Norse Mythology is the body of myths of the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Norse Paganism and continuing on after the Christianization of Scandinavia and into the Scandinavian folklore of the modern period.

The cosmology of the worlds in which all beings inhabit ( 9 in total ), all center around a cosmological tree ( yggdrasil ), the Gods inhabit the heavenly realm of Asgaror ( Asgard ), whereas humanity inhabits Miogaror ( MIdgard ), a region in the center of the cosmos. Other than the Gods, Humanity, and the Jotnar, these nine worlds are inhabited by beings like the Elves and the Dwarfs. Travel between the realms is frequently mentioned in the myths, where the gods and other beings may interact directly with humanity. Numerous creatures live in the Cosmological tree , such as the insulting messenger squirrel “Ratatoskr” and the perching Hawk “Vedrfolnir.”

The tree itself has 3 major roots, and at the base of one of these roots lives a trio of Norns, elements of the cosmos are personified, such as the Sun ( Sol, a Goddess ), the Moon ( Manl, a God ), and Earth ( Joro, a Goddess ). As well as units of time such as Day ( Dagr, a God) and NIght ( Nott, a Joturn ). In Norse Mythology, the afterlife is a complex matter. The dead may go to the murky realm of “Hel“, ruled by a female of the same name, be ferried away by “Valkyries” to Odin’s martial hall “Vahollor” ( Valhalla ). Or they may be chosen by “Freyja” to dwell in her field “Folkvangr.”

The Goddess Ran, can claim those that die at sea, and the Goddess Gefjon is said to be attended by virgins upon their death. Texts also make references to reincarnation. Time itself is presented between cyclic and linear, and some scholars have argued that cyclic time was the original format for the mythology. Various forms of a Cosmological creation stories are provided from Icelandic sources, and references to the a future destruction, and rebirth of the world ( “Ragnarok” ) are frequently mentioned throughout the texts as well.

The first human couple was of Ask and Embla, driftwood found by a trio of Gods and imbued with life in the form of 3 gifts. After the cataclysm of Ragnarok, this process was mirrored in the survival of two humans from a wood, Lif and Lifthrasir. From these two humankind, are foretold to repopulate the new, green earth.

Numerous heroes appear in Norse Mythology, and are celebrated through poems, songs,and narratives. Within Edda, notable humans include Gylfi, the first king of Sweden, and Gerrioth, king of the Grimnismal, along with two peasant children. The Prose Edda, also describes the afterlife for humans, with honourable warriors feasting, and battling endlessly in Valhalla, while those who die dishonorably or out of battle were sent to Niflheim.

References to the Norse Gods and Heroes spread into European literary culture, especially in Scandinavia; Germany, and Britain. In the later 20th century, references to Norse Mythology became common in science fiction and fantasy literature, role-playing video games, to eventually other cultural products like comic-books, and Japanese animation. Traces of this religion can also be found in music ( has its own genre ), Viking metal bands such as: Amon, Amarth, Bathory, and Moneygram, all generally sing about Norse Mythology.

The first living being was Ymir, a Hermaphrodite Giant who was created from those life-giving drops of water, and whose death was brought on by Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve. Ymir’s descendants fashioned the Nordic Mythological Universe from his blood, bones, flesh, teeth, hair, and skull. The Gods came from two major clans: Aesir and Vanir. Odin, Frigg, Thor, Loki, Baldr, Hod, Heimdall and Tyr are the most elevated representatives of Esir and are known as the main Gods. The second; Vanir, and the fertility Gods and count Njord, Freyr, and Freyja as their most notable members. Aside from the Esir, the other main groups in Norse Mythology are the Jotnar, often known as “Giants“, but the majority of them are in fact human size.

Some Jotnar are exceedingly beautiful, yet some are terribly ugly, the Esir spend most of their time either fighting the Jotnar or Marrying them. The most notable Jotnar are: Skadi, Gerd, Surt, and Ymir. In addition to the Jotnar are the Light Elves and the Dark Elves, the Light Elves live in Alfheim, and the Dark Elves in Svartalfheim. Little is known about the LIght Elves, but the Dark Elves are another name for Dwarfs, not flattering, but for what they lack in beauty, they make up for in Blacksmithing and Crafting.

It has been proposed that Folkvangr could be another name for Valhalla. However, this does not remove the importance of Freyja from the equation. She might be the one in charge of the Valkyries, and by her having the first pick, could have been done to show how significant she is. The chosen ones will be greeted with a horn filled with mead at their arrival in the afterlife, they won’t see any of their loved ones in Valhalla unless they also died bravely in battle, anyone who has not been chosen by a Valkyrie will go to the queen of Hel.

According to the poem known as the ” Griminismal“, the gates of Valhalla are so wide that 800 walk through it next to each other, the roof is decorated by shields, and held up by spear shafts, with Chainmails laying on the benches. On the Western door hangs a wolf, and above him an eagle. Valhalla is enormous, with 640 rooms, many of which dedicated to the greatest army of Einherjar ( lone fighters ), the greatest army of them all.

“six hundred doors, and still forty more, I believe are at Valhalla. Eight hundred Einherjar, will go together out each door, when they go to fight the wolf. “ -Griminismal 18 valhalla, contrary to some beliefs is not a place where you can sit on a cloud while playing a harp, nor do you get 72 virgins; in fact, Valhalla is an afterlife for warriors, where everyday, they will practise with an axe, spear, and sword, preparing for the battle of “Ragnarok.” It does not matter if they have their arms, legs, or heads chopped off, because while in Valhall, they are immortal. “All the Einherjar, in Odin’s home fields, fight among themselves each day. The slain they select, then ride from the battle field, reconciled they sit again together.” -Griminismal 41 Every evening they will join Odin in the huge dining room , where they will be served pork from the boar Saehrimnir, and mead from the goat Heidrun, the only one who doesn’t eat is Odin, he only drinks wine, and feeds his two wolves Geri and Freki his portion of the meat while enjoying the company of the warriors.

A group of beings variously described as Jotnar, Thursar, and Trolls frequently appear, these beings may either aid, deter, or take their place among the gods. The Norns, Disir, and aforementioned Valkyries also get frequent mention, while their functions and roles may overlap and differ, all are collective female beings associated with fate.