The
Norse gods are divided into two major groups, the Aesir and Vanir, in
addition to the giants who came first.
According
to Norse
mythology,
the beginning of life was fire and ice, with the existence of only
two worlds: Muspelheim and Niflheim. When the warm air of Muspelheim
hit the cold ice of Niflheim, Ymir and the icy cow Audhumla were
created. The cow Audhumbla licked on a salt stone a man’s hair
appeared on the stone, on the third day an entire man emerged from
the stone. His name was Búri and he fathered Bor, the father of the
three gods Odin, Vili and Ve.
In
Norse mythology, Andvari guards treasures, including a cape of
invisibility, and gives Loki the magic ring of the Aesir, which is
called Draupnir.
Odin the
King of the Norse Gods called the God of poetry, battle and death. He
was the God of the Aesir. Also known as the one-eyed and father of
battle..
A
group of warrior Gods were led by Odin who inhabit ed Asgard.
Balder
was the son
of Odin and Frigg. Known as a gentle and wise god. He was illed
accidentally by his brother Hod. He will return after Ragnarok.
Frigg
was a main
goddess. She was the wife of Odin and mother of Balder.
The
Norse patron Goddess of motherhood and marriage, also a fertility
Goddess. Frigg had the knowledge of the destiny of every person.
Hel the
ruler of Helheim, the realm of the dead
Loki the
sly, trickster of the Norse gods. He was the son of two giants. nown
as the Sly One, the Trickster, the Shape Changer. He became more evil
and was responsible for the death of Balder. He was bound until
Ragnarok.
Thor
was a God of thunder, the son of Odin. Thor's wife wass Sif. He
smashed giants' heads with his mighty hammer. The fifth day of the
week is named Thursday after Thor. Thor's possession a his
hammer which when thrown, returns to his hand. He possesses the belt
of strength. when he puts it on his divine might is doubled.
Brunhilde was
a female warrior, one of the Valkyries, and the daughter of the god
Odin. She defies Odin and is punished by imprisonment within a ring
of fire until a brave hero falls in love and rescues her. Siegfied
(Sigurðr, Sigurd) brakes the spell, falls in love with her and gives
her the ring, This character and her adventures are numerous and vary
but all tell if her honor and prowess as a warrior.
Buri was the
primeval man in Norse mythology. He did not have father nor mother,
but was created by the cow . As she licked the salt blocks of
Ginnagagapthe shape of a man formed. Buri had a son named Bor. And
Bor had three sons who were gods: Odin, Vili, and Ve.
Bragi was the
god of poetry, and the patron of poets. He was a son of Odin and
Frigga. He inspired poetry in humans. Bragi is married to Idun, the
goddess of eternal youth.
Ve was one of
ancient gods and, the son of the pair of giants Bor and Bestla. He
and his three brothers one of which was Odin created heaven and earth
from the slain body of the primeval being Ymir and built the twelve
realms. They also created the first pair of humans.
Bor
is a primordial Norse man, the son of Buri. He married the giantess
Bestla, who is a daughter of the frost giant Bolthorn. Bor and Bestla
had three children who became the first gods.
These tales of
the Norse rich and colorful created by a civilization of ice and snow
yet they still retain the roots of a culture which was neither cold
or unimaginable. These myths and beliefs from a people of a world
alive in the myths and lore are a world in itself.
