the South of the Ginnungagap was the fiery realm of Muspell, with its long, hot rivers full of poison and vast lakes of fire. Nothing could grow in this burning realm. To the North was the dark and cold realm of Niflheim, where icy fountains spewed forth freezing rivers. Nothing could grow here either, for the sky was always dark and the mountains were blocks of solid ice. Slowly, over years and years and years, the fiery blasts from Muspell began to melt the icy mountains of Niflheim. Out of the melting ice, the giant Ymir emerged, the first being of the vast Ginnungagap.

4 Next to him there emerged a cow from the ice
Next to him there emerged a cow from the ice. The cow licked the salt from the ice mountains and Ymir drank the cow’s milk. Ymir grew larger and larger. The cow licked away entire mountains of ice. Slowly she licked the ice from two more beings, this time the god Buri and his goddess wife. They had a son named Bor, and his son was named Odin, who became the king of all the gods. Ymir was cruel and brutal. Odin and the other gods could no longer abide by his evil acts and together the gods slew him. Ymir’s huge body formed the earth. His blood became the sea, his flesh became the land, his bones the mountains and his hair the trees. Odin and the other gods formed the sky with his skull, held up by four towering pillars. Odin gathered sparks from the fiery depths of Muspell and created the sun and moon. These he set in the sky. As the sun and moon shone over the new world in the Ginnungagap, the ice began to melt and plants and trees began to grow.

5 The greatest tree of all was the Yggdrasil, which grew in the very center of the earth. Its roots penetrated into the bottom of creation and its leaves reached the very top of the sky. Odin was satisfied with the new world, and named it Midgard, ‘The Middle Land’. But the world still needed people. On one of his walks, Odin found two fallen trees, an ash and an elm. He lifted them from the mud and formed the first man and woman from them. Odin breathed life into the beings, gave them reason and feelings, hearing and sight. He named the man Ask and the woman Embla. From these two sprang the entire human race. The humans had the task of looking after Midgard, while the gods ascended to Asgard, their realm in heaven.

6 However, not everyone was pleased with Odin’s work
However, not everyone was pleased with Odin’s work. Ymir’s giant sisters were still mourning his death and were looking for a way to take their revenge on the gods who killed him. They gathered at the foot of Yggdrasil and began carving lines into it. Each line was a human life, filled with twists and turns, beginning with a man’s birth, and ending with his death. At the end of each line they made a deep cut to ensure that humans would never be as powerful as the gods. These spells were so powerful that not even Odin could do anything to change them. Thus Yggdrasil became known as ‘The Tree of Life’ and humans knew death and suffering in their world.

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9 Yggdrasill: The Mundane Tree or World Tree
Goes through all levels of the universe: the heavens : Valhalla the earth: Midgard the underworld: Hel The Bifrost Bridge links the Real & Supernatural world together Seen as a rainbow to humans At the roots of the tree are the Norns (fate).

10 Ragnarok This is the Final Battle – Norse Apocalypse
Between the giants and the gods It will destroy most of the universe and the Frost Giants are slated to win. The world is to be enveloped in flames and will be born anew. The surviving humans from a wood, Lif and Lifprasir, meet and the land will be fertile and green, and they will repopulate the world.

11 Norse Afterlife Hel – Hel’s murky realm Valhalla – Odin’s martial hall
Fólkvangr – Freyja’s field Rán – claims those who die at sea Gefjon – is attended by virgins upon their death

12 Valhalla & Fólkvangr Valhalla Fólkvangr Warrior Heaven
Hall of the Slain Traditionally, it was though to be found in Asgard, but new info says that it is actually located in Midgard, among the humans. Fólkvangr Freyja rides to battle among the dead and chooses those to go to her afterlife field Some say she is searching for her husband Óðr to find him or his soul.

13 Cosmology Elements of the cosmos are personified Sun – Sól, a goddess
Moon – Máni, a god Earth – Jörð, a goddess Units of time also Day – Dagr, a god Night – Nótt, a jötunn

14 Norse Gods and Goddesses

15 Gods & Goddesses Polytheistic
They would walk among the mortals constantly. They were respected and revered for this trait and feared for their power.

16 The Two Families AESIR VANIR The Main Gods
Odin Thor Often represents Wisdom and Power VANIR Njord & his children Twins Freya & Freyr Often represented (in religion & myth) with love, fertility, and material wealth

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18 Odin Chief of the gods and men – called Allfather
Father of Thor, Balder, and other gods Wears winged or floppy hat God of magic, wisdom, wit and leaning; later with war and bloodshed Odin pierces himself with a spear and hangs on Yggdrasil for 9 days and nights to learn the secret knowledge of runes Has one eye because he traded it for a drink from the spring of clairvoyance to gain inner wisdom Resides in Valaskjalf (“shelf of the slain”) Attributes are the spear Gungnir (which never misses its target) the ring Draupnir and his 8-footed steed Sleipnir. During Ragnarok he will be killed by the wolf Fenrir The day Wednesday is named for him. He can travel to any realm within the 9 Nordic Worlds. His 2 ravens travel the world daily and return to tell him everything that has happened in Midgard. All of his actions are related to knowledge, wisdom, and the dissemination if ideas and concepts to help mankind. He can make the dead speak in order to question the wisest amongst them. He is the only head Deity that is also the god of thought and logic . It’s interesting to note that the Norse people set such a great importance upon logic. Runes are a simple writing system that were used for charms. Runes means “secret”. His two ravens are called Huginn and Muninn (Thought and Memory)

19 Thor Thor’s Helmet God of thunder and lightning
Huge, red-bearded, with burning eyes Similar to Hercules in his feats of strength and giant-killing. Son of Odin Mated with giant Jarnsaxa, but his wife is Sif (golden hair) Mjolnir (the destroyer) – an ax-hammer that can destroy giants and mountains in a single blow; he also carries a belt of strength and iron glove His home was called Bilskirnir Has a chariot pulled by two goats. He can kill these goats and eat them and they will come back to life. Is constantly fighting the World Serpent – Jormungand He once drank from a horn that was emptying the water from the ocean– gigantic appetite Thursday is named for him Thor’s Helmet

20 Balder “The Beautiful” and “The Good” Son of Odin and Frigg
Primarily known for his death and resurrection – Loki tricked his brother Hod into killing him with a mistletoe dart His death is the harbinger of Ragnarok After Ragnarok, when a new world arises, Baldor and Hod will be reborn to rule His hall is Breidablik Considered to be the best of the gods Friendly, wise and eloquent, little power

21 Loki God of mischief and fire Trickster figure
Assists and causes problems for the gods Shape shifter – appears, as salmon, mare, seal, fly, woman Born of giants, but welcomed by the gods Responsible for Balder’s death and punished by having snake venom dripped on his forehead Jormungand (world serpent), Hel, and Fenrir (wolf) are his children Will begin Ragnarok Fights with the giants during Ragnarok – slayed by Heimdall

22 Freyr God of sun, rain, and plentiful harvest
God of peace and a brave warrior Member of the Vanir Gods gave him Alfheimr, the realm of the Elves Marrried to giantess Gerd, son of Njord Rides the dwarf-made boar Gullinbursti – symbol is boar Possesses a ship which always has a favorable breeze and can be folded together and carried in a pouch Killed by the fire demon Surt at Ragnarok Twin to Freya Has a sword that can fight by itself, but he gives it away The boar is his symbol

23 Freya Goddess of love and fertility Vanir goddess
Most beautiful goddess Patron of crops and birth Daughter of Njord, sister of Freyr Married to Od, when he died she cried tears of gold Attributes are the necklace of Brisings (pure gold), a cloak which allows its wearer to change into a falcon, and a chariot pulled by two cats. The symbol of sensuality, called upon in matters of love Particularly fond of elves (fairies) Divides slain warriors with Odin; ½ go to her palace, ½ go to Valhalla . Women also go to her hall.

24 Frigg Mother Goddess, Queen of Asgard
Patron of marriage and motherhood Goddess of love and Fertility Wife of Odin, mother of Balder and Hod Weaves clouds She knows events in the present and future, but is powerless to change them Learning of her son’s (Balder) death, she makes everything promise not to harm him – except the mistletoe The term Friday derives from her name

25 Heimdall “World Brightener”, God of light Son of nine mothers
Born at the end of the world and raised by the force of earth and seawater, and the blood of a boar Carries the horn, Gjallar, which announces gods, warns of danger, and will signal the beginning of Ragnarok Great hearing (can hear grass grow) and eyesight Watchman of the gods and guards Bifrost (the rainbow bridge to Asgard) Will Kill Loki at Ragnarok, but will die from wounds Created 3 races of Men: serfs, peasants, and warriors.

26 Tyr God of war and justice Precursor of Odin
Boldest of the gods, inspires courage and heroism in battle Lost his hand to Fenrir, Loki’s wolf-son His symbol is the spear which has become a symbol of justice At Ragnarok, he will kill the hound Garm, the guardian of hell, but he will die from his wounds.

27 Hod God of winter and darkness Blind Son of Odin and Frigg
Tricked by Loki into killing Balder with mistletoe Vali killed Hod in revenge for Balder After Ragnarok, he will be reborn and rule with Balder

28 Idun Goddess of immortality Keeps the golden apples of youth
Major story deals with a giant who, with Loki’s help, stole the apples, causing the gods to wither Married to Bragi

29 Bragi God of poetry and eloquence
Loki calls him “Braggart” and the verb “to brag” comes from his name. Married to Idun

30 Hel Daughter of Loki Giantess, half alive/half dead
Ruler of Helheim, Goddess of death and the underworld Half black/ half white Her face and body are human but her legs are of a corpse Spread the plague with a rake or a broom Agrees to release Balder from Helheim if everything weeps for him.

31 Where do we see it? The Obvious Music Beowulf Sigurd the Volsung
The Theft of Thor’s Hammer The Death of Balder Music Wagner’s Valkyrie Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song Jethro Tull – Cold Wind to Valhalla Uriah Heep – Rainbow Demon (Ref: Bifrost & Heimdallr) Many songs by Blind Guardian & Ginnungagap Very prominent in Heavy Metal

32 Movies Television Game of Thrones Stargate SG-1 Doctor Who Supernatural Thor/Avengers The Mask & The Son of the Mask How to Train Your Dragon Sleeping Beauty Books The Hobbit Lord of the Rings Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Harry Potter Witches of East End (Also a TV show) Magnus Chase & The Gods of Asgard Manga, Anime, & Video Games Matantei Loki Ragnarok Oh! My Goddess! Yu-Gi-Oh! Tomb Raider Max Payne World of Warcraft Halo


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