Aegir (Eagor) Germanic god of the ocean, and husband of Ran. His nine daughters,
known as the "billow maidens", directed the swirling waves under his orders.
He was sometimes depicted as a very old man with white hair and claw-like
fingers. Whenever he left his glistening underwater palace it was with
the single-minded purpose of destroying ships and their crews. To placate
him the Vikings often sacrificed some prisoners before setting sail. Aesir The collective name for the the principal race of Norse gods; the
other was the Vanir. The Aesir gods under the leadership of Odin, included
Balder (god of beauty), Bragi (god of eloquence), Forseti (god of mediation),
Freyr (god of fertility, who originally was from the Vanir), Heimdall guardian
of the bridge), Hodr (the blind god), Loki (god of fire and ally of the
frost giants), Njord (the sea god, and another ex-Vanir), Thor (god of
thunder), Tyr (god of war), Vili (brother to Odin), Ve (brother to Odin),
and Vidar (Odin's son). The goddesses included Freyja (the fertility goddess),
Frigg (Odin's wife), Sif (Thor's wife), and Idun (keeper of the apples
of youth). They lived in Asgard, and are primarily viewed as ruling over
government, social order, and war. Alberich (Andvari) (Scandinavian) King of the Dwarfs who steals the magic gold ring,
Andvarinaut, (and the rest of the treasure) guarded by the Rhine Maidens,
but is forced to give up all he has for his freedom after he has been captured.
His curse upon the ring led to the deaths of all who tried to possess it. Alfhild A maiden goddess of Scandinavia who dressed as a warrior to avoid
being taken in marriage by King Alf. Only when they engaged in a fight
to the death (almost), and he proved to be as strong as she, did she agree
to mate with him. Alfs (Germanic) Spirits of the ancestral fathers. There are different
kinds of alfs: 1. The Ljossalfs (Light Alfs) live in Ljossalfsheim and are seldom
seen by humans. Their ruler is Frey, and they are helpful spirits. 2. Swartalfs, (Black Alfs) live in Swartalfsfheim, which reaches
from Midgard to Helheim. The Swartalfs are skilled craftsmen and make many
of the great treasures of the gods. They are known as Black Alfs because
their skin turns black from the soot from their coal fires, which they
use in their forges. A sub-group of the Dark Alfs, known as "mound-alfs",
live in Midgard, and can be helpful or not, depending on their mood. They
are the spirits of dead men and frequently linger near burial mounds. Alvis (Germanic) His name means all-wise. He was a member of the dwarf
race. In return for the weapons he forged for the gods he was promised
Thrud, Thor's daughter, in marriage. Thor didn't like this arrangement
and devised a test of knowledge to stop the marriage. He told Alvis that
he had to prove that his great wisdom made up for his small stature. Thor
prolonged the test until sunrise when the rays of the sun fell upon the
dwarf; all dwarves turned to stone if touched by the sun's rays. End of
story. Amma A great mother in the Norse creation story, Amma ("grandmother")
gave birth to the race of Churls, who conducted business and learned trades. Angerboda (Norse) A frost giantess who was mate (or mistress) to the trickster
god Loki. She bore three children; Jormungand (the Midgard Serpent), who
grew so large he surrounded the earth; Fenrir or Fenris (the Wolf of Ragnarok)
and Hel or Hella (the death queen). Arnamentia (Germanic/Britain) Goddess of springs. Asgard The home of the Norse gods. To reach this land one had to cross
the bridge Bifrost (rainbow). Asgard was divided into a number of separate
kingdoms, each ruled over by a different god. Valhalla was ruled by Odin,
Thrudheim by Thor, etc. The walls surrounding Asgard were built by Hrimthurs,
who asked in payment the hand of Freyja plus the sun and the moon. Odin
agreed providing the walls be complete in six months. Hrimthurs had a magic
horse, named Svadifari, who helped him in his work. To Odin (and the other
gods, especially Freyja)'s horror, with but a few days left, Hrimthurs
was almost finished. Loki, the trickster, turned himself into a mare and
beguiled the stallion Svadifari away. The job was not completed in time
and no payment was given. Askr and Embla (Norse) The first man and first woman and the progenitors of the
human race. They were created out of tree trunks by Odin his two brothers. Balder (Baldur) (Norse) Balder was the second son of Odin, chief of the gods, and
Frigg. His mother took oaths from all plants, creatures, elements and metals
that they would not harm him, all except the mistletoe plant for she felt
it was too young and too small to harm him. He was therefore thought to
be immune from harm and the other gods, in sport, would throw things at
him. Loki, the god of mischief, deceived Hod (Hoder), a blind god and Balder's
brother, into throwing a spear made from mistletoe at Balder, thereby killing
him. He is taken to Hel, and Frigg searches out Hella to find out what
can be done to bring him back. Hella says that if every living thing will
weep for Baldur, she will release him. Frigg is able to secure pledges
from all living creatures except for an old woman named Thokk, who is actually
Loki in disguise. Baldur, therefore, still waits in Hel with his wife,
and will come out again only after Ragnarok to help rule the new world. Beiwe A Lappland goddess who heralded the arrival of spring. Berserk, Berserker (Norse) Grandson of the eight-handed Starkadder and Alfhilde. He
always fought ferociously and recklessly, without armor. That's the origin
of berserk for a savage fighter, or one with the "fighting fever". Bertha (Norse) The goddess of spinning. Beowulf (Germanic) Denmark hero, killer of two mythical water monsters;
Grendel, the sea monster and Grendel's mother, a monstrous merwoman. In
his old age he slew another monster, a fire-breathing dragon, but lost
his own life in the battle. Bergelmir (Germanic) The frost giant who, with his wife, were the only frost
giants to survive drowning in the blood when Odin and his brothers killed
Ymir. Bestla (Scandinavia) The mother of Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve, by
her husband Bor. Billing (Germanic) Father of the beautiful Rind, who despite an initial
repugnance toward Odin eventually capitulated to his wooing and bore him
a son, Vali. Vali later killed Hoder, thereby avenging Balder's death. Bor (Norse) Son of Buri, husband of the giant Bestla, and father of
Odin, Vili and Ve. Bragi (Norse) The god of poetry and eloquence, and considered the greatest
of all the bards. He is the son of Odin and Gunnlod, a female giant. He
was married to Idun (Iduna) guardian of the "apples of immortality". Brono (Norse) Brono was the son of Balder. He was the god of daylight. Brunhild, Brünnehilde or
Brynhild (Germanic) A mighty female warrior, one of the Valkyrie. She defied
Odin and in punishment he imprisoned her within a ring of fire on earth,
decreeing that there she would remain until a brave hero rescued her. Enter
Siegfied (Sigurd). He braved the fire, broke her charmed sleep, and fell
in love with her. He gave her the ring, Andvarinaut, unaware of its curse.
Eventually she kills herself when she learns that Sigurd had betrayed her
with another woman (Gudrun), not knowing he had been bewitched into doing
so by Grimhild. Buri (Norse) The first god, was the father of Bor and the grandfather
of Odin. His "birth" was by being released from the primeval ice when Audhumla
(the cow) licked the ice. Bylgja (Norse) A daughter of Aegir and Ran. Dag (Scandinavian) Goddess of the day; daughter of Nat, goddess of the
night. Dag rides across the heavens on her horse, Skenfaxi, whose mane
shines so brightly that it lights heaven and earth. Donar (Germanic) The god of sky and thunder. Edda (Edda means great grandmother, and the term eddas, "tales of great
grandmother" is the word used to describe the great stories in Scandinavian
mythology.) The dwarfish Edda was the first to create offspring with her
husband Ai. She gave birth to the Thralls, the ones "enthralled"
to service as food producers. Eir A companion of Frigg, Eir is the goddess of healing. She taught
her art and the secret powers of herbs only to women, the only physicians
in ancient Scandinavia. Elle (Elli) (Norse) Personification of Old Age; in the form of an old hag she
wrestled Thor to defeat, much to his shame. Embla (Norse) The name of the first woman. Erda (Germanic) Ancient earth goddess. Farbanti (Farbauti) (Norse) He was a giant who ferried the dead over the waters to the
underworld. He was the father of Loki by Laufey, who gave birth to Loki
when Farbanti struck her with a lightning bolt. Fengi (Scandinavia) The answer to the question, "Why is the sea so salty?":
Once upon a time, in the days of King Frodi, there were two female giants
who worked a mill called Grotti. Fengi and Mengi were the only beings strong
enough to turn the giant millstone that magically produced food and plenty
for Frodi's land. The king kept them working constantly, letting them rest
only as long as it took them to sing a song. One night, angry and exhausted,
they sang a magical charm that caused Frodi's death. But the new king,
Mysing, set the giants to work as before, this time grinding salt. They
ground so much that the entire ocean was filled with it. Fenris (Fenrir) (Norse) Fenris is the monstrous wolf, son of the god Loki who will
swallow Odin at Ragnarok but will be slain by Odin's son, Vidar. Fjalar (Norse) The evil dwarf who, with his brother Galar, killed the wise
man Kvasir in order to gain Kvasir's magic powers. They mixed his blood
with honey in a cauldron and ended up with a mead that bestowed wisdom
to the drinker. But the mead was taken by Suttung, a frost giant, who boasted
of his acquisition to all. When the boasts reached Odin, he decided to
go to Jotunheim (land of the frost giants) to get the mead for himself.
He disguised himself as the evil frost giant Bolverk, and persuaded Baugi
(another frost giant) to dig a tunnel through the mountain to where Suttung
kept the mead under the guard of his daughter Gunnlod. Then Odin turned
himself into a snake and slithered through the tunnel to the treasure.
When he reached the cavern he turned himself into a handsome giant and
for three days and nights was Gunnlod's passionate lover. She allowed him
to drink all of the mead whereupon he changed himself into an eagle, flew
home to Asgard and spit up the mead into some empty jars. Fjorgyn (Norse) The mother of the Norse god Thor, she appears in few myths. Forseti or Forsetti (Forsite) (Norse) God of justice and meditation. Son of Balder and Nanna. Frey (Freyr) (Norse) A god of the Vanir race. Twin brother of Freyja. He was
the god of peace, fertility and weather. He is married to Gerd (Gerda),
a giantess he fell in love with after spying her from Odin's high seat.
He gave his sword to his manservant as payment for him to go and bring
Gerd to him. As a result, he will be without his weapon at Ragnarok and
will have to battle Surt with only an antler. Frey also has a boat, Skidbladnir,
which can be folded up and carried. Freyja (Freya) (Norse )She was originally from the Vanir. Goddess of love, sex,
magic and witchcraft, fertility, and beauty, sometimes identified as the
goddess of battle and death. She was also quite accommodating in sexual
matters. She is said to have traded sexual favors (by sleeping with the
four dwarves who had fashioned the necklace) to possess the necklace of
the Brisings. When it was taken from her by Loki, she started a war of
retaliation. Her father was Njord, a fertility god. Blond, blue-eyed, and
beautiful, Freyja traveled in a chariot drawn by cats. She is the leader
of the Valkyries and the Idises - one of her titles is Vanadis. She resided
in the celestial realm of Folkvang, where it was her privilege to receive
half of all the warriors slain in battle and take their souls to her hall,
Sessrumnir, in Folkvang; the god Odin received the other half at
Valhalla. She loves music, spring and flowers, and spends much time with
the fey. She is seen wearing a cloak of bird feathers, which allows
the wearer to change into a falcon and the beautiful necklace of the Brisings
given to her by dwarves, which the Norse still refer to as the Milky Way.
In Germany, Freyja was sometimes identified with Frigg, the wife of Odin.
She was also the twin sister of the god Frey. Frigg (Frigga, Frija, Fricka) (Norse) Goddess of the sky. Daughter of Fjorgyn, goddess of the
earth. She was Odin's wife and mother of Balder and Hoth. Friday is named
after her. Frigg is the patroness of marriage and motherhood. She assists
women in labor and is associated with the naming of children. Frigg has
the reputation of knowing everyone's destiny, but never reveals it. Being
the wife of the god Odin, she was known as the Queen of the Heavens. She
is the central diety in Asgard where her hall, Fensalir ("water
halls") is located. Her tools are the spindle and the distaff. Fulla (Norse) From her name we get our word for abundance. Fulla is Frigg's
handmaiden and messenger. She carries Frigg's casket of treasures and her
support makes it possible for Frigg to do her work. Prayers are addressed
to her for intercession with Frigg, and for guidance in service. She was
pictured as a young woman with long, full hair, bound at the temple with
a golden band. Fylgja(sing.), Fylgakona(plural) (Iceland) A family's guardian spirit (sometimes called Haminga).
Some legends consider them to be ominous as well as protective spirits. Garm (Norse) The hound which stands in front of Hel's home and snarls
with jaws dripping blood at the pilgrims from the upper world. He will
kill, and be killed by, Tyr at Ragnarok. Gefion (Gefinn, Gefjon) There are two Scandinavian females with this name (or can it be
one with two very different set of character traits?). One Gefjon was a
trickster giantess; she was promised as much land as four oxen could plow
in a day. So she conceived four ox-shaped sons by a another giant; when
her sons had grown, Gefjon brought them back to Sweden, where they plowed
off a part of that country and dragged it to a new location, where it became
the island of Zealand. The other Gefjon, a goddess, sold her hymen for a jewel but miraculously
retained her virginity. She was an attendant of Frigg. All women who die
as maidens were said to pass into this Gefjon's possession. She is also
the bringer of good luck and prosperity. Geirrod (Norse) A frost giant and father of two daughters, Gjalp and Greip.
He was a bitter enemy of Thor, and having captured Loki (when Loki was
flying around as a hawk) received from him a promise that he, Loki, would
bring Thor to Geirrod's castle without Thor having his magic belt and magic
hammer. Loki did as promised and led Thor into the trap. On the way there,
though, they stopped to rest at the home of a giantess named Grid. She
told Thor what was up when Loki left the room, and gave him her magic belt,
iron gloves and magic staff. Needless to say Thor used each with supreme
efficiency and slew Geirrod, his daughters and all other frost giants in
the vicinity. Gerd (Gerda) A Scandinavian deity of light. She was the most beautiful of creatures,
the daughter of a female giant and a mortal man. Frey became infatuated
with Gerd and sent his servant to fetch her. Gerd refused, but Frey kept
sending gifts and, finally, threats. A spell in runes eventually won Gerd,
and she traveled to Asgard, the home of the gods, to live with Frey. Ginnunggap (Norse) Ginnunggap was the "Yawning Void" that existed before the
creation of gods. Gioll (Norse) The river which surrounded the underworld, Hel. Gleipnir (Norse) The chain which binds Fenris. It is made from the footfalls
of cats, the beards of women, the roots of mountains and the breath of
fish. Gna (Norse) The messenger of heaven and of heaven's queen, Frigg. She
was a wind deity. Godar (Scandinavian) The Scandinavian gods were served by a class of priest-chieftains
called Godar. Worship was originally conducted outdoors, under guardian
trees, near sacred wells, or within sacred arrangements of stones. Later,
wooden temples were used, with altars and with carved representations of
the gods. Here animals and even human beings were sacrificed. Goilveig (Scandinavian) She is a mighty witch who, according to legend, was
killed three times but still lived. (She comes to Asgard and irritates
the Aesir. They burn her three times, and twice she rises from the dead.
Her death leads to the war between the Vanir and the Aesir. To end the
war, the Aesir and Vanir agree to exchange hostages. The Aesir send Kvasir
and Mimnir to the Vanir and the Vanir send Frey, Frejya and Njord to the
Aesir. Eventually, the two races of Gods semi-merge, though not entirely.)
Some believe she is an avatar for the mightiest of the Vanir, Freya. Gold-comb (Norse) The cock who shall crow when Ragnarok comes. Gondul (Norse) One of the most famous Valkyries, Gondul was sent to earth
to bring back the spirits of famous kings who fell in battle. Gonlod (Scandinavian) The mother of poetry. She was the giant who owned
the cauldron of inspiration that the god Odin took by trickery. She was
also said to be the mother of Bragi, god of poets. Gotterdammerung (Norse) The end of the world. Groa (Scandinavian) A wise old woman who, in the eddas, is credited
with being a sorcerer, a healer and a caster of spells. Gulltopr (Norse) Heimdall's horse. Gungnir (Norse) Odin's spear, obtained from the dwarves by Loki for Odin. Halls of the Gods (Germanic) Bilskinir - Thor's Hall Breiablikk - Baldur's Hall Fensilar - Frigga's Hall Folksvang - Freya's Hall Gladsheim - Odin's Hall (Valhalla is within Gladsheim) Glitnir - Forsetti's Hall Hel - Hel's (Hella) Hall Himminbjorg - Heimdal's Hall Landvidi - Vidar's Hall Sokkvabekk - Saga's Hall Thrymheim - Skadi's Hall Valaskjalf - Vali's Hall Vingol - Hall of the Goddesses Ydalir - Uller's Hall Heimdall (Heimdalr) (Norse) He is said to be the son of nine mothers. He lived at the
foot of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, and guarded it. He was known as the
watchman of the gods. Heimdall was the keeper of the Gjallahorn,
the "ringing" horn, which he was to sound when Ragnarök, the
end of the world, was near. His hearing is so sensitive he can hear the
grass growing and the wool on sheep growing. In an Irish myth he is called
Rígr, and is considered the father of mankind. He consorted
with three women, from whom descend the three classes of mankind: serf(thrall),
freeman(karl), and nobleman(jarl). Hel (Hella) (Norse) The goddess of the dead. She dwelt beneath one of the three
roots of the sacred ash tree Yggdrasil and resides in her hall, Elvidnir
(misery) in the underworld (Helheim) of Niflheim, the World of Darkness.
She was the daughter of Loki, the spirit of mischief or evil, and the giantess
Angerbotha (Angerboda). Odin, the All-Father, hurled Hel into Niflheim,
the realm of cold and darkness, itself also known as Hel, over which he
gave her sovereign authority. Here the dead suffered unimaginable tortures,
except for those who died heroically in battle (who ended up in Valhalla,
the Hall of the Heroes). Hel is described as being half white and half
black or half-living and half-dead. She is responsible for plagues, sickness
and catastrophes. Hermod (Norse) Son of Odin and Frigg, and brother of Balder. He was divine
messenger of the gods (same as Hermes and Mercury). Hlin (Scandinavian) Goddess of consolation. Protector of those whose
lives are in danger. Hnoss (Scandinavian) Goddess of infatuation. Daughter of Freyja. Hod (Hodr, Hodur) (Norse) The blind brother of Balder, tricked by Loki, throws a mistletoe
dart at his brother and kills him. Hogni (Norse) He and his brother Gunner, persuaded by Brynhild to avenge
her honor, arranged Sigurd's death. They inherited his fortune, including
the cursed ring Andvarinaut, and were in turn doomed at the hands of Atli. Holer (Holler) (Norse) The god of death and destruction and the one who brings
diseases and disasters. He takes people to his dungeon where he tortures
them to death. Holda (Norse) She cares for children who have died, and, with Odin, leads
the Wild Hunt during the Yule season. She is considered a patron of Witches,
and is described as kind with a helpful disposition, except when she notices
disorder in the household affairs. She helps to make sure spinners finish
their spinning before the end of Yule. She also gave flax to mankind, allowing
them to weave, and she taught them how to hunt. Honir (Hoenir) (Norse) The long-legged god of the Aesir, and brother of Odin. He
and the wise god Mimir were sent to live with the Vanir to seal their truce.
The Vanir gladly accepted them and made Honir one of their leaders. Honir,
however, was not as smart as the Aesir had claimed (was very indecisive,
actually) and relied heavily on Mimir. He gave noncommittal answers whenever
Mimir was not around. The Vanir, feeling cheated, cut off Mimir's head
and sent it back to Odin. Honir is one of the gods that will survive Ragnarok. Hreidmar (Norse) The father of Regin, Fafnir and Otter. See Fafnir. Hresvelgr (Norse) The giant who lives in the extreme north; the motion of
his wings causes wind and tempest. Hrungnir (Norse) The strongest of the frost giants, killed by Thor in a personal
duel. Hugi (Norse) The young frost giant who defeated Thialfi (Thor's human
servant) in a foot race; one of the many adventures undergone by Thor and
Loki in their journey to Utgard, land of the frost giants. Huginn (Norse) Huginn (thought) was one of the two ravens which sat upon
Odin's shoulder and which brought him news each day of what was happening
in the world. The other was Muninn (memory). Hymir (Norse) Hymir is a sea giant, the husband of Hrod, who lives at
edge of the heaven. He possessed an enormous cauldron which the Aesir coveted
because they could brew enough beer in it for all the gods, and Thor was
sent to obtain it. In the final battle against the gods, Hymir will sail
the terrible ship Naglfar, which is made entirely from the nails of the
dead. The flood that precedes Ragnarok will free the ship after which the
giants will board it and, with Hymir as commander, sail towards the battlefield
of Vigrond. Idises (Germanic) Spirits of the ancestral mothers. Freya is their leader
under the name Vanadis. The people kept statues or icons representing these
mother-spirits of their family and burned incense and left offerings before
them. The Idises helped during childbirth and times of death. They took
an active role in protecting their living kin, sometimes even giving messages
through dreams. Idun (Iduna, Idunnor) (Norse) She was the goddess of spring and eternal youth. Wife of
Bragi, and guardian of the golden apples of immortality which the gods
ate whenever they wanted to renew their youth. Married to Bragi. Ilmarinen (Finnish) The primeval smith in Kalevala. See Kalevala Page 2
