List of Norse Gods and Goddesses
Our world is full of renowned mythologies. The one among them that is the probably still unclear is that of the Norse legend and its gods. Their prime legends were a mix of unwritten traditions and local legends that were the part of ancient Germania who came before the Christians and even before the ancient medieval Scandinavia. A great example of the medieval impact on Norse mythology is the account of the Æsir–Vanir Warfare, thus combining two Norse groups of gods. Below you’ll find the details of 12 gods and goddesses of the Norse group.
1. Ymir
Norse mythology is similar to many mythologies if you compare the first entity of Norse gods like Ymir, who was the predecessor of all mythological entities.
Following his birth, his hermaphroditic body gave birth to males, females, and more mythical beings. They were responsible for their future generations.
Among the three Norse deities who were responsible for the death of Ymir, one was Odin. They used Ymir’s body to form the earth.
2. Odin
Odin was the king of the Norse pantheon, Æsir. Going by traditions, Odin’s prominence in Germanic mythology especially in Tacitus’ work showed that Odin was just like Roman god Mercury. Odin’s characterization includes knowledge, healing, sorcery, royalty to death, and even fury.
Overall, as a Norse god of war, Odin was the embodiment of battle fury and chaos according to the legends.
3. Frigg
Perhaps the chief of the pantheon of female Norse gods, legends describe Frigg asÆsir’s queen and the goddess of the sky. There are stories about her significance in different matters of household, fertility, marriage, and motherhood.
Though Frigg is an integral part of the legends of Viking gods, her role in Old Germanic mythology is not clear yet.
4. Thor
A very famous name in the list of Norse gods, Thor represented the daunting warrior who enjoyed a high rank in the ancient and early medieval Germanic society. The role he played as the defender of the orderly cosmos was because of his role as a trustworthy and brave protector of the Asgard, the stronghold of Æsir.
5. Balder
One of the Æsirpantheon, traditions recognized him as the god of light and pureness. Legends also pronounce him as a prudent and courteous figure.
This wise god met his death because of a cruel trick of Loki.
6. Tyr
According to the legends of ancient Germanic gods, Tyr was the boldest of the Norse mythology gods of those times. Despite the references to his connection to wars that make him the god of warfare and also heroic glory, his origins remain enigmatic.
As he had features of formalities, he came as the deity of fairness and oaths.
7. Bragi
Norse legends project him as the bard of Valhalla, the beautiful hall of Odin, which is the best place for the fallen heroes and soldiers before their eventual ‘showdown’ at Ragnarok. Thus, Bragi emerged as the adept poet-god who would sing to delight the dead soldiers who came to Odin’s grand hall.
8. Loki
The references to his qualities that are somewhat like the chaotic and impish features of ancient Egyptian deities make Loki the trickster among the Norse pantheon of gods.
People believed that he was behind the deaths of many of the Norse pantheon of gods during Ragnarok.
9. Hel
In the present day context, hell implies eternal damnation and also the Germanic legends do not regard it as a pleasant thing either. The eponymous Hel ruled this netherworld.
The heartbreaking death of Balder proved that she was the most powerful of the Norse goddesses.
10. Heimdall
Legends refer to him as the ever-alert protector of Asgard. Stories project him with a horn to sing against intruders approaching Asgard. There are stories of his keen eyesight and hearing along with the other qualities like foresight and infinite energy.
11. Freyr
Freyr had a unique origin as he was a part of Vanir pantheon. Legends project him as the god who was the granter of abundant harvests, peace, wealth, and perhaps even virility.
Thus, people revered and worshipped him for wedding rites and harvest merriments.
12. Freya
Despite being an entity of the Vanir Pantheon at first, Freya was also a devoted and honorary entity of theÆsir pantheon following the end of their tribal warfare. Due to her qualities of beauty, love, and lavish objects, people often regarded her as the pursuer of desire and also unfamiliarity.
She had the gift of altering and influencing one’s wishes and fortune.
The Norse traditions project Freya as the leader of “afterlife” empire, Folkvang. Thus, she had the power of choosing half of the soldiers who died in combats.
These tribal civilizations had wished a couple of gods to be the head of the respective pantheons. One was the chieftain warrior, and also the other was his spouse the prophetess.
According to several scholars and historians, these were the figures that finally joined to give shape to Odin and also Frigg. They also believe that Frigg and Freya were one deity. This the reason people think Freya’s husband is Óðr, a word that translates to furor or stupor. As toÓðinn, another word for Odin, it’s nothing but “óðr” with the masculine suffix “inn.”
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