1. Norse Gods and Goddesses Asgard – heaven Midgard – Earth Yggdrasil – World Tree

2. Yggdrasil Centerpiece of Norse mythology: 9 worlds of Norse mythology are connected through Yggdrasil.

3. Yggrasil 9 Worlds connected through Yggdrasil 9 Worlds connected through Yggdrasil 1. Alfheim World of the elves 2. Asgard World of the Aesir 3. Jötunheim World of the giants and frost- giants 4. Midgard Home of mankind 5. Muspelheim World of fire and the fire-giant, home of the giant Surt

4. Norse Mythology 9 Worlds Cont. 9 Worlds Cont. 6. Nidavellir Home of the dwarves 7. Niflheim World of the ice and that of the dead, which is also known as Hell. 8. Svartalfheim World of the black elves (svartálfar) 9. Vanaheim Home of the Vanir

5. Odin/ Woden/ Wotan Chief of the gods, war Chief of the gods, war Father of Thor, Balder, and other gods Father of Thor, Balder, and other gods Odin pierces himself with a spear and hangs on Yggdrasil for 9 days and nights to learn the secret knowledge of runes 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 Has one eye because he traded it for a drink from the spring of clairvoyance His two ravens are called Huginn and Muninn (Thought and Memory)

6. Valkyries and Valhalla Valkyries are female spirit warriors that ride the battlefields and find worthy slain warriors and takes them to Valhalla where they will train until Ragnarok. Valkyries are female spirit warriors that ride the battlefields and find worthy slain warriors and takes them to Valhalla where they will train until Ragnarok. The northern lights are light shining off of their shields The northern lights are light shining off of their shields Valhalla is the Hall of the Slain. It exists in Asgard, home of the gods Valhalla is the Hall of the Slain. It exists in Asgard, home of the gods “Ride of the Valkyries” Richard Wagner

7. Thor/ Thunor God of thunder and lightning God of thunder and lightning Mjolnir (the destroyer) – an ax-hammer that can destroy giants and mountains in a single blow Mjolnir (the destroyer) – an ax-hammer that can destroy giants and mountains in a single blow Has a chariot pulled by two goats. He can kill these goats and eat them and they will come back to life. 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 Is constantly fighting the World Serpent – Jormungand He is capable of drinking an ocean He is capable of drinking an ocean Thor’s Helmet

8. Sif Sif's hair may represent fields of golden wheat, that she may be associated with fertility, family, wedlockgolden wheat Sif once had her hair shorn by Loki, and that Thor forced Loki to have a golden headpiece made for SifLoki Thor’s wife

9. Balder “The Beautiful” and “The Good” “The Beautiful” and “The Good” Primarily known for his death and resurrection Primarily known for his death and resurrection The favorite child The favorite child

10. Loki God of mischief and fire God of mischief and fire Trickster figure Trickster figure Unknown parentage Unknown parentage Responsible for Balder’s death and punished by having snake venom drip on his forehead Responsible for Balder’s death and punished by having snake venom drip on his forehead Jormungand, Hel, and Fenrir are his children Jormungand, Hel, and Fenrir are his children Will begin Ragnorak Will begin Ragnorak

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

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

13. Freyr / Frey God of agriculture, fertility, and plenty God of agriculture, fertility, and plenty Twin to Freyja (they are VERY close) Twin to Freyja (they are VERY close) Unlike the other gods, Freyr and Freyja are earth dieties Unlike the other gods, Freyr and Freyja are earth dieties Has a sword that can fight by itself Has a sword that can fight by itself The boar is his symbol The boar is his symbol

14. Freyja Goddess of love and fertility Goddess of love and fertility Twin sister of Frey Twin sister of Frey Slept with four dwarves to get a flaming necklace, which becomes her symbol of fertility Slept with four dwarves to get a flaming necklace, which becomes her symbol of fertility Leader of the Valkyries Leader of the Valkyries She takes some of the dead warriors for herself She takes some of the dead warriors for herself Has a chariot drawn by cats Has a chariot drawn by cats Freyja’s hair

15. Frigg / Frigga / Frea Mother Goddess Mother Goddess Wife of Odin Wife of Odin Weaves clouds Weaves clouds She knows events 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 Learning of her son’s (Balder) death, she makes everything promise not to harm him – except the mistletoe

16. Tyr God of war and justice God of war and justice Precursor of Odin Precursor of Odin Boldest of the gods Boldest of the gods Lost his hand to Fenrir, Loki’s wolf-son Lost his hand to Fenrir, Loki’s wolf-son His symbol is the spear which has become a symbol of justice His symbol is the spear which has become a symbol of justice

17. Heimdall “World Brightener” “World Brightener” God of the dawn God of the dawn Great hearing (can hear grass grow) and eyesight Great hearing (can hear grass grow) and eyesight Is the look out on Bifrost (the rainbow bridge to Asgard) Is the look out on Bifrost (the rainbow bridge to Asgard)

18. Hoder God of winter and darkness God of winter and darkness Blind Blind Tricked by Loki into killing Balder Tricked by Loki into killing Balder Vali killed Hod in revenge for Balder Vali killed Hod in revenge for Balder Will return during Ragnarok Will return during Ragnarok

19. Hel Daughter of Loki Daughter of Loki Giantess Giantess Goddess of death and the underworld Goddess of death and the underworld Half black/ half white Half black/ half white Her face and body are human but the legs are of a corpse Her face and body are human but the legs are of a corpse Has two servants: Ganglati and Ganglot Has two servants: Ganglati and Ganglot Spread the plague with a rake or a broom Spread the plague with a rake or a broom

20. Hel / Helheim The underworld The underworld The road to Hel is an icy river (Gjoll) full of weapons The road to Hel is an icy river (Gjoll) full of weapons Guarded by a large dog (Garm) and Modgud (an ugly goddess) Guarded by a large dog (Garm) and Modgud (an ugly goddess) Nothing can leave Hel, not even gods Nothing can leave Hel, not even gods The wicked go here and the people who do not die a glorious death in battle The wicked go here and the people who do not die a glorious death in battle A giant in the form of an eagle sits and flaps his wings, making a freezing wind. His name is Hraesvelg (corpse eater) A giant in the form of an eagle sits and flaps his wings, making a freezing wind. His name is Hraesvelg (corpse eater)

21. Garm Garm guards the entrance to Hel Garm guards the entrance to Hel Has four eyes and a bloody chest Has four eyes and a bloody chest Could be appeased with cake as long as they gave the poor bread in life Could be appeased with cake as long as they gave the poor bread in life Will join the giants in Ragnorak Will join the giants in Ragnorak