This Friday I hope to give a concise breakdown of the major gods and races of Norse mythology. Keep in mind that this lesson only provides a glimpse into a complex subject, but still it should be enough to understand certain figures and their roles in the mythological realm. There are definitely other gods and creatures that I will not be including in this lesson and even those I do will lack detail. View this lesson as a stepping stone if you happen to be interested in learning more. 

Also, keep in mind that this is by no means the final word on any matter. Once important and interesting aspect of mythological studies is that many are quite flexible and open-ended. Many people will have different versions and different ideas, so realize that this is only one out of a complicated pool of many. Some people will happily grant you different perspectives and interpretations. All should be given equal respect and attention, for that is one of the great joys or sorrows about the study.

I decided it might be best to split them up, since I cannot help myself but to provide more detail than I should. So in part one of this lesson I will be covering: Odin, Thor, Tyr, Heimdall, Baldr, and Bragi.

The Major Gods

Òðinn (Odin) – Æsir, Chief God.

Odin is known by many names, but one in particular is All-Father (Grímnismál, 46-50, tells of many of his names). He is the highest and the oldest of the gods, which is why he is often considered the father of the gods (the Æsir). He obsessively seeks out knowledge, having given one of his eyes to the well of Mímir, which holds ancient knowledge. He also sacrificed himself to obtain the knowledge of runes. He has two birds, Huginn (thought) and Muninn(memory), who gather and collect knowledge for him from around the world. He sometimes sits in Hliðskjálf (watch-tower). From there he can see all things. He is also known for having two wolves, Geri(greedy) and Freki (wolf or greedy wolf). His wife is the goddess Frigg (who will be discussed in part two).

He is very ambiguous and complicated. He is also dangerous and fickle. He often appears in sagas as a disguised wanderer who must not be offended. The Danish King Hrolf Kraki failed Odin’s test by refusing his gift. This resulted in Odin becoming quite angry with him and inevitably leads to Hrolf’s doom. At other times he can be quite helpful, such is the case in the Volsunga saga, where he gives Sigurd a horse who descends from Sleipnir, Odin’s own eight-legged horse (the best of horses).

One of Odin’s “most popular” roles is the gathering of the Einherjar(slain warriors of Valhalla). He collects the best of warriors, using the valkyries, to Valhalla in preparation for Ragnarok, the end of times when the giants will wage their final war against the gods. As a result, Odin decides the fates of many warriors in battle, though he is not the only one with this power. But Odin also is a god for poetry, having sought and retrieved the mead of poetry. He grants the gift of poetry to those he wishes to.

Þórr (Thor) – Æsir, God of Strength.

Thor is the son of Odin, though not the only. He is sometimes called Ásaþórr (Asa-Thor, Thor of the Æsir) or Ökuþórr (Oku-Thor, Thor the charioteer). He rules from Þrúðvangar (plains of strength) in his hall called Bilskirnir. He is the god of strength and the protector of humanity. He is also known for weather and sailing and is therefore the patron of many farmers and sailors. His most iconic element is his hammer, Mjöllnir. It was forged by dwarves and is the best of weapons, expect that the handle is slightly too short. He also has a belt of strength called Megingjarðar, which doubles his divine strength. He even has gloves of Iron, which he must have when wielding his hammer. 

He has two goats named Tanngnóistr (Tooth Gnasher) and Tanngrisnir (Snarl Tooth) who pull his chariot. He often goes off to fight the giants and his greatest enemy, Jörmundgandr (the Midgard Serpent). There are many tales with Thor venturing to fight the enemies, such as with Úgarðaloki (Utgard-Loki) and Hymiskviða (The Song of Hymir).

Týr (Tyr) – Æsir, God of Justice.

Tyr is the boldest and most courageous of the gods. He is no peacemaker and also  has a role in deciding the fate of men in battle. It is said by some scholars that he held some of Odin’s roles before Odin rose to greater prominence. Is if often called the the god of justice. It is good for warriors to invoke him due to his bravery. 

His reputation is attested in the story of the luring of Fenrir, the great monstrous wolf. Fenrir would not trust any of the gods, who taught to tie him up to prevent the inevitable danger and destruction Fenrir would bring. To gain trust from Fenrir, Tyr placed his hand bravely into the mouth of the beast. After this, Fenrir allowed the gods to tie him up to test their new binds. Yet, once it worked, the gods refused to free Fenrir and so he bit off Tyr’s hand. This is why he is so brave and often represented with only one hand, as a mark of this.

Heimdallr (Heimdall) – Æsir, Watchmen of the Gods.

Heimdall was born from nine maiden, all of whom were sisters, and all gave birth to him. He lives at Himinbjörg (Heavenly Mountains), which is near Bifrost, the bridge that connects Midgard and Asgard. He has a horn called Gjallarhorn (Resounding Horn) which can be heard in all the worlds when blown. It is the duty of Heimdall to warn the gods of the coming of mountain giants when Ragnarok arrives. He is the best of watchmen for many reasons. He requires less sleep than even a bird. He can see at night just as well as he can at day, at a distance of a hundred leagues. He can even hear all things, even the growing of grass or wool.

He is also known for creating human social order. As it is in Rígsþula(The Lay of Ríg, another name for Heimdall), he wanders the world and fathers the different social classes of men. As a result, the three social classes of Thrall (slave), Karl (freeman), and Jarl (aristocrat), are formed.

Baldr (Baldr) – Æsir, God of Light*.

Baldr is another of Odin’s sons. He is known to be the best and most beautiful of all the gods and all praise him for this. He lives at Breiðablik (Gleaming Far and Wide), of which no impurity can exist. It is said that he is so beautiful and bright that light shines from him. A plant called Balder’s Brow was named after him, itself resembling a sun and rays of light. He is also a very wise god, most beautifully spoken, and most merciful (it is possible that some sources have merged Baldr with rhetoric and symbolisms pertaining to Christ). Yet, none of his decisions are effective.

The most notorious of stories surrounding Baldr is of his death. Baldr was having dreams that he would be harmed and seeks aid. All the gods agree to protect him and make it so that nothing can bring him harm. Loki, a mischievous and complicated god, is upset by this, likely finding this to be unfair and jealous of his favoredness. Loki disguises himself as a woman and goes to Frigg, Baldr’s mother, to find out how Baldr could be harmed. It turns out that the mistletoe was too young at the time to be a part of the oath that protected Baldr. As a result, Loki tricked Baldr’s blind brother, Hod, into shooting Baldr with a mistletoe, killing him. This event is often credited for being the beginning of the events that will result in Ragnarok.

Bragi (Bragi) – Æsir, God of Poetry.

Bragi is best known for his eloquence and ways with words. Some scholars also believe that he was included into the realm of the gods in honor of the poet Bragi the Old. He is the most knowledgable when it comes to poetry. It is because of him that poetry is named brag. It is also because of Bragi that when a person is exceptionally skilled in words they are referred to as Bragr (the foremost of men or women). His wife is name Idunn. She holds a private wooden box that contains special apples. When the gods bit into these apples they become young again, and so they are important in maintaining their sense of immortality.

I hope part one of this lesson was bearable and helpful. If you are curious about more information pertaining to any of these gods, feel free to send me an ask. Part two will include Njord, Frey, Freyja, Frigg, and Loki. And finally, part three will discuss the other major races that fill the nine worlds (Or they will be included in part two, depending on length).

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Sources

1. Jennifer Dukes-Knight, “Norse Mythology”, Lecture, Viking History, University of South Florida, 2015.
2. Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Translated by Jesse L. Byock, (London: Penguin, 2005), 30-37, 53-69. link.
3. Andy Orchard trans. Elder Edda: A Book of Viking Lore. (London: Penguin, 2011), 5, 49, 76. link.
4. Images of Odin, Thor, Tyr, Heimdall, and Baldr from the eighteenth-century Icelandic Manuscript, SÁM 66. Via this link.
5. Image of Bragi from the seventeenth-century Icelandic manuscript: AM 738 4to Edda Oblongata. Via this link.