Norse mythology: gods, myths, and the cosmos of the Norse

Baldr, Norse god of light and beauty

Baldr, son of Odin and Frigg, Norse god of light and beauty: his invulnerability, death by mistletoe orchestrated by Loki, and the promised resurrection after Ragnarök.

Freyr, Norse god of fertility, peace and prosperity

Freyr in Norse mythology: the Vanir god of fertility, sunshine and kingship who gives up his magic sword for love and falls to the giant Surtr at Ragnarök.

Frigg, queen of Asgard and mother of Baldr in Norse mythology

Frigg, queen of the Aesir and Odin's wife: her silent gift of foresight, the oath to protect Baldr, her grief after his death, and her legacy in the name Friday.

Sigurd, the dragon-slayer of Norse mythology

Sigurd Fafnisbane in Norse mythology: the reforged sword Gram, Andvari's cursed gold, the slaying of the dragon Fafnir, and the waking of the valkyrie Brynhild.

Fenrir, the giant wolf of Norse mythology

Fenrir, son of Loki and Angrboða: the monstrous wolf bound by the magic chain Gleipnir, prophesied to devour Odin at Ragnarök, as told in the Norse Eddas.

Jörmungandr, the World Serpent of Norse mythology

Jörmungandr, the World Serpent of Norse myth: Loki's son encircling Midgard, his three confrontations with Thor, and their mutual death at Ragnarök.

Sleipnir, Odin's Eight-Legged Horse in Norse Mythology

Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged horse in Norse mythology: born from Loki shapeshifted as a mare, he crosses all nine worlds and carries his master between the living and the dead.

The Valkyries, warrior maidens who choose the slain in battle

The Valkyries in Norse mythology: Odin's servants who mark the fallen warriors, lead them to Valhalla, and weave the fate of battles according to the Eddas.

Asgard, the celestial city of the Aesir gods in Norse mythology

Asgard in Norse mythology: the fortress of the Aesir linked to Midgard by the Bifröst bridge, its great halls, its walls, and its fall at Ragnarök according to the Eddas.

Bifröst, the rainbow bridge of the Norse gods

Bifröst in Norse mythology: the burning rainbow bridge linking Asgard to Midgard, guarded by Heimdall, that shatters beneath the fire-giants riding to Ragnarök.

Valhalla, the Hall of Fallen Warriors in Norse Mythology

Valhalla in Norse mythology: Odin's great hall for the battle-slain, the Einherjar who train daily for war, Valkyries as choosers of the slain, and their purpose at Ragnarök.

Yggdrasil, the World Tree of Norse Mythology

Yggdrasil, the cosmic world tree in Norse mythology: the nine realms it connects, its guardian creatures, Odin's sacrifice for the runes, and its role at Ragnarök in the Eddas.

Gungnir, Odin's spear in Norse mythology

Gungnir in Norse mythology: Odin's unerring spear, forged by the dwarf Sons of Ivaldi, inscribed with runes and cast over armies to dedicate them to the god of the slain.

Death and afterlife

The death of Baldr: the darkest myth of Norse mythology

The death of Baldr: Frigg's oath, the fatal mistletoe guided by Loki, Hel's refusal to release him, and Loki's punishment — the inevitable herald of Ragnarök.

Creation myths

The Norse Creation Myth: Ymir and the Ginnungagap

The Norse creation myth: from the yawning void of Ginnungagap to the body of the giant Ymir, how Odin and his brothers shape the world and the first humans.

Mythical wars

Ragnarök: the Twilight of the Gods in Norse mythology

Ragnarök, the Norse end of the world: the Fimbulwinter, the breaking of chains, the gods' final duels, the collapse of the cosmos, and the world's rebirth.

Metamorphoses

The Theft of Mjolnir: Thor disguised as a bride in Norse mythology

The theft of Mjolnir by the giant Thrym: Thor's disguise as a bride, Loki's scheme, and the bloody vengeance that closes the most comic story in the Eddas.

Creation Myths Compared: 4 ways to bring a world into being

Creation myths compared: Greek Chaos, Egyptian Nun, Norse Ginnungagap and Mesopotamian combat. How each tradition wrests an ordered world from chaos.

Gods of death across 8 world mythologies

A comparison of death deities and underworld rulers in Greek, Egyptian, Norse, Roman, Japanese, Hindu, Aztec, and Celtic mythologies.

Gods of Love in World Mythologies

A comparison of love deities in Greek, Roman, Norse and Egyptian mythology: Aphrodite, Venus, Freya, Hathor, Eros and Cupid compared across traditions.