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Saga
Saga, the all-knowing goddess, is an aspect of Frigg in some mythology
tales. She lives at Sinking Beach, a waterfall of cool waves where she
offers her guests drinks in golden cups. Her name, which means "omniscience,"
is applied to the epic heroic tales.
Sessrumnir
(Germanic) A fertility goddess.
Siegfried or Sigurd
Hero of early Germanic mythology. His legend recounts his killing
of the dragon Fafnir and winning an accursed hoard of gold, his marriage
to Gudrun, his love and betrayal of Brunhild (Brynhild), and his death
through Brunhild's jealous contrivance. For more see Sigurd below.
Sif
(Norse) Sif is the golden-haired wife of Thor, by whom she bore
Thrud, and the goddess of crops and fertility. She was the mother, by a
previous marriage, of Uu (Uller), god of archery and skiing.
A myth about her:
Loki, one night cut off her beautiful golden hair. Next morning
Thor was beside himself with rage at Sif's distress. When Loki protested
that it was only a joke, Thor demanded to know how he was going to rectify
the situation; the fire god said he would get the dwarves to weave a wig
as a replacement. So Loki asked the sons of Ivaldi to make a wig from spun
gold. The wig when finished was quite remarkable, for it was so light and
realistic that even a slight breeze was enough to ruffle it and so real
that it grew on her head like magic. Thinking to get the gods even more
into their debt,the sons of Ivaldi constructed a collapsible boat named
Skidbladnir for Freyr and a magic spear called Gungnir for Odin. On his
way back to Asgard Loki met the dwarf brothers Brokk and Eiti. They were
so jealous of the workmanship that had gone into the wig, the boat and
the spear that Loki easily persuaded them to make something better; he
even bet his own head on their inability to do so. As a result, the dwarf
brothers fashioned the magic hammer known as Mjollnir. The gods were delighted
with the treasures Loki and Brokk had brought back. However, Brokk demanded
Loki's head. The gods would not agree, but they had no objection to Brokk
sewing up Loki's lips with a thong when Thor dragged the god back home
after he tried to flee, which caused Loki to plan revenge against Thor.
Signy
(Norse) She was the daughter of Volsung, a descendant of Odin. Married
against her will to King Siggeir, she tried to warn her father and her
ten brothers about his plot against them, but she and her brothers were
ambushed in a forest and bound to a fallen tree. Each night a wolf devoured
one of them in turn, until only her youngest brother Sigmund was left alive.
Signy got a slave to smear Sigmund's face with honey so that the wolf would
lick him instead of biting him. Sigmund was thus able to catch the wolf's
tongue in his teeth and overcome the beast. Signy helped Sigmund to plot
revenge. She even slept with him in disguise and bore a son named Sinfiotli.
When Sinfiotli grew up she placed him in Sigmund's care, but they were
both captured by Siggeir. A magic sword freed them and killed Siggeir and
his sons. Signy chose to die herself in the burning palace, but not before
she had told Sigmund the truth about Sinfiotli's parentage.
Sigurd
(Norse) Sigurd (Siegfried) was a northern Germanic hero. He was
the foster-son of Regin, who sent him to recover a fabulous hoard of gold.
Regin's father Hreidmar had first acquired this treasure, which once belonged
to the dwarf Andvari. To get their hands on the gold Regin and his brother
Fafnir had then killed Hreidmar, but Fafnir wanted the treasure for himself
and turned into a dragon to guard it. By cunningly stabbing the monster
from underneath, Sigurd succeeded in slaying Fafnir, thus gaining both
wealth and wisdom (by licking the blood of the slain dragon), since Fafnir
was said to have understood the language of birds. When he realized that
Regin intended to kill him for the gold, Sigurd slew him before carrying
it away himself.
Sigyn
(Germanic) Sigyn, also known as Sigunn or Sigryn, was the faithful
wife of Loki and mother of his sons Narvi and Vali. Once the gods realized
that in Loki they had allowed the growth of evil in their midst, they bound
him in a cave. First they took hold of three slabs of rock, stood them
on end and bored a hole through each of them. Then the entrails of Loki's
son Narvi, whom they slew, were employed as a rope which bound the fire
god to the stones. When the gods had tied the last knot, the entrails became
as hard as iron. To ensure Loki's discomfort the frost giantess Skadi,
Njord's wife, fastened a snake to a stalactite above the god's head and
there Loki was to remain until Ragnarok. Despite all that her husband had
done, Sigyn remained true to him and did what she could to lessen his suffering
hy catching the venom dripping from the snake in a wooden bowl. However,
whenever she went away to empty its poisonous contents, the venom fell
on Loki's head and caused him to twitch violently from the pain. According
to the Vikings, it was these compulsive movements that accounted for earthquakes.
Sjofn
(Norse) Sjofn is the goddess to inspire human passions. She was
also a goddess concerned with causing men and women to think of love. It
was her duty to stop fights between married couples.
Skadi (Skade)
A giantess, called the "snow-shoe goddess", and thus the embodiment
of winter. When her father Thiassi was slain by the gods for stealing some
golden apples from Idun, Skadi wanted to take revenge so she armed herself
and went to their stronghold where she demanded a husband and a belly full
of laughter as compensation. The gods thought it wise to reconciliate and
offered her a marriage with one of them. She was free to marry any god,
but had to chose from those eligible without being allowed to see anything
but their feet. She noticed a very elegant pair and, convinced that their
owner was the handsome Balder, she choose them. Unfortunately for her,
those feet belonged to the older god Njord. The belly full of laughter
was provided by Loki, who tied his testicles to a goat. The marriage between
Njord and Skadi was not a happy one. She wanted to live where her father
had lived, in the mountains, and Njord wanted to live in his palace by
the sea. So they agreed to spend the first nine days in the mountains and
the following nine days by the sea. This arrangement did not work out very
well, and they separated. Eventually, Skadi left Njord for the god Ull.
Skirnir
(Norse) Skirnir was a servant of Freyr. When Freyr wished to marry
the frost giantess Gerda, being a shy guy, he promised Skirnir his horse
and his sword to make his pitch to Gerda for him, and sent him to Jotunheim.
Skirnir had some difficulty in persuading Gerda to agree to the match,
however. Eleven apples of youth, the magic fruit that kept the gods young,
were no temptation to her. Nor was one of Odin's arm-rings. Gerda showed
no fear when Skirnir threatened to behead her, but she began to panic the
moment he started to recite a powerful spell. It promised to deny her any
joy or passion, for the beautiful frost giantess would be transformed into
a loveless outcast, a companion of the "unworthy dead". As a result of
this threatened fate, Gerda at last consented to meet Freyr and so Skirnir
received his promised rewards. On another occasion, Skirnir acted in his
role as messenger by going to the dwarfs on Odin's behalf to order a magical
fetter so that Odin could restrain the terrible wolf Fenrir.
Skuld
(Scandinavian) Youngest of the Norns; she determines the length
of all lives and assigns your destiny.
Snotra
(Norse) Goddess of intelligence.
Sunna
(Norse) A sun goddess.
Surtr (Surt)
(Norse) Surtr (means "black") was a giant who lived in the extreme
south, and whose flaming sword guarded Muspelheim. In Ragnarok, he is the
one who sets the nine worlds on fire; all the gods, frost giants, the living,
the dead, dwarfs, elves, monsters and animals would be consumed. Then the
earth would sink into the cosmic sea and another would arise, all fresh
and green, to begin again.
Syn
(Norse) Goddess of "Denial", and a powerful defender in legal matters
in which one is the accused.
Thiassi
(Norse) Thiassi was the father of Skadi (see above) who is burned
to death in his futile effort to catch Loki. Odin took the eyes from the
dead giant and flung them up into heaven where they shone thereafter as
stars.
Thokk
(Norse) After Baldr's death, Hel, the queen of the underworld, said
that she would allow him to return to the land of the living if "everything
in the nine worlds, dead or alive, weeps for him". Everyone did mourn except
for Thokk, a giantess, who refused. Baldr stayed dead. Some myths claim
that Thokk was really Loki in disguise.
Thor
(Norse) The god of thunder and lightning, eldest son of Odin, ruler
of the gods, and Jord, the earth goddess. Thor was the strongest of the
Aesir, the chief gods, whom he helped protect from their enemies, the giants.
Thor owed three magical treasures. Mjollnir his hammer (thunderbolt)
which when thrown at an enemy returns to Thor. He is able to handle Mjollnir
with the second of his treasures, iron-clad gloves. The third treasure
is his magic girdle, a belt that increases and replenishes his divine strength
when he wears it. Thunder was supposed to be the sound of the rolling of
his goat-driven chariot. Sif was his wife. He also has a consort, Jarnsaxa,
by whom he fathered Magni (might) and Modi (strength).Thursday is named
for Thor.
Thrud
(Germanic) Thrud was the daughter of Thor and his wife Sif. She
was promised to the dwarf Alvis as a payment for his work. But Thor prevented
the dwarf from claiming Thrud by keeping him talking until morning, when
the sunlight turned Alvis into stone.
Thrym
(Germanic) Thrym was the frost giant who came to acquire Thor's
magic hammer. The gods were in a panic because only this weapon could protect
them from the frost giants. When Thrym said he would exchange the hammer
for the hand of Freyja in marriage, Loki persuaded Thor to go to the frost
giant's castle disguised as the bride in order to recover the hammer. Loki
also went along in the form of a maidservant. And so they arrived at Thrym's
hall. Even though the frost giant was suspicious about his bride-to-be,
Loki cleverly managed to talk him into producing the hammer, which Thor
then used to slay all the frost giants in sight.
Thunor
(Germanic) A god of lightning and thunder.
Tiwaz
(Germanic) God of law.
Tuoni
(Finland) Tuoni was the god of the dead, who lived in the dark land
of Tuonela, from which few visitors return. With his wife Tuonetar he had
several children who were deities of suffering, including Kipu-Tytto, goddess
of illness. One of the few heroes who managed to escape from Tuonela was
Vainamoinen. After successfully crossing the river that marked the border
of Tuonela, he was received there by Tuonetar, who gave him beer to drink.
But while he slept, her son created a vast iron mesh across the river so
that Vainamoinen could not return that way and would be trapped forever.
But when he woke, the hero changed into an otter and swam easily through
the net.
Tuulikki
(Finland) Goddess of the woods, invoked to assure an abundance of
game.
Tyr (Tiu, Tiw, Tiv, Tiwaz)
(Norse) Son of Odin and Frigg, and younger brother of Thor. A god
of war and of justice. It was he who placed his hand in the mouth of the
giant wolf, Fenris, to show good faith as the rest of the gods, pretending
sport but intending a trap, chained the wolf. When Fenrir realized he had
been tricked he bit off Tyr's hand. Tuesday is derived from Tyr's name.
Ukko
(Finland) The god of sky and air who controlled the rain. He replaced
Jumala as supreme deity. His wife was Akka.
Ull (Uller)
(Norse) Ull was the stepson of Thor, the thunder god. He was the
god of hunting, and was involved with snowshoes, bow and weapons of war.
Urd
(Scandinavian) The Norn goddess of fate; she rules the past.
Väinämöinen
(Finland) Son of the primal goddess Luonnotar. He possessed the
wisdom of the ages from birth, for he was in his mother's womb for thirty
years. The 'eternal sage', who exerts order over chaos and establishes
the land of Kaleva, that so many of the events in Kalevala revolve
around. His search for a wife brings the land of Kaleva into friendly but
later hostile contact with its dark and threatening neighbour in the north,
Pohjola. See Kalevala.
Valhalla
(Norse) The hall of dead heroes. Heroic warriors, killed in battle,
were "stored" here for the advent of Ragnarök, or Doomsday. Odin kept
them "alive" in this pleasure palace for that day so they could be at his
side.
Vali
(Norse) God of vengeance.
Valkyries
The Valkyries are beautiful maidens that help Odin choose which
brave warrirors of those slain on the battlefield may then serve Odin in
Valhalla. They are also Odins messengers, and when they ride forth on their
winged horses, their armor shines and flickers causing the Aurora Borealis
(Northern Lights). They are (I don't know how complete this list is; it's
all I could find):
| Brynhild |
Geirahöd |
Geirolul |
Geirskogul |
Gol |
| Goli |
Göndul |
Gudr |
Gunnr |
Guth |
| Herfjötur |
Hervor |
Hildr |
Hiorthrimul |
Hlathguth |
| Hlökk |
Hrist |
Judur |
Kara |
Mist |
| Olrun |
Randgríðr |
Rathgrith |
Reginleif |
Róta |
| Sangridr |
Sigrdrifa |
Sigrún |
Sigrlinn |
Sigrun |
| Skeggjöld |
Skögul |
Skuld |
Svafa |
Sváva |
| Svipul |
Thrud |
|
|
|
Vanir
(Norse) They were the other race of gods, who become united with the
Aesir. Frey and Njörd were Vanir gods.
Var
(Norse) Spirit of awareness; nothing can be hidden from her insight.
Verdandi
(Scandinavian) Norn goddess that rules the present.
Vidar (Vithar)
(Norse) A son of Odin noted for his taciturnity, and his fearless destruction
of Fenrir (Fenris).
Vor
(Norse) She witnesses oaths that are made and punishes those who break
their oaths, including marriage vows.
Waldmichen
(Germanic) This wood nymph was a form of the goddess Freya. Her servants
were rabbits; two of them held the train of her cloak while two others
lit her way with candles. She lived in a grotto, where a visitor could
see the souls of unborn babies cavorting; she owned a mill where she ground
old men and women young again.
Wave Maidens
(Scandinavia) These nine giantesses (Atla, Augeia, Aurgiafa, Egia,
Gialp, Greip, Iarnsaxa, Sindur and Ulfrun) were daughters of the sea goddess
Ran. When they favored a sailor, they played in the waves around his ship,
pushing him forward to his destination.
Wodan (Wotan, Woden)
(Germanic) Alternate names for Odin.
Yabme-Akka
(Scandinavian) Death goddess who appeared as an old woman.
Ygg
(Norse) Odin's name when considered as the god of storm and war.
Ymir
(Norse) The "evil" source of creation in Norse myths. The primeval
father of all the Giants. He was fed by the 4 milky streams that flowed
from Audhumla, the cow. He fathered the race of frost giants who were enemies
of the gods. Ymir grew so large and so evil that Odin and his brothers
(Vili and Ve) could no longer live with him. They killed him, and the blood
gushed from his body in such torrents (A flood myth) that all the giants
except Bergelmer and his wife were killed. These two took refuge on a chest
and came to the shores of Jotunheim. From them another race of frost giants
was born.
Zempat
(Prussia) God of the earth. God of cattle.
Zisa
(German) A harvest goddess.
| Name |
Consort |
Symbol |
Domain |
| Balder |
Nanna |
|
beauty, goodness |
| Bragi |
Idunn |
|
poetry |
| Freyja |
Odh |
the cat |
love, sensual pleasure |
| Freyr |
Gerd |
the boar |
fertility |
| Frigg |
Odin |
|
fertility |
| Heimdall |
|
|
firstborn |
| Idunn |
Bragi |
golden apples |
eternal youth |
| Loki |
Sigryn |
|
evil |
| Njord |
Skadi |
|
fertility |
| Norns |
|
|
fate |
| Odh |
Freyja |
|
holy fury |
| Odin |
Jord
Frigg
Rind |
the raven
the wolf |
magic
manual dexterity |
| Thor |
Sif |
the goat |
war, thunder |
| Tyr |
|
|
war, justice |
| Valkyries |
|
|
angels of battle |
