Norse Myths

In Norse mythology, life began without any one creator. In the beginning there was a magic-filled gulf (Ginnungagap) bounded on the north by cold and darkness (Niflheim) and on the south by fire (Muspell). Life began at the place where the positive energy of Muspell melted the negative energy of Niflheim. These flashing sparks of life and hailstones of cold combined to produce the life-seeds of all matter.

From the Sun's warmth on the whirling life-seeds came Audhumla, the great cow, and Ymir, a Giant. Audhumla licked a being, Buri, out of the salty ice. Both Ymir and Bun were asexual beings, capable of spawning offspring without a mate. Ymir perspired in his sleep, producing his Giant children. Bun produced a male being called Borr. Borr married Bestla, one of Ymir's Giantess daughters; their children were Odhinn, Vili and Ve. These offspring created the first human man (Askr or ash) and woman (Embla or elm) out of living trees by giving them a new form, intelligence and a soul.

But Ymir was terribly cruel, so Odhinn and his brothers killed him. The whole race of Giants drowned in Ymir's blood, except for Bergelmir (Mountain Old) and his wife who hid in the great World-Mill. From this pair came all the Jotnar, or Giants.

The great World-Mill was used to grind the mold that made earth. Odhinn and his brothers put Ymir's body in the millstones. From his flesh they made earth, from his bones the rocks and mountains. His jaw and teeth became boulders, his blood the rivers and seas. His brain and skull were set in place to make the sky. The bodies of the other Giants were also ground up to make sand and pebbles.

Maggot-like creatures crawling from Ymir's flesh were changed by Odhinn into Dwarves, small human-shaped creatures. However, he left them the color of the Earth in which they live. Their king is Modsognir. There are three tribes of Dwarves: one lives in mounds of earth, another in rocks, and the third in the high mountains. Four of the Dwarves were given the permanent task of holding up the sky. They were named for the four directions: Nordhri (North), Austri (East), Sudhri (South), and Vestri (West).

Odhinn set the heavens swinging around Veraldar Nagli (World Spike) which is the North Star, also known as Odhinn's Eye. He hung bright sparks of fire from Muspell inside Ymir's skull as stars. The Sun and Moon, larger fire-sparks, were carried across the heavens in chariots made by the Elf-smith sons of Ivaldi. Children of the vanquished Mundilferi, a rival of Odhinn's, were appointed to drive the chariots.

Mundilferi's daughter Sol drives the Sun chariot with the horses Arvakr (Early Dawn) and Alsvid (Scorching Heat). Her brother Mani drives the Moon chariot. With him are two kidnapped children-a boy Hjuki and a girl Bil. Bil was petitioned by the skalds to sprinkle magic song-mead on them from the Moon. The Milky Way was known as Bil's Way, named after this girl who rides in the Moon chariot with Mani.

The chariots of the Sun and Moon are eternally chased by two evil wolves, Giants in disguise. Skoll (Adherer) chases the Sun; Hati (Hater) chases the Moon. At Ragnarok the wolves will catch and eat the celestial bodies.

Nott or Nat (Night) is the dark daughter of Mimir, or Narfi (the Binder). She brings inspiration, peace and rest to humankind. Her second husband was Annar (Water) by whom she had the Giantess Jord, who became the mother of Thorr by Odhinn. Her third husband is Delling, red Elf of dawn; their son is Dag or Dagr (Day).

Ivaldi is the watchman of the Spring of Hvergelmir and the rivers Elivagar in Hel. His first wife was Sol, the Sun goddess. The daughters from this union were Idhunn, wife of Bragi, and the swan maidens of the western realm of Njord. His second wife was the Giantess Greip, the mother of Thjatsi-Volund, Orvandel-Egill (the great archer), and Ide. Egill's son Svipdag will destroy Thorr's hammer with the "Sword of Victory" in the last days.

The Spring of Hvergelmir (Roaring Cauldron) is the source of all water and rises up through the tree Yggdrasil to all the worlds. It lies in the lowest level of the nine worlds and has one of Yggdrasill's roots deep within it.

Yggdrasil as a cosmic tree is sometimes called an ash and sometimes a yew. A clue to the correct name may be in another Norse word for yew which is needle ash. Yggdrasil, otherwise known as the World Tree, grows out of the past, lives in the present and reaches toward the future. It nourishes all spiritual and physical life. Its roots reach into all the worlds; its boughs hang above Asgard.

Yggdrasil has three main roots which hold everything together. One root reaches into the Well of Urd in Asgard, another into the Fountain of Mimir in Midgard, and the third into the Spring of Hvergelmir in Hel. At Hvergelmir is the watchman Ivaldi and his sons who defend Hel against the Storm Giants.

The World Tree is constantly under attack by evil creatures. In Niflheim, the dragon Nidhogg continually chews on its root. In Midgard, four giant harts eat the buds and leaves. Age rots its sides, and many serpents of the dark underworld attack its wood. But the Norns sprinkle it each morning with water from Urd's fountain of life.

Of the nine worlds in Norse mythology, Asgard is on the highest level, with Alfheim to the east and Vanaheim to the West. The Prose Edda states that Midgard is in the center of Ginnungagap, an area of 11 rivers and frozen wasteland. It is Midgard that ties together all the other worlds. On the same level as Midgard is Svartalfheim to the south, Nidavellir to the east, and Jotunheim to the west. Below Midgard lie Hel and Niflheim.

The Aesir gods live in Asgard, the Vanir in Vanaheim, and the Light Elves in Alfheim or Ljossalfheim (Light Elf-World).

In the sky between Asgard and Midgard hangs the beautiful Bifrost bridge, guarded by the god Heimdall. Heimdall wears silver armor and a helmet with ram's horns. From his tower Himinbjorg (Ward of Heaven), which sits on the highest point of Bifrost, he guards the bridge. He can see a hundred leagues by day or night, can hear grass growing, and sleeps very little. He is also called Gullintani (Golden Teeth).

The southern span of Bifrost reaches to Midgard. The bridge is built of air and water with protecting fire on its edges. Everyday the Gods ride their horses and chariots across the bridge to the lower world Thingstead. Thorr, however, has to walk as his thunder chariot could destroy Bifrost.

Asgard is situated on an island in the middle of a broad dark river which flows up through Yggdrasil from Hvergelmir. Around Asgard is a high wall (the story of its construction is given later). The flames of the boiling river lap the base of the wall, thus making Asgard impossible to enter except through Odhinn's mighty gate.

In the middle of Asgard is Valaskjalf, the Court of Judgment or High Thingstead of the Gods. Here they discuss and decide their private affairs. This great hall is roofed with silver and all the walls are overlaid with burnished gold. Odhinn's great throne is here, with twelve golden seats around it for the other gods who sit in judgment with him.

Vingolf (Abode of Friends) is the beautiful sanctuary, as well as private Thingstead, for the Goddesses in Asgard.

Also in Asgard is a smithy where the Elf-smiths, or Dwarves, such as Ivaldi's sons and Sindri's kinsmen, work in fine metals, making all kinds of implements and objects for the Gods.

Freyr, the brother of the goddess Freyja, was the ruler of the Light Elves in his youth. A very interesting group of Elves were the sons of Ivaldi-Volund (Weland) and his brothers. They had many traits of Dwarves, Giants and star deities, and were symbolized as mountain wolves and often winged. In Teutonic myths, Elf-smiths were stronger than Giants.

On the middle level are Midgard (Earth or manifested material world of men), Jotunheim (Land of the Giants or Etins), Nidavellir (Land of the Dwarves) and Svartalfheim (Land of the Dark Elves). Midgard is surrounded by a deep Ocean; in it lives the monster World-Serpent. Another name for Midgard is Mannaheim (home of men).

In Jotunheim, which occupies the east edge of the world of men, lies the mountain stronghold (Utgard) of the Giants. Mountain Giants are bound to their mountains. Their mothers, often called Hags, are greater than the males. Not all of them are against the Gods. The Hag Grid warned and instructed Thorr.

Niflheim is the world of the dead, ruled by the goddess Hel, while the kingdom Hel is the realm of the dead, ruled by Urd. Muspell is guarded by the Fire Giant Surt and his flaming sword.

Niflheim or Niflhel (Misty Hel or Misty World) lies to the south of Midgard. It is an immense land of darkness and great cold, an area of torture for evil souls.

To reach Niflheim, one has to travel downwards for nine days from Midgard on the Helway. This road goes through great forests and deep dark valleys, over high mountains. There is a deep black cave between the two levels of Midgard and Hel. Near the end of the Helway, the maiden Modgud guards the Gjallarbru or Gjoll (Howling) bridge over the boundary river Gjoll. Beyond the bridge are the Hel Gates (Helgrind), and behind them the Hall of Death. The goddess Hel's palace is called Sleetcold or Sleet-Den.

Dwarves and Dark Elves live in mines, tunnels, caves and holes in Nidavellir and Svartalfheim, respectively, located below Midgard and above Hel. It is believed by some that Dwarves and Dark Elves are the same creatures.

Hel is the lower world Thingstead of the Gods. There the souls of the dead are judged by Odhinn, and rewards or punishments handed out. Even the Valkyries must first bring their chosen warriors to this Thingstead where they are accepted or rejected as unworthy.

At the lower world Thingstead, the Hamingjur (individual guardian spirits, personal power, or the luck of each man) can speak for an individual during judgment. If the person is evil, he or she is deserted by his or her Hamingja. Those souls judged good go to Hel where they live in eternal joy. Those condemned as evil are shackled and driven to Niflhel by the Dark Elves. There they must drink burning venom and are subjected to the nine realms of torture.

Two races of deities ended up in Asgard, the Aesir and the Vanir. The Vanir-goddess Gullveig (Gold-Thirst) went to the Aesir and flaunted her ability to predict the future and make gold. When she refused to share her secrets with them, the Aesir killed and burned her. This proved ineffective; twice Gullveig rose from the flames. Finally the Aesir gave up. They renamed her Heid (Gleaming One) and began to consider a peaceful life with the Vanir more seriously.

However, the murder attempt brought about constant fighting, with neither side getting the upper hand. The walls of both kingdoms were destroyed. Finally a truce was called, and hostages exchanged. The greatest Vanir deities, Njord, Freyr and his sister Freyja (supreme Goddess of magic), joined the Aesir.

Meanwhile, the Vanir were having their own problems with the two Aesir hostages, Mimir and Hoenir. Mimir was very wise, but Hoenir was mostly silent. When he did speak, it was evident that he was not very bright. In disgust, the Vanir took out their frustrations on Mimir, relieving him of his head which they sent back to Odhinn. The Allfather preserved it with herbs and placed it at the Fountain in Midgard, so that Mimir's knowledge would not be lost.

When Mimir was slain, his seven sons fell asleep in their hall in Hel. When Heimdall blows his horn at Ragnarok, Mimir's Sons will awake and fight with the Gods of Asgard against their enemies.

Odhinn's knowledge stems from several sources. According to the Ynglinga Saga he learned the magical art called seid from Freyja; but still he thirsted for more magical knowledge. In frustration, he hanged himself from Yggdrasill for nine days and nights. At the very last of his endurance, Odhinn saw the runes written clearly and understood them. Elsewhere we learn that he gave up one eye to drink the egg-white mead of the Fountain of Mimir, thus gaining all knowledge, and becoming worthy of ruling the Asa-Gods. Both of these incidents may be symbolic of shamanistic initiation experiences.

In Asgard and Vanaheim each deity has a magnificent hail. Odhinn, chief of the Gods, has two halls: Valhalla (Hall of the Slain) where he revels with fallen heroes and his Valkyries, and Valaskjalf (Seat of the Slain) where he can sit on his throne Hlidskjalf and see all of the nine worlds. Odhinn's ultimate purpose is to try to delay the terrible destiny awaiting both the Gods and humankind. Therefore, his actions and thoughts are beyond the normal concept of good and evil. He was made aware of this future fate when he called up a dead seeress in Hel. In the Voluspa (The Sibyl's Prophecy) this seeress tells him of an axe-age, a sword-age, and a wolf-age when brother will turn against brother. This will herald the beginning of Ragnarok.

Odhinn is a war god and magician who controls battles, judges the dead, gives inspiration with magic and the runes. Norse poets had over 150 names to describe him. Often he was pictured with an empty eye socket and a long gray beard, wearing a cloak flecked with cloud-spots and a wide-brimmed hat.

The Valkyries are Odhinn's female warriors who collect his share of fallen warriors and carry them to Valhalla on their flying horses. These women wear armor and have names such as Shaker, Raging Warrior, and Shrieking. It is said that a man chosen to die in battle sees a Valkyrie just before the fatal blow. One tradition says there were thirteen Valkyries.

Sif and Thorr live in Bilskirnir (Lightning); Balder and Nanna in Breidablik. Freyja has her own hail Sessrumnir on Folkvang where she takes her half of the slain warriors. Njord and Aegir are the only gods to have halls near or under the sea. Njord's hail is called Noatun (Anchorage or Shipyard).

Miraculously, the truce held between the Aesir and the Vanir; the Gods got down to the business of replacing the damaged walls. It quickly became clear that they would need help if they were to protect themselves from attack by the Ice Giants. About this time a stranger rode up, offering to do the work. In payment he wanted the Sun, the Moon, and Freyja as his wife.

Loki, sworn blood-brother of Odhinn, suggested the Gods accept, with the condition that the building be done in six months without help. The stranger agreed as long as he could use his stallion Svadilfari (Hazard-Farer). It soon was evident that the walls would be finished on time. Loki found himself in a lot of trouble with the Gods.

But Loki was a shape-changer. He turned himself into a mare and lured the stallion away. The last of the walls remained unfinished. With a roar the stranger became his true self-a Rock Giant. The Gods killed him immediately. When Loki returned after a year, he brought with him a magical eight-legged horse named Sleipnir, offspring of Svadilfari and Loki as a mare. The Trickster gave him to Odhinn to regain his friendship.

One day a beautiful girl showed up at the gates of Asgard. She called herself Gulveig-Hoder but was really a Giantess in disguise. She was the wife of the Giant Gymir and was a spy bent on causing all the trouble she could. She became handmaiden to Freyja. Although Loki was already married to Sigyn, he took Gulveig-Hoder as a wife also. Naturally she was willing to aid his ambitions to be ruler of the Asa-Gods.

It wasn't long before Gulveig-Hoder lured Freyja out of Asgard where the goddess was captured by the Giant Beli (Howler), the father of Grep. He fled with her to his castle in Jotunheim where she remained a prisoner until rescued by Svipdag and Ull.

The Gods met at the High Thingstead and discovered who was responsible for Freyja's capture. Thorr went to find Gulveig-Hoder and struck her down. Three times the Gods burned her and twice she came back to life. The third time the Gods threw her ashes away, but Loki secretly swallowed her heart, thus becoming even more evil.

Loki was always creating trouble for the Gods. Against several dire warnings, he became involved with the Giantess Angrboda. From this union came three monsters: Jormungand, the World-Serpent; Hel, goddess of Helheim; and Fenrir, a huge wolf.

Fenrir became savage and unpredictable, even by the Gods' standards. They decided the animal had to be chained, but were unable to do it. They needed a special magic chain and some way to make Fenrir agree to the chaining. Freyr's servant, Skirnir, went to the Dwarves, who forged a magical ribbon-chain. Fenrir was afraid of the innocent looking bonds, so the god Tyr volunteered to put his hand in the wolf's jaws while the chain was fastened. Fenrir struggled but was caught fast. Before Tyr could remove his hand, the wolf bit it off.

Thorr, champion of the Gods against all Giants because of his size and strength, was Odhinn's son by the Giantess Jord. Thorr had a magic hammer, Mjollnir. Once when he and Loki were returning from one of their secret trips into Jotunheim, Thorr's hammer was stolen by the Giant Thrym while they slept. Loki borrowed Freyja's falcon-dress to search for it, but was caught by the Giants. He returned to Asgard with the demand that the Giants would return Mjollnir in exchange for Freyja as bride for their leader. The Gods considered this until Freyja exploded in anger. Even Odhinn fled the hall in fear. So the Gods met at the High Thingstead, the Goddesses at Vingolf. Heimdall came up with a plan of dressing Thorr in bridal attire and sending Loki with him dressed as a maid.

Thorr, clad in a bridal dress and veil, and dragging Loki with him, went to the hall of Thrym, the Frost Giant. All through the wedding feast, Loki had to keep assuring the Giants that the ravenous bride, who seemed to be eating and drinking more than her share, was only excited. When Mjollnir was laid in Thorr's lap to bless the marriage, the God threw aside the veil and killed the Giants.

Even Thorr's anger, however, did not permanently stop Loki's maliciousness and lying. Once Loki was captured by the Giant Thjatsi in the disguise of an eagle. The Giant would allow him to go free only if he delivered Idhunn to him. So Loki tricked Idhunn, keeper of the golden apples of immortality, into leaving Asgard. She was imprisoned by the Giant. Without the apples, the Gods began to grow old. Heimdall discovered Loki's part in the event, and the Gods made the troublemaker get Idhunn back.

Once again Loki borrowed Freyja's falcon-dress and went to Thjatsi's castle where he changed Idhunn into a nut so he could carry her back to Asgard. But before he fled, Loki made himself known to the Giant and dared him to catch him. Thjatsi in his eagle disguise almost caught Loki but the flames of the river around Asgard brought him down. Thorr killed him with his hammer.

Before long, Skadi, daughter of Thjatsi, showed up at the gates of Asgard, clad in her chain mail and helmet, and carrying a great spear and poisoned arrows. In an attempt to avenge her father's death, she challenged the Gods to combat. Since she was very beautiful, it was decided to try to appease her. Loki went outside the walls and danced for her with a goat in a most peculiar fashion until her anger vanished. Then Odhinn offered her a choice of any God as husband, but she could only choose while blindfolded. Skadi had already decided that she wanted Balder the Beautiful, so she managed to peek under the blindfold and spied a handsome foot. She chose its owner, only to discover that the foot belonged to the fair Njord, summer sea-god who stills the tempests of Aegir and the blasts of Gymir (Storm Giant of the east). The couple went to live at Noatun. However it wasn't long before Skadi missed the snow-covered mountains and thundering waterfalls of her homeland. Neither Skadi nor Njord could bring themselves to live in the other's land, and they soon parted.

An incident occurred, while Thorr was gone, in which Loki sneaked into Sif's bedroom and cut off all her golden hair with a sharp sword. Sif's hair represented harvest, corn, abundance and prosperity. With Thorr's threats ringing in his ears, Loki went to the sons of Ivaldi who made magic hair for Sif, a spear Gungnir, and the ship Skidbladnir. Some translations call these craftsmen Elves and others Dwarves. On his way home, Loki met two other craftsmen, Brokk and Eitri, who were kinsmen of Sindri, a second family of Elfsmiths. Loki bet his head against their ability to make equal or better gifts.

Brokk and Eitri forged Odhinn's arm-ring Draupnir, Thorr's hammer Mjollnir, and Freyr's boar Guiiinbursti. The Gods decided the gifts were as good as the first ones, and Brokk demanded Loki's head. Clever Loki agreed, but said Brokk could have none of his neck. Brokk settled for sewing Loki's mouth shut. The other Gods' laughter at his pain made Loki decide to plot revenge.

One day Freyr sat on Odhinn's throne in the High Thingstead and from it he could see into all the nine worlds. He wasn't supposed to be on the throne, and his actions set the stage for future troubles for the Gods. While sitting on the throne, Freyr saw in the north a beautiful Giantess Gerd, daughter of Gymir. He was so overcome by love that he refused to eat or drink. Finally his servant Skirnir got Freyr to confide in him and told the other Gods what had happened. They sent Skirnir to win Gerd for Freyr. Freyr was so lovesick that he sent the Sword of Victory with his servant.

Riding on Sleipnir and bearing bridal gifts, Skirnir arrived at Gymir's castle. Gerd spurned the proposal and gifts until Skirnir threatened to send her to Niflhel forever. At last she promised to marry Freyr if the Sword of Victory was given to her father. Thus, for love of a woman, the sword that would bring disaster to the Gods passed into the Giants' hands.

Another time Loki was nosing around Jotunheim, wearing Freyja's falcon-dress, because he desired the daughter of the Giant king Geirrod. He was captured and, as usual, he won his freedom by promising to deliver Thorr to the Giants-Thorr without his magic hammer, gloves or strength belt. By much lying, Loki finally got Thorr to go with him. The sons of Ivaldi accompanied them. On the way they stopped for the night in a deep woods inhabited by a friendly Giantess Grid, mother of Odhinn's son Vidar (the Silent One). This Giantess had a magic rowan wand named Gridarvold. She warned Thorr about Loki and the Giants, and gave him her magic staff, belt and iron gloves. As a result of this gift of the rowan staff, this tree became one of Thorr's sacred plants. Thorr and his friends continued their journey through rising rivers and steep mountains to reach their destination. With the help of Grid's weapons and the arrows of Ivaldi's sons, Geirrod and his Giants were destroyed.

Balder, the summer Sun-god, was the son of Odhinn and Frigg. On his tongue were engraved runes of eloquence. Balder began to have prophetic dreams of his death and fell into a state of melancholy. So Frigg sent her sister Fulla to all creatures, plants, metals and stones to beg protection for Balder. But the slender mistletoe was considered too weak to cause harm and wasn't asked to give a promise. These promises relieved Frigg, but Odhinn still had evil premonitions.

Riding Sleipnir, Odhinn went to Niflhel to the house Heljar-rann which belongs to Delling, red Elf of the dawn. At the east gate at the grave of a vala, Odhinn chanted magic and raised the woman's spirit. The dead vala told the Allfather that the Norns had decreed that Hodur would kill Balder.

Back in Asgard the Gods were having a good time throwing all kinds of weapons at Balder who was never harmed. In disguise, jealous Loki learned from Frigg about the mistletoe. He took a sprig of it to an Elf-smith named Hlebard. Deceiving the smith, Loki had him make the mistletoe into a deadly magic arrow. Then he went back to Asgard, where he tricked the blind god Hodur into killing Balder.

At once Hermod rode Sleipnir down into Hel to search for Balder and gain his release. The Storm Giantess, Hyrrokin, pushed Balder's funeral ship out onto the sea. Nanna, wife of Balder, died of sorrow and was burned with her husband.

In the meantime, Urd promised Hermod that if everyone wept for Balder he could return to the Gods. But Loki, in the disguise of an old Giantess named Thok (Darkness), refused to weep. Thus, Urd would not allow Balder's return to Asgard until the time of Ragnarok.

Odhinn's son Vali, whose mother was Rind, daughter of Billing (Elf of the twilight), went seeking the blind Hodur who was hiding. He avenged Balder's death by killing Hodur. The Gods discovered that Loki had been the Giantess, but Odhinn still refused to punish him. Loki was shunned in Asgard so he stayed away, nursing his evil feelings.

At the Autumn Equinox, the Gods had a feast in Aegir's hail. Loki, uninvited, killed the guard at the door and forced his way inside. The Gods still rejected him. Loki began to taunt and ridicule them with knowledge he had acquired by sneaking around in shadows. Then he fled again into hiding. At last Odhinn saw him while sitting on his throne. Thorr and others captured the evil Loki and dragged him to the island in the gulf of Black Grief where Loki's wolf-son Fenrir was imprisoned.

There he was bound to three sharp edged rocks, and Skadi hung a poisonous snake over his head to drip burning venom on him. Sigyn, his loyal wife, sits day after day holding a dish to catch the poison. The Norse say that when Sigyn leaves to empty the dish, Loki thrashes in terrible agony, and the Earth quakes from his movements.

But Loki will have his revenge at Ragnarok (the end of the world) when he breaks free and leads the Giants against the Gods. Before Ragnarök, there will be a great winter (fimbulvetr) lasting three years with no summers in between. There will be constant war on Midgard; earthquakes and a great freeze will kill all of humankind, except one man and woman who will hide in Yggdrasil. The skies will darken; Jormungand will invade Midgard. The wolves Skoll and Hati will swallow the Sun and Moon. Hel, with her dead souls and the dog Garm, will burst out of Niflheim, crossing the Ocean in the boat Naglfari, which is made of dead men's nails. Hel will join with Loki, Fenrir and the Giants in war against the Gods. Heimdall's horn Gjall will sound through the nine worlds as the combatants meet on the vast plain of Vigard.

Fenrir will kill Odhinn and then will be killed by Odhinn's son Vidar. Garm and Tyr, Loki and Heimdall will destroy each other. Thorr will slay Jormungand but will die of its poison. The Earth will sink into the sea; however, Yggdrasil will survive. As new land rises, the two humans hidden in the World Tree will climb down to renew the race.

Some of the Gods will survive: Odhinn's sons Vidar and Vali, Thorr's Sons Modi and Magni, Hodur and Hoenir. Balder and Nanna will return from the dead. And Thorr's hammer Mjollnir, wielded by his sons, will once again protect humans.