Norse Myths 0241461367, 9780241461365

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NoRSE MYTHS

contents 4 6 8

Introduction Norse Lands Yggdrasil

THE BEGINNING 12 16 18 20 22 26 30 32

The Creation of Ymir The Sun and the Moon Ask and Embla The First War The Mead of Poetry The Wall of Asgard Odin Seeks the Runes The Norns

Gods and Goddesses 36 38 40 42 44 48 50 52 56 60 62 64 66 70 72

Sif’s Golden Hair The Forging of Thor’s Hammer Thor and Sif

Thor Goes Fishing Thor’s Wedding Why Odin is One-Eyed Odin and Frigg

The Death of Baldr Baldr’s Funeral Loki and Heimdall

The Theft of Freya’s Necklace Freya and Freyr

Idun and the Golden Fruit Idun and Bragi

The Punishment of Loki

Giants and other Creatures 78 80 82 86 90 92 94 98 100 104

JÖrmungandr Hymir and Skadi

The Marriage of Njord and Skadi Sigurd and the Dragon Sigurd and Brynhildr Brokkr and Eitri

The Binding of Fenrir Fenrir

The Duel of Hrungnir and Thor Thor Visits Utgarda-Loki

The End of the Cosmos 112 Hel 114 Ragnarök

ABOUT THE MYTHS 122 124 126 128 130 132 134 136

The Norse Telling the Stories The Cosmos Gods and Goddesses Giants Dwarfs, Trolls and Elves Spirits The Afterlife

138 140 142 144

Pronunciation guide Glossary Index Acknowledgements

IntroductioN

Stories travel through time – they come to us from the distant past, drifting like voices on a breeze, and then whisk us back to where they came from. The myths in this book were first written down in the 13th century, but they are far older than that. They were created and told by the Norse – a fierce, dynamic and creative people, also known as the Vikings. Reading the Norse tales allows us to climb snow-capped mountains, roam beaches and battlefields, feast with gods and monsters, then set off with them on strange adventures. I invite you to read on and be transported back to an age long gone that is full of magic, mystery and adventure.

MATT RALPHS, AUTHOR

Greenland

“Viking” means “sea-raider”.

The Vikings explored this snowy land and called it “Greenland” to encourage more people to settle here.

Iceland

Some Norse people worshipped at a beautiful crescent-shaped waterfall in Iceland called Godafoss, which means “waterfall of the gods”.

A T L A N T IC O C E A N

NORTH AMERICA

Newfoundland Many Viking houses were long, low, and rectangular in shape.

Norse lands

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The Norse people, also called the Vikings, were originally from Scandinavia – made up of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In around the 8th to 11th centuries ce they set forth from their stark and beautiful lands to explore, raid, trade and settle. They spoke Old Norse and told great stories, which became known as the Norse myths.

The Vikings ventured as far away as Greenland in the west and Russia in the east.

EXPLORERS

Finland Norway

Russia Sweden

British Isles

Denmark

The Vikings sailed the oceans searching for new places to explore, trade with, or conquer. Their longships were strong and swift. Powered by oar and sail, they could be beached in shallow water and were light enough to be carried over land.

WARRIORS

EUROPE France

The Vikings were feared and ruthless fighters who specialized in launching surprise raids on coastal towns and monasteries – killing, and taking slaves. They wore iron helmets and fought mainly with axes, spears, swords and shields.

CRAFTWORKERS

Homelands

Settlements

Journeys

As well as being warriors, the Vikings were skilled craftworkers. Weavers made colourful textiles, metalsmiths created fine jewellery from precious metals, and armourers fashioned ornate weapons and armour. 7

Yggdrasil Through the centre of the Norse cosmos grows a mighty ash tree called Yggdrasil. It connects the Nine Worlds of the cosmos with swaying branches and twisting roots. Its snow-capped crown rises above the clouds, and dew slides from its leaves to fall on the valleys below. The Nine Worlds are home to different gods, creatures and people.

MANI Mani drives the Moon’s chariot, chased by the wolf, Hati.

VANAHEIM In the branches west of Asgard lies Vanaheim, home of the Vanir gods.

THREE WELLS Yggdrasil is nourished through three roots fed by three wells. One root rises to the Well of Urd in Asgard, while another wends and winds to Mimir’s Well in Jotunheim. The third root burrows deep into icy Niflheim. Here it connects to a well called Hvergelmir, which seethes and hisses like a boiling kettle.

JÖRMUNGANDR The World Serpent encircles Midgard.

ALFHEIM The fair elves live in Alfheim.

NIDHOGG This malicious dragon’s name means “hateful striker”.

RATATOSK “Drill tooth” is a busy squirrel.

TREE CREATURES Many creatures live in Yggdrasil. A wise eagle perches in the topmost branches, and between its eyes sits a hawk. Four greedy stags devour leaves, not caring about the damage they cause. An evil dragon called Nidhogg gnaws at the tree’s roots. Finally there’s Ratatosk, a scampering squirrel who spreads lies between Nidhogg and the eagle. 8

HVERGELMIR Snakes and dragons live in this well.

HAWK

SOL Sol drives the Sun’s chariot across the sky, pursued by the wolf, Sköll.

STAGS

EAGLE

Four stags feed on leaves from the top branches.

ASGARD High up and in the centre of the tree is Asgard, home to the Aesir gods.

WELL OF URD This is the meeting place of the gods.

BIFROST

THE THREE NORNS Yggdrasil is looked after by three wise women called the Norns. Every day they mix mud using water from the Well of Urd, which they smear onto the tree to repair it. The well water is so powerful it turns anything it touches as white as the inside of an eggshell. Without the Norns’ constant care, Yggdrasil will die.

MIDGARD JOTUNHEIM

Radiating out from the tree’s centre is Midgard, the world of humans. It is connected to Asgard by the Rainbow Bridge – Bifrost.

This is the land of the giants.

SVARTALFAHEIM Svartalfaheim is the home of the dark, dusky elves.

NIDAVELLIR Nidavellir is where the dwarfs toil at their fires and smelting pots.

NIFLHEIM The dark world of mist and ice has a name meaning “world of fog”.

MIMIR’S WELL This well gives wisdom to anyone who drinks from it.

MUSPELHEIM Muspelheim is Niflheim’s opposite – a realm of fire and smoke.

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THE

BEGINNING

Imagine looking up at the Sun, Moon and stars and having no idea what they are or how they got there. Then gazing at the wondrous world around you and wondering how all this came to be. Like many ancient people, the Norse sought to answer the mysteries of the world with their creation myths. These dark, strange and sometimes violent tales show us how the gods and goddesses used their powers to make the cosmos and fill it with life.

The Creation of Ymir

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In the beginning there was nothing: no sky, sand or sea, no life, earth or grass. There was only Ginnungagap, a Great Void of dark and uninterrupted silence. North of Ginnungagap lay Niflheim, a world of ice and swirling mists. To the south was Muspelheim, the land of fire. In Ginnungagap, the ice melted into a surging liquid and a life was born – a gigantic being of creation and chaos, called Ymir. More beings, both male and female, emerged from Ymir’s legs and armpits, and these became a new race – the Frost Giants.

As more ice melted, it formed a huge cow called Audhumla and Ymir grew strong on her milk. Soon Audhumla became thirsty and licked the salty ice blocks that lay all around. As her rough tongue scraped at the ice, a shape began to form: at first the hair, then the head, and finally the entire body of a god – limbs and all. His name was Buri, and when he emerged from the ice he flexed his muscles and felt power pulse through him. Buri had a son called Bor, who in time married a giantess, Bestla. Together they had three sons: Odin, Vili and Ve, who were destined to destroy and create. These young and vigorous gods explored mist-shrouded Niflheim and flame-belching Muspelheim – and decided it was not nearly enough for them. 13

Vili and Ve – and especially Odin – had a very high opinion of themselves. They wanted to bring forth an ordered world out of the existing chaos. However, they knew someone would have to pay a high price for their plan to succeed. And that someone was the giant Ymir. The three brothers found the Frost Giant, and although he towered over them and fought furiously, they killed him with sword and hammer. The earth trembled when Ymir fell and Odin roared in victory.

So much blood gushed from Ymir’s wounds that it swept all over the land and rose up to create a rolling red sea. The entire race of giants was drowned in the flood – except for one called Bergelmir, who with his wife, managed to stay afloat in a hollow tree trunk until the blood-sea receded.

Odin and his two brothers killed the Frost Giant, Ymir...

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From Bergelmir came a new race of giants – some fair, others monstrous. They lived in a land called Jotunheim and became the gods’ most hated enemy. Odin shaped a new world from Ymir’s gigantic body. The salt seas and freshwater lakes he made with Ymir’s blood; trees from his hair; mountains from his bones; stones from his teeth, and the earth from his flesh. For the sky Odin cracked open Ymir’s skull and raised it high, placing four dwarfs called East, West, North and South at the corners to hold it up. Odin then formed rainclouds by casting Ymir’s brains into the brand-new sky, and the stars he made by scattering sparks born in the fires of Muspelheim. Finally he built a land called Midgard – Middle Earth – and surrounded it with a high wall using Ymir’s huge, curving eyelashes. His work – for now – was complete.

... and a new world emerged from Ymir’s body.

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The Sun and the Moon The cosmos was complete: the Nine Worlds lay in the branches and roots of Yggdrasil. Yet darkness covered all. So Odin made the Moon, and it cast out a silver light. Next came the Sun – created from the sparks that flew from Muspelheim. Odin placed this golden light in a chariot, pulled by two horses: Arvak and Alsvinn.

Odin cast the Sun and Moon into the sky and each day they circled the heavens, lighting the cosmos. Later, a man called Mundilfari had two children. They were so beautiful that he called the girl Sol, after the Sun, and the boy Mani, after the Moon.

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Angry at Mundilfari’s arrogance, Odin ordered Sol to drive the Sun’s chariot across the sky, and Mani to control the Moon. Mani found his work tiring, so he lifted two children up to the heavens to help. They’d been returning from a well with a pail of water on a pole. Some say they can still be seen on the surface of the Moon even today. The Sun and Moon move swiftly and never stop to rest. This is because they’re pursued by two hungry wolves: Sköll chases the Sun, Hati the Moon. One day, come the end of the world at Ragnarök, the wolves will catch up and swallow Odin’s lights forever.

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Ask and Embla Not long after Odin, together with his brothers Vili and Ve, formed the cosmos from the corpse of the giant Ymir, the gods decided to take a walk. As they strode along a beach, boasting of their great deeds, Odin spied two objects washed up by the tide. Closer inspection revealed them to be tree trunks. “Look here, brothers,” said Odin. “Tell me what you see.” Vili shrugged. “Just some driftwood,” he replied. “Nothing special.” “I agree,” Ve added. “Come on, I’m bored. Let’s have a wrestling match!”

But Odin continued to study the trees. “Those smooth and shapely branches resemble limbs, and that thick foliage could be hair,” he said. “And do you see that cluster of knots and cracks in the bark? A nose, a mouth, eyes, eyebrows! Brothers, this driftwood looks just like us.” 18

Vili frowned. “If you say so...” Ve shook his head and laughed. “I think the Sun’s dried out your brain, Odin.”

“You two have no imagination,” replied Odin. “Where you see dead wood, I see an opportunity to make something special.” And with that, he puffed out his cheeks and blew life-essence into the trees. “Ah! Now I see what you mean,” Vili said, and together the three gods fashioned the wood into a pair of moving, seeing, hearing and thinking human beings.

“Splendid,” Ve said, stepping back to admire their work. “But what shall we call them?” “Well,” Odin said. “We formed them from trees, so let’s call the man ‘Ask’ after the ash tree, and the woman ‘Embla’ after the elm. We should also build them a home close-by so we can keep an eye on them.” So Ask and Embla went to live in Midgard, close to their creators, and became the father and mother of the entire human race. 19

The First War There was a time when the gods were split into two tribes: the Aesir who lived in Asgard, and the magic-wielding Vanir who lived in Vanaheim. One day, the wandering Vanir goddess Freya visited Asgard. At first the Aesir were delighted with Freya’s magical powers and loved watching her perform tricks and spells. However, it wasn’t long before they used her special gifts to advance their own petty schemes and selfish desires. This caused many arguments between the Aesir, and eventually they decided something had to be done.

But rather than holding themselves responsible for their bad behaviour, the Aesir blamed Freya instead. Odin ordered Freya to be executed for bringing disorder to his lands. Three times the Aesir tried to burn her to death, and three times Freya was reborn unharmed from the embers. After this the two tribes grew to hate each other, and a terrible war began. The Aesir fought with spears, hammers and swords; the Vanir with spells and sorcery. Battles raged, towns were destroyed and fields became sodden with blood. 20

Neither side could win, so they stopped fighting and agreed to exchange hostages instead. The Aesir sent wise Mimir and a god called Hoenir to live in Vanaheim. At first Hoenir appeared to give good advice, but the Vanir soon noticed that this only happened when Mimir was close enough to whisper into his ear. When Hoenir was on his own he always said, “Let others decide.” The Vanir realized that Hoenir was not a valuable hostage at all, but an empty-headed fool.

The Vanir gods were infuriated by this trickery. They cut off Mimir’s head and sent it back to Asgard. Distressed by the loss of his cleverest adviser, Odin sang spells over Mimir’s head and rubbed herbs into the skin to preserve it, so that the head continued to give advice to Odin. Despite the Aesir’s treachery, the gods did not restart their war. Instead they all gathered together, spat into a cauldron and used this spittle to create Kvasir, the wisest of all beings, as a pledge of peace. The Aesir and the Vanir learned that despite their differences they were better off as friends.

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The Mead of Poetry Kvasir was loved by all the gods. Formed from the spittle of the Aesir and the Vanir, he symbolized their new friendship. Kvasir was the wisest being – there was no question he couldn’t answer. Kvasir was also very generous, and enjoyed travelling the land and helping people solve their problems. One day, two black-bearded dwarfs called Fjalar and Galar invited him to supper. Unfortunately, Fjalar and Galar were evil and they killed poor Kvasir, drained his blood into three cauldrons and mixed it with honey.

This created a liquid called the Mead of Poetry, which turned whoever drank it into a brilliant poet.

22

The gods became worried when Kvasir didn’t return, so they asked Fjalar and Galar what had happened to him. “Kvasir was so clever that he drowned in his own wisdom,” they lied. “We’re sorry for your loss.” Heartbroken, the gods returned to Asgard. The dwarfs had not tired of killing. They asked a giant called Gilling to go boating with them. When they reached deep waters the dwarfs pushed him over the side and watched him drown, just for their own amusement. Stricken with grief, Gilling’s wife wept and wailed long into the night. The murderous dwarfs found the noise quite annoying, so they dropped a millstone onto her head.

“That’s three dead in three days,” Fjalar said, rubbing his hands with glee. “I’ve never had so much fun!” added Galar. However, their luck was about to run out. When Gilling’s son, Suttung, discovered what the dwarfs had done, he grabbed them in his huge hands and threw them onto a tiny island far out at sea. Fjalar and Galar knew they would drown when the tide rose, and begged Suttung for forgiveness. He agreed, taking the Mead of Poetry as payment for their crimes. Suttung knew how valuable the mead was, so he hid the three cauldrons deep inside a mountain and asked his daughter, Gunnlöd, to watch over them. 23

When Odin found out about the Mead of Poetry he decided to claim it for the Aesir. He travelled in disguise to a farm owned by Suttung’s brother, Baugi, and found nine of his servants harvesting wheat. Sensing an opportunity, Odin offered to sharpen their scythes with his whetstone. The whetstone proved so effective that the servants wanted to buy it. But instead, Odin threw it into the air. “First one to grab it, keeps it!” he cried. The servants leaped all at once and in the confusion died on the blades of their own scythes. “Now for the next part of my plan,” thought Odin, stepping over their tangled bodies. He went to Baugi and said, “I’m afraid all your servants have died in a terrible accident.”

“But I’ll do their work,” continued Odin. “In return for a sip of the Mead of Poetry.” Baugi agreed. And so Odin toiled and finished the harvest. Together, Odin and Baugi visited Suttung. But Suttung refused to give Odin his due. Odin now turned to Baugi, “You still owe me, my friend. I hope you prove more honourable than your brother.” Sensing threat in Odin’s words, Baugi took a drill and bored a hole in the mountain, all the way to the chamber where Suttung had hidden the mead.

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Odin transformed himself into a snake and slid through the hole. Overcome with guilt for betraying his brother, Baugi stabbed at Odin with the drill, but he was too slow. As Odin slithered into the chamber, he transformed into a handsome man. He charmed Gunnlod, guardian of the mead, into giving him three sips – but instead of just sips, Odin emptied the cauldrons in three gulps. It was time to flee. Odin turned himself into an eagle and flew towards Asgard, with the sunlight glinting on his golden wings. Infuriated, Suttung also turned into an eagle and gave chase. When the gods saw Odin flying towards them, they placed bowls on the ground. Odin flew overhead and he spat the mead into them. And so the Mead of Poetry now belonged to the Aesir – and all Suttung could do was return home and brood.

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The Wall of Asgard

Odin and his wife Frigg were surveying the shining halls and temples of Asgard. “We need a wall to offer us protection from the giants and trolls,” said Odin. At that moment a stranger arrived, riding an enormous horse called Svadilfari. “I can help you,” he said. “In three seasons I’ll build a wall that no one will be able to breach. But in return I want to marry the goddess Freya, and take for myself the Sun and Moon.” There was uproar among the gods when Odin told them of this offer. “I refuse to marry a stranger,” Freya said. “And without the Sun and Moon we’ll be groping around in the dark like moles.” Everyone agreed – until smooth-talking Loki spoke. “What if we tell him to finish the wall in only one season?” he said. “He’ll never be able to manage that. He’ll go away emptyhanded and we’ll at least have part of a wall built.” So Odin put this new offer to the stranger. “All right,” he said.

“But only if I can use my horse, and you promise not to harm me while I work.” With these terms agreed, the stranger set about his task. Days turned to weeks, weeks turned to months, and Odin and Frigg looked on with worried frowns. With the help of his horse, which was far stronger than they had realized, the stranger had nearly completed the wall – only the gate remained unfinished. 27

Frigg turned on Loki. “This was your plan, and your silver tongue that convinced us,” she said, her voice like ice. “So it’s your job to sort this disaster out. And if you don’t, I’ll drain the life from you – slowly and painfully.”

Loki held up his hands and smiled a sickly smile. “Leave it to me, my friends. I know what to do.” That night, as the stranger and Svadilfari were dragging the final load of stones needed to finish the wall, a beautiful mare with a silky mane pranced out from between the trees. It was Loki in disguise! But Svadilfari was bewitched by the mare’s beauty and followed her back into the forest, never to be seen again. The stranger worked hard to complete the wall in one season.

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Without his horse’s help, the stranger couldn’t finish the wall in time and, certain that the Aesir gods had somehow tricked him, flew into a violent rage. At that moment, Thor appeared and crushed the stranger’s head with his hammer. And so the Aesir gods could rest easy once more. A few months later Loki emerged from the forest, in human form. With him was a magnificent eight-legged horse called Sleipnir – the result of the union between the mare and Svadilfari.

“A gift for you, Odin!” he cried. “I trust I am now forgiven?” And so Odin forgave Loki, and was happy to take Sleipnir as his steed.

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Odin Seeks the Runes The cosmos was new and full of life: birds filled the sky, fish the sea and animals the land; the Sun and Moon raced across the heavens, and humans thrived in Midgard. But Odin the All-Father was worried. His raven spies had reported that the giants were plotting revenge in Jotunheim, and trolls prowled ever closer to Asgard. Odin needed an advantage – something that he could use to protect Asgard. He decided to learn the runes.

Runes were not just symbols to write with on wood and stone, they also gave magical powers to those who could read them. “Rune” means “secret”, and Odin knew that learning how they worked would be difficult. “But when has it ever been easy to obtain anything worthwhile?” he thought. So Odin set out to visit Yggdrasil, and the Well of Urd where the three Norns lived. These mysterious beings had full knowledge of the runes, and by carving them into the World Tree’s bark they controlled the fate of all living things. Odin pondered what to do. “I need to prove that I am worthy of the runes,” he thought. “A sacrifice! But no ordinary sacrifice...”

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Odin wasted no time. He took his spear and plunged it into his side, then hung himself upside-down from the branches of the World Tree. Refusing any help, he glared unblinking into the Well of Urd’s waters, which slowly turned red as his life-blood drained into it.

After nine nights of agony, Odin saw what had been hidden: the shape of the runes and the priceless secrets they carried. In his perfect memory Odin now held the power to heal wounds, trap enemies and make their weapons useless, protect his allies in battle and even bring the dead back to life. “Let the giants and trolls fight me now,” he said with a triumphant smile. “They don’t stand a chance.”

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The Norns THE THREE BEINGS OF FATE

The Norns are three wise females who live near the Well of Urd among the roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasil. Their names are Urd, Verdandi and Skuld. These beings know the magical secrets of the rune letters and keep the World Tree healthy. The Norns are even more powerful than the gods, because they control fate and so the lives of all living things.

WHAT’S IN A NAME URD means

“fate” or “destiny”

VERDANDI means “becoming” or “being” SKULD means “future”

CALL OF THE COCKEREL Each morning, the Norns place a cockerel on the topmost branch of Yggdrasil. Its crow serves as a wake-up call for the gods and goddesses of Asgard.

THREADS OF FATE The Norns have the power to decide the fate of all beings and have various methods of doing this. They use a spindle to spin and weave patterns into cloth. They carve runes into the World Tree’s bark, and they cast wooden lots.

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Two swans swim in the Well of Urd. All other swans descend from them.

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Gods And

Goddesses

It is easy to idealize the gods and goddesses of Norse mythology, but the truth is that they are far from perfect. Most of them take human form, and they are all prone to some of the same faults as people. The gods can be cruel and selfish as well as noble and brave. They wage wars and they fall into violent rages. They steal, lie and use underhand tactics to get what they want. And they are not always very clever.

Sif’s Golden Hair Sif was the goddess of the earth, crops and fertility, and the wife of Thor. She was known for her long hair, as golden as a wheatfield. One night, as Sif lay in slumber, the trickster god Loki came by. True to his nature, Loki seized his chance to make mischief and he stole up on poor Sif and cut off her hair with a hunting knife.

Next morning Sif woke up and was horrified to find her hair lying in long, tangled tresses on the floor. She cried out in horror, and wept and wept... and wept. Rain fell in torrents from the heavens, and the people below looked up and wondered what had happened to so upset the gods. When Thor returned home that evening Sif hid in the shadows because she didn’t want her husband to see her shorn scalp. Thor called out to her, and finally she came and stood before him. The God of Thunder stared at her in disbelief and then let loose a mighty roar – he knew only one god was capable of such a cruel act: Loki. Once again, the people looked up at the stormy skies, this time with fear in their hearts.

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Thor lost no time. He descended on Loki, threatening to break every bone in his body. At first the trickster god denied everything, but he soon saw that the game was up. He admitted his crime, and vowed to put things right. And so Loki journeyed deep down under the earth to Svartalfheim – home of the dwarfs. They were skilled miners and metalworkers and Loki visited the best of them all – the Sons of Ivaldi. Cunning Loki used flattery to appeal to the dwarfs, saying that only they possessed the skill to spin gold as fine as Sif’s beautiful hair. In return, he said, they would get the eternal gratitude of Sif and Thor. Suitably flattered, the dwarfs agreed to the task.

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Loki took the golden cap, said his farewells and travelled back to Asgard. He placed the cap on Sif’s head, while Thor glared at him, holding his hammer aloft... Luckily for Loki it was a perfect fit, and Sif was overjoyed. Miraculously, her new hair continued to grow and was just as long and full and olo c golden as it had ever been. t he

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After weeks of careful spinning, the dwarfs created a cap of the finest golden hair.

Si f

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The Forging of Thor’s Hammer Loki soon returned to the dwarfs’ mines. Of course, being mischievous by nature, he decided to cause more trouble. Loki found two dwarfs called Brokkr and Eitri sweating at their forge – the air filled with heat, sparks and smoke. “Did you see the golden hair that the Sons of Ivaldi made?” Loki asked the pair. Eitri waved a dismissive hand. “A passable job,” he said. “Passable?” Loki scoffed. “I’d wager my head you two couldn’t make anything better.” Brokkr glared at Loki. “Your head would look good over our forge. We accept the bet.” First, Eitri put a pigskin in the flames. As Brokkr pumped the bellows, a fly – which was Loki in disguise – bit him. Brokkr ignored the pain and Eitri pulled out a golden boar. Gold was added next. Once again, fly-Loki bit Brokkr, but the dwarf stayed calm and kept pumping until a magical ring was made.

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Finally, Eitri added iron to make a hammer. Brokkr pumped, and fly-Loki bit his eyelid as hard as he could. Brokkr had to stop working to wipe blood from his eyes, which created a flaw in Eitri’s masterpiece – the hammer’s handle was too short. Nevertheless, the dwarfs presented their treasures to the gods, who’d agreed to judge the wager. Freyr received the golden boar, and Odin the magic ring.

The hammer went to Thor. “This is Mjölnir,” Eitri said. “When thrown, it’ll hit the target every time and return to your hand.” Thor was delighted with the precious gift, and soon found some trolls to try it out on. The gods decided that the dwarfs had won. But before Brokkr and Eitri could draw their knives, Loki said, “I wagered my head, not my neck – and you can’t take one without the other.” Deprived of their prize, the dwarfs sewed Loki’s mouth shut and returned home. 39

god

Thor

GOD OF THUNDER This fierce-eyed, red-bearded warrior god’s name means “thunder”. Thor fights hard and travels far to battle giants and trolls. This powerful god is also associated with fertility, crops and farming. Thursday is named after him. PARENTS: Odin and Jord CHILDREN: Módi, Magni, Thrud, and Ull (stepson)

SACRED SYMBOLS

MJÖLNIR

MEGINGJÖRD

When thrown, Thor’s hammer – Mjölnir – always hits the target and returns to Thor’s hand.

When Thor straps this “belt of power” around his waist, it doubles his strength.

JÁRNGREIPR

THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

These are Thor’s iron gloves, which he must wear if he wants to throw Mjölnir.

Being a god of the sky, Thor controls thunderstorms and life-giving rain.

THOR’S CHARIOT Thor’s chariot is pulled by two goats, Tanngrisnir (“teeth-barer”) and Tanngnjostr (“teeth-grinder”). They run swiftly and are armed with splendid horns. If hungry, Thor can cook and eat the goats, then bring them back to life with Mjölnir. 40

goddess

Sif

GODDESS OF THE EARTH AND CROPS One of the loveliest of the Aesir goddesses, Sif is blessed with radiant beauty. She is the goddess of fertility and farming. Her hair is long and shines gold like a wheatfield in sunlight. Sif is married to Thor, and her name means “marriage”. PARENTS: Unknown CHILDREN: Thrud, Módi, Ullr

SACRED SYMBOLS

WHEAT

FAMILY

As the goddess of farming, Sif is linked with all crops, and especially wheat.

As a wife and mother, Sif is associated with family life.

EARTH

CRYSTAL GOBLET

Sif is goddess of the earth and of nature and growth.

In an ancient poem, Sif pours mead from a crystal goblet for Loki.

MYSTERIOUS SIF Despite being placed at the highest level of the Aesir pantheon (group of gods), Sif is something of a mystery. The most well-known tale tells of her being preyed upon by the trickster god Loki, who cut off her famed golden tresses. 41

Thor Goes Fishing

Thor was always on the lookout for adventure. One day, he set out to explore Jotunheim – the land of the giants.

The giant Hymir gave Thor a magnificent feast.

After walking a great distance, Thor became hungry, so he knocked on the door of a friendly giant called Hymir and asked if he could stay the night. “Of course,” Hymir boomed. “You are welcome here!” Hymir was a generous host, and he slaughtered three of his best bulls to feed Thor. However, the god was such an ungracious guest that he gobbled them up in one sitting. Hymir stared at his bone-strewn dinner table.

“We’ll have to go fishing tomorrow to re-stock my larder,” he said at last. The next morning, Thor woke early to find Hymir already up and preparing his boat. “We’ll need some bait,” said the giant. So Thor killed the biggest of Hymir’s remaining bulls and tore off its head – the Thunder God really was a terrible guest. 42

Hymir rowed to his favourite fishing spot, where he caught two whales. “These should keep us going for a while,” he said. “Mere minnows,” Thor replied, taking hold of the oars. “Let’s find a bigger fish!”

Further and further Thor rowed, until the shoreline disappeared and there was nothing to see but sea. “We should go back,” Hymir said. “These are Jörmungandr’s waters.” “I know,” Thor replied, and he threw a rope with the bull’s head attached over the side. Feeling a tug on the line, Thor heaved until the ghastly face of Jörmungandr broke the surface – but the terrified Hymir cut the rope before Thor could kill it. Thor howled as Jörmungandr sank beneath the waves, and in his anger pushed Hymir overboard. As the water closed over his head, the unfortunate giant decided it had been a bad decision to invite Thor in for supper.

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Thor’s Wedding

44

One day, Thor awoke in the mood to go fighting, but his hammer, Mjölnir, was nowhere to be found. After tearing his chambers apart in a rage, he went to find other – cleverer – gods to help him find it. “This is serious,” Freya said. “Without Mjölnir you can’t protect Asgard. How could you have been so foolish as to lose it?” “I didn’t!” a red-faced Thor bellowed. “It was stolen.” “I bet the Frost Giants are at the root of this,” said Loki. So Freya gave Loki falcon feathers to wear, and with them he flew to Jotunheim. Thrym, king of the Frost Giants, grinned when Loki flew into his cavernous hall and skidded to a halt at the foot of his throne.

“I know why you’re here,” said the king. “You’re looking for Mjölnir.” “And I’m guessing from your smug expression that you have it,” Loki replied. “I do. And Thor will only get it back if I receive fair Freya’s hand in marriage.” Loki returned to Asgard and told Freya of Thrym’s demand. “This again?” she cried, throwing up her hands in despair. “Why is it always me whom these giants want to marry?” “Because you’re clever and beautiful,” Heimdall said. “So what shall we do?” Thor asked. Heimdall’s face lit up with inspiration. “Thor should go to the wedding disguised as Freya and get his hammer back.” 45

Thor was reluctant at first, until Freya spoke. “If you don’t do this, Thor, Asgard will fall.” “And I’ll be with you, disguised as your bridesmaid,” said Loki Thor took a deep breath. “All right. Let’s do it.” So Thor and Loki headed for Jotunheim in Thor’s goat-drawn chariot. Both wore beautiful flowing dresses, which Freya had adjusted to fit. Thor scowled behind his veil. “Let me do the talking,” Loki said, as Thrym’s hall loomed on the horizon. “Whatever you say,” Thor growled. They found the hall decked out for a lavish wedding ceremony and the tables were covered in so many mouth-watering dishes that even Thor cheered up a bit. “Freya!” Thrym boomed. “I’m so happy you came! You’re taller than I expected. Come sit by me.” Thor took Loki’s advice and didn’t speak. Instead, he ate – a lot. Before anyone else had even finished their soup, Thor had consumed a roast ox, eight poached salmon, several baskets of pastries, and four barrels of mead.

46

“Thor, for goodness sake slow down,” Loki hissed. “You’re in danger of bursting out of your dress.” “I’ve never seen a woman eat so much,” Thrym said. “Ah,” Loki said, “poor Freya’s been so lovesick for you that she hasn’t eaten for days.” Seemingly satisfied with Loki’s lie, Thrym announced, “I must look into my betrothed’s eyes!” and he removed Thor’s veil, revealing the Thunder God’s glowering face. “My,” Thrym said, “what piercing eyes you have.” Then he snapped his fingers at a servant.

“Now it’s time to formalize our marriage! Fetch Mjölnir!” When the hammer was placed in Thor’s lap, the glare in his eyes turned into a gleam. “Hello, my friend,” he said to Mjölnir. “Shall we teach these thieving Frost Giants a lesson?” And so Thor killed Thrym and his family, returned to Asgard with Mjölnir in hand, and Freya stayed happily unmarried.

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Why Odin is One-Eyed Odin the All-Father sought one thing above all else: wisdom. The god would make terrible sacrifices to obtain it, because he knew that wisdom gave him his best chance to postpone Ragnarök, the grim destiny to which his people were doomed. Odin knew he could gain instant knowledge and insight by drinking from Mimir’s Well, whose waters bubbled up from under Yggdrasil’s roots. But he faced a problem: the well was in the land of the giants – Jotunheim. And as it was Odin who killed Ymir and drowned the giants in blood, he would certainly not be welcome there.

So Odin disguised himself and ventured forth to Jotunheim. Upon reaching the well’s crystal-clear waters, Odin found them guarded by a shadowy figure – Mimir!

48

Mimir had drunk from the well many times, and his brain overflowed with knowledge. “I am Odin,” the god declared, “and I wish to drink from your well.” “I don’t care who you are,” Mimir replied. “No one sups here unless they make a suitable sacrifice.” “What sacrifice do you require?” demanded Odin. “Give me one of your eyes and I will allow you one drink.”

So Odin plucked out one eye and dropped it into the water, where it floated just beneath the surface. Ignoring his pain, Odin looked down at his eye, and it looked back at him. Mimir was now satisfied. He filled his drinking horn with water and gave it to Odin. As Odin drank, his mind exploded with insight. He knew the answers to a thousand mysteries, and he saw deep into the future. From then on he was called the “one-eyed god”, and he deemed his sacrifice worthwhile.

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god

Odin

RULER OF THE GODS Odin is the all-powerful, all-knowing ruler of the gods and goddesses. He is also god of magic, poetry and prophesy, and war and death. Odin’s beard is long and his single eye shines as bright as the Sun – his other eye he traded for wisdom. PARENTS: Bor and Bestla CHILDREN: Baldr, Heimdall, Hermod, Hodr,

Saeming, Thor, Váli, Vidar, and Bragi (possibly)

SACRED SYMBOLS

MEAD OF POETRY

RUNES

This powerful drink was stolen by Odin. It allows him to recite great poetry.

Odin sacrificed himself so he could read the runes – a source of great wisdom.

GUNGNIR

DRAUPNIR

This is Odin’s spear – a symbol of power, protection, and authority.

Odin’s ring can multiply itself and is a symbol of kingship and sacrifice.

ODIN’S ANIMALS Odin has several animals under his care. Hugin and Munin are his gossip-gathering ravens, and Freki and Geri are his ferocious wolves. He also rides an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir, who can gallop through the air and over the raging sea. 50

goddess

Frigg

GODDESS OF FERTILITY Frigg is the goddess of marriage, motherhood and the sky. She has knowledge of every person’s destiny, but never reveals what she knows. Together with Odin, her husband, she’s permitted to sit on the high seat Hlidskjalf and look out over the universe. PARENTS: Father: Fjörgynn; Mother: unknown CHILDREN: Baldr, Hermod, Hodr

SACRED SYMBOLS

SPINDLE

MISTLETOE

With this symbol of domestic life, Frigg spins yarn from the clouds to make clothes for the gods and goddesses.

When Frigg made everything promise not to hurt her son Baldr, she forgot to include the mistletoe.

KEYS

RINGS

Keys are a symbol of Frigg as a mother and protector of the home.

Two interlocking rings symbolize Frigg as the goddess of marriage and love.

FRIGG’S MAIDENS Frigg has three maidens – Fulla, Gna and Hlin – who attend to her needs in different ways. Fulla is Frigg’s favourite, and they often confide together. Gna is Frigg’s messenger and Hlin is the protector of people and objects. 51

The Death of Baldr

52

Now it is time for the sad story of Baldr the Bright, son of Odin and Frigg, the most joyful, beloved and generous of the Aesir gods. “I had a terrible dream last night,” Baldr told his parents one morning. “I saw a ship at sea beneath a sky filled with crows. And I was lying on the deck – cold, stiff... and dead.” Odin and Frigg were afraid. They believed that dreams could be visions of the future, and they knew their son’s death foreshadowed Ragnarök – the doomed destiny of the gods. So Odin travelled to visit a seer in Niflheim – the icy world of the dead – to discover what the awful dream might mean. Here he entered a drinking hall adorned with rich red cloth and hung with gold. At the end of the hall stood the seer. She told Odin that they were getting ready to celebrate the death of Baldr.

“He’s to be our guest of honour, and we dead cannot wait to meet him,” she said. Odin returned to Asgard to tell Frigg the terrible news. “Our beautiful son will soon be dead, and Ragnarök will crash down upon us afterwards.” Frigg straightened her back. “Not on my watch,” she said. 53

So Frigg spoke to everything that existed in the cosmos, both living and non-living – stone, fire, water, trees, birds, snakes and other animals – and took from each a solemn vow that they would never harm Baldr. Her task complete, the gods rejoiced that Baldr was safe from death – or so they thought. They amused themselves by throwing rocks and spears at him – and nothing caused so much as a scratch. Loki the trickster god watched from the shadows, jealous of the attention Baldr was getting. Disguised as an old woman, he spoke to Frigg. “Is it true that you asked everything in the cosmos to do Baldr no harm?”

‘‘Everything apart from mistletoe,” said Frigg. “How could mistletoe harm my son?” “How indeed?” Loki said, hardly managing to hide his smile. He sped into the woods, and gathered some mistletoe. Back in his true form, Loki sidled up to a blind god called Hodr, who was standing apart from the jollity.

54

“Why aren’t you joining in the fun, friend Hodr?” “I’d like to, but no one will help me aim at Baldr,” Hodr replied. “Also, I have no weapon to use.” “Here, take this mistletoe,” Loki said. “Let me guide your aim... That’s it... Now, fire!”

The mistletoe changed in mid-air into a deadly sharp arrow and pierced Baldr’s heart. All the gods – apart from Hodr who couldn’t see and Loki who didn’t care – cried out as Baldr dropped to the floor, dead as stone. Frigg bent over her beloved son’s body and wept. Odin and the gods stared into the distance in shock and disbelief. They knew what this meant: Ragnarök.

Frigg wept over Baldr’s dead body.

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Baldr’s Funeral

56

Baldr’s death caused such grief that the gods could do nothing but weep. Baldr’s body was then held aloft and carried to his own ship. Odin leaned over and whispered into Baldr’s ear, but no one knows what he said.

The Aesir gods placed Baldr on the deck of his ship, but the ship was so heavy they couldn’t push it from the beach to the sea. So the gods summoned a giantess called Hyrrokkin, who rode up on a giant wolf, using snakes for reins. She pushed the ship so forcefully, the log rollers caught fire and the ground shook. As the ship began to drift away, Nanna – Baldr’s wife – died from sorrow and she was placed alongside him. Many watched Baldr burn: Odin, Frigg, the Valkyries; Freyr and his boar, Gold Bristle; Heimdall and his horse, Golden Forelock; Freya in her cat-drawn chariot; even giants and dwarfs. Eventually, Frigg gathered herself. She asked if anyone was willing to travel to Niflheim and bargain with Hel, the goddess of the dead, for Baldr’s return. Baldr’s brother Hermod agreed and set off on Odin’s horse, Sleipnir. Hermod rode for nine days through pitch-black valleys until he reached Gjöll, the noisy river that separates the living from the dead. 57

Halfway across the golden-roofed bridge that spanned it, he was met by a fearsome warrior woman called Modgud. “I’ve come to bargain with Hel,” said Hermod. “The Aesir seek the return of Baldr.” “Baldr crossed my bridge nine days ago,” Modgud replied. “I will let you pass – but be warned, Hel will demand a high price for his return.” Hermod rode swiftly down and into darkness. Ice gleamed on the valley walls, and the air was brittle with cold. On, on, on he raced until up loomed the gates of Niflheim. Sleipnir cleared them in a single jump, and soon Hermod found Baldr, sitting next to Hel in the land of the dead. “What do you want, Hermod?” she said, words falling from her mouth like dead crows. “We gods wail and weep for our lost brother,” said Hermod. “I ask that you allow him to return to the light, and those who love him.”

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Hermod found Baldr and Hel sitting in a vast hall in Nif lheim, the land of the dead.

Hel thought for a moment. “I want you to prove that Baldr is as loved as you say. I will only set him free if all things in the cosmos – both living and non-living – weep for him.” She then held up a bony finger. “But if even a single thing refuses to cry, he’ll remain at my side in Niflheim.” When Hermod returned and told the Aesir what Hel had said, Odin and Frigg sent out messengers all over the cosmos to ask every living and non-living thing to weep for Baldr. And so they did: people, animals, stars, birds, flowers, stones – even metals beaded with water as if frost had melted to dew. But a giantess turned the messengers away. “Baldr gave me no joy,” she said, “so let Hel keep him.” Some believed that the giantess was really Loki in disguise, who in his malice had doomed Baldr for a second time. 59

god

Loki

THE TRICKSTER GOD Loki is changeable in behaviour and shape. Sometimes he helps the gods, but often he is malicious, deceitful and destructive. His unpredictable nature seems to be driven by his moods and whims rather than any grand plan. PARENTS: Fárbauti and Laufey CHILDREN: Hel, Jörmungandr, Fenrir, Nari, Sleipnir

SHAPESHIFTER

FALCON

SALMON

Loki cannot fly unaided, but with Freya’s falcon feathers he can soar and swoop like a bird.

Odin squeezed Loki when he hid in fish-form – that’s why salmon have narrow tails.

FLY

MARE

Loki can crawl into locked rooms by taking on the shape and size of a fly.

Loki can change sex as well as shape, as he did when he transformed into a female horse.

TROUBLE-MAKER Loki uses his shapeshifting expertise to both cause trouble and get himself out of it. However, the other gods usually work out what Loki has been up to and dish out a punishment. 60

god

Heimdall

THE WATCHMAN OF THE GODS

Heimdall is known as the shining god, and he has gold teeth. He lives in Himinbjörg (“sky-cliffs”) at the entrance to Asgard, guarding Bifrost and keeping enemies out. An excellent watchman, he can see far into the distance, needs less sleep than a bird, and can hear sheep’s wool and grass growing. PARENTS: Odin and the Nine Maidens CHILDREN: Thrall, Karl, Jarl

SACRED SYMBOLS

GJALLARHORN

BIFROST

When blown, this horn will resound throughout the Nine Worlds.

The Rainbow Bridge – Bifrost – connects Asgard to Midgard.

GULLTOPPR

HOFUD

Heimdall’s horse is called Gulltoppr, meaning “golden-mane”.

Hofud is Heimdall’s sword – its name means “head”.

RAGNARÖK At the time of Ragnarök, when the trolls and frost giants gather on Asgard’s borders, Heimdall will blow his horn to call the gods to war. It’s foretold that Heimdall and Loki will fight and kill each other. 61

The Theft of Freya’s Necklace Freya was one of the cleverest of the Vanir gods and an expert in magic. Her most precious possession was an enchanted necklace called Brisingamen. On this particular day, the gods had gathered for their evening meal, and Freya was wearing Brisingamen. “What a splendid ornament,” Odin said, “beaten in its beauty only by the wearer.” Freya was uninterested in such flattery, but politely thanked the god. “And the way it shines like fire!” Heimdall said, flashing a golden smile. “Quite exquisite.” Now, Loki was in a particularly jealous, greedy and petty mood. He decided to steal the precious necklace and keep it for himself. After Freya had gone to bed, he turned himself into a fly and crawled into her locked chambers through a tiny hole in the wall. Then he turned back into himself, delicately removed Brisingamen from the sleeping Freya’s throat, and disappeared into the night.

62

In the morning, when Freya discovered the theft of her necklace, she was distraught. She sought out Heimdall. “Can you use your far-sight to find it?” she begged. Shielding his eyes from the Sun, Heimdall slowly turned on the spot until he spied a seal swimming in the sea. It had a fiery necklace around its neck. Heimdall knew at once that the seal was none other than the shapeshifter, Loki. Heimdall travelled to the coast, turned himself into a seal as well, and swam out to where Loki frolicked in the waves. The two seals fought for hours – biting, slapping and striking until, bloodied and exhausted, Loki gave up the necklace and retreated to lick his wounds. “I’ve got a nasty feeling Loki and I will fight again,” Heimdall thought as he journeyed back to Asgard, grasping his magnificent prize.

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goddess

Freya

GODDESS OF LOVE AND MAGIC Freya is a goddess of the Vanir tribe. She is associated with love, beauty, fertility and magic. She rules over a place in the afterlife – a meadow called Fólkvangr. Half of all warriors who die in battle go here – the rest stay with Odin in Valhalla. PARENTS: Njord and, possibly, Nerthus CHILDREN: Hnoss and Gersemi

SACRED SYMBOLS

BRISINGAMEN

FALCON FEATHERS

This necklace is Freya’s most prized possession. It was made by the dwarfs to glow with a fiery light.

Freya owns a cloak made from falcon feathers that gives the wearer the ability to fly.

CHARIOT

HILDISVÍNI

Freya speeds from place to place in a chariot pulled by two cats.

Freya sometimes rides a giant boar whose name means “battle-swine”.

THE ENCHANTRESS Freya is well-practised in the magical arts – called seidr. She teaches Odin spells and potions, and how to see into the future. Close to nature, Freya has animal-familiars (fylgja), including the boar, Hildisvíni. These help or guide her. 64

god

Freyr

GOD OF PEACE AND FERTILITY A much-loved god, Freyr began as a member of the Vanir tribe before being adopted by the Aesir. He is the brother of Freya, and the deity of fertility, peace, sunshine and rain. Freyr lives in Alfheim, home of the elves, and is married to the giant Gerd. PARENTS: Njord and, possibly, Nerthus CHILDREN: Fjölnir

SACRED SYMBOLS

GULLINBURSTI

SKIDBLADNIR

Freyr’s fleet-footed animalfamiliar is the shining golden-bristled boar made by Eitri and Brokkr.

Freyr’s ship is incredible in many ways – not least because it can be folded up and stored in a bag.

SWORD

CHARIOT

Freyr owns a magical sword that has the ability to fight by itself.

On land, Freyr travels around in a chariot pulled by a pair of boars.

SWORD-FIGHTER Freyr gives up his amazing self-fighting sword in return for marrying the giantess Geror. This decision has terrible consequences, because without his sword Freyr is destined to die at Ragnarök, fighting the giant Surtr. 65

Idun and the Golden Fruit Odin, Loki and Hoenir were exploring the more desolate parts of the cosmos. Food was scarce, so when they found a herd of oxen they killed one and set it over a fire. And yet, no matter how long it cooked, the meat remained raw. “I don’t understand,” Odin said over his rumbling stomach. “Then let me explain!” came a voice from above.

The gods looked up into the branches of a nearby tree and saw a magnificent eagle perched in the branches. “It’s my magic that stops your meat from roasting,” the eagle screeched. “But I’ll lift the enchantment if you share some with me.” Although irritated by the eagle’s impudence, the gods agreed, and soon the air was filled with the delicious smell of roast meat. “Me first!” the eagle said, and he hopped down from the tree and swiftly ate the best parts of the ox.

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Enraged by the eagle’s greed, Loki grabbed a branch from the fire and swung it at the bird’s head. The eagle took hold of the branch in his talons and flew into the air – with a terrified Loki still dangling from the other end. Up into the freezing sky soared the eagle, until all of the Nine Worlds were visible and the stars seemed close enough to touch. “Take me down, I beg you,” Loki said through chattering teeth. “You know, you’re not the only being who can shapeshift, Loki. In truth, I am Thjazi the Giant.” “I don’t care who you are, just put me down!” “I will, but only if you bring me the goddess Idun, and her golden fruit.” Now, it was only by eating Idun’s fruit that the Aesir stayed young, strong and immortal. Without it the gods would age, wither and die. But, as usual, Loki placed his own life above all others and agreed to the giant’s terms. 67

On returning to Asgard, Loki found Idun gathering fruit in her orchard. “Greetings, fair Idun,” said Loki softly. “While exploring, I found a tree hung heavy with the most beautiful apples I have ever seen. Would you like to see?” “I’d love to!” trusting Idun said. So Loki led her away from Asgard, where eagle-Thjazi was waiting. He grabbed Idun in his talons and carried her off to Thrymheim – a place high up in the mountains of Jotunheim. It wasn’t long before the Aesir realized she was missing. “My hair’s gone grey and my joints ache,” Freya complained. “Where has Idun gone?”

“If we don’t eat her fruit soon, we’ll die,” Odin cried. “Who saw her last?” “I spied her leaving Asgard with Loki,” said Heimdall. Thor grabbed Loki before he could sneak away. “I knew you’d be involved somehow,” he thundered. “Go find her and bring her back, or I’ll crush you like an ant.”

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So, Freya lent Loki her falcon feathers and he used them to fly to Thrymheim. There, high up in the mountains, he found Idun alone and miserable. Loki wasted no time – he turned Idun into a nut, picked her up and flew back towards Asgard. But Thjazi spotted them and gave chase in eagle-form. The Aesir saw Loki diving towards the walls of Asgard with Thjazi close behind, so they built a huge bonfire. Nimble Loki flew over the inferno, but Thjazi was too slow and crashed to the ground, feathers aflame. Thor took hold of his mighty hammer, Mjölnir, and finished the giant off. Loki slunk away until tempers cooled. Idun handed out her fruit and the Aesir got back their youth and immortality.

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goddess

Idun

GODDESS OF SPRING Idun is the goddess of spring, youth and rejuvenation, and her name most likely means “ever-young”. She is important to the Aesir because she looks after the fruit of immortality, which the gods eat so they can live forever. Idun’s husband is the poet-god Bragi. PARENTS: Unknown CHILDREN: None

SACRED SYMBOLS

SPRING

FRUIT

It is only fitting that Idun is the goddess of spring – the season when the cycle of life begins anew.

When eaten, Idun’s fruit gives the Aesir the gifts of vitality and immortality.

NUT

WOODEN BOX

Loki temporarily changes Idun into a nut to rescue her from Thjazi the Giant.

Idun carries her life-giving fruit in a box made from ash wood.

CALM GODDESS Once, during a feast, Loki insulted Idun even though she did not deserve it. Instead of losing her temper and making the situation worse, graceful Idun replied to his taunts calmly but firmly. 70

god

Bragi

GOD OF POETRY

Husband of Idun, Bragi is a wise god with a deep knowledge of history, myths and stories. He is a gifted wordsmith, poet and musician. Bragi makes moving and emotional compositions, which he recites when the Aesir gather for feasts. PARENTS: Odin (possibly) and Gunnlod (possibly) CHILDREN: None

SACRED SYMBOLS

BRAGI’S TOAST

HARP

In ritual celebrations, people traditionally gave a toast to Bragi.

Bragi is a musician as well as a writer and the harp is his best instrument.

TONGUE OF RUNES

BEARD

Bragi has runes – the ancient letters of the Norse alphabet – carved on his tongue.

This god has thick facial hair – bearded Norsemen were once called “Beard-Bragi”.

BRAGI THE POET Poets, such as Bragi, are called “skalds” in the ancient Norse language and are highly regarded by the gods. Their poems are an entertaining way of recording and passing on stories and events. 71

The Punishment of Loki Clever, sly Loki could usually talk his way out of trouble. But he knew the murder of Baldr could never be forgiven and that the Aesir gods would seek their grim revenge. This time had now arrived. “Thor will probably knock my head off,” Loki said to himself. “I must make myself scarce.” So Loki ran away from Asgard until he found a deserted spot near a river, way up in the mountains. “I must ensure no one can sneak up on me,” thought Loki. “I know what I shall do! I’ll build a house with four entrances so that I can keep a lookout from all sides.” Loki set to work, and after he had built his new home, he settled down to make a fishing net – all the while casting nervous glances through each of his four doorways. It wasn’t long, however, before Odin the All-Seeing discovered Loki’s hideout. Without further delay, Odin and the gods set out to find him, bringing with them Kvasir – the wisest of all beings. 72

As soon as Loki saw the Aesir gods approaching, he threw his half-finished net into the fire, turned himself into a salmon and leaped into the river. “Surely they won’t find me here,” he bubbled. However, clever Kvasir found the burned remains of his fishing net, and guessed that Loki was hiding in the river. The Aesir made their own net and began to drag the rushing waters for the trickster god.

Sunlight flashed on Loki’s scales as he swam upstream in front of the net. “Soon the river turns to a trickle and I’ll be trapped,” he thought. “But if I leap over the net I can swim out to sea and escape.” Loki propelled himself clear out of the water, but Odin was too quick and caught him by the tail. Loki wriggled and thrashed, but Odin did not let go. “Time for you to pay for your crimes,” he growled.

T he A e s i r g o d s m a d e a ne t to c a tc h

L ok i .

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Odin forced Loki to return to human form by squeezing his salmon tail, then dropped him on the ground. The rest of the Aesir closed in as Loki spat up water from his lungs. “Listen, don’t act hastily and do something you’ll regret,” he said. “Can’t we talk about this like civilized gods?” “Civilized?” Frigg said, her face white with rage. “Was it civilized to kill my beloved son?” “That wasn’t me!” Loki cried, sounding aggrieved. “Hodr shot that arrow – you all saw.”

“We saw you give Hodr the arrow and then guide his aim,” Odin said. “You have done many evil things in your life, Loki, and have gone unpunished. Not this time.” “I’m not the only evil-doer here, Odin,” Loki snapped as Thor and Heimdall grabbed his arms. “Please!” The Aesir dragged Loki to a damp cave and chained him so tightly to a rock that he couldn’t move and was forced to stare up at the roof. “It’s a bit uncomfortable, I suppose,” Loki muttered, “but it could be worse.”

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Sigyn held a bowl to catch the dripping poison.

“Oh, we’ve not finished yet,” the goddess Skadi cried, and she set loose a serpent, which wrapped itself around a jutting stalactite directly above Loki’s upturned face. Poison dripped from the serpent’s fangs into Loki’s eyes, and the Aesir left the cave to the sound of his screams. But Loki’s loyal wife Sigyn did not leave him, and lovingly caught the poison in a bowl. Every so often, though, she had to turn away to empty it. Each time, a few drops from the serpent’s jaws landed on Loki’s face, and his howls of pain were so loud they caused Midgard to shake. And so this is Loki’s terrible fate – until Ragnarök, when he is destined to escape and lead the giants to war against the Aesir.

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Giants And other

creatures

The Norse world is filled with strange creatures, many of which are powerful enough to make even the gods afraid. The giants – often the agents of darkness, disorder and chaos – are the gods’ eternal enemy. Many other creatures make their home in the cosmos. Dwarfs live underground – mining, smelting and making precious objects. There are enormous serpents, ferocious wolves, golden boars, mysterious elves, fiery dragons, and even an eight-legged horse.

Jörmungandr THE WORLD SERPENT

The sea-serpent Jörmungandr is an extraordinary creature. It completely encircles the ocean surrounding Midgard. The serpent lurks just beneath the waves – scales shining in the sunlight, with its tail clasped in its mouth. Ragnarök will begin when Jörmungandr releases its tail.

FAMILY TIES Jörmungandr’s father is the trickster god Loki, and his mother is the giantess Angrboda. The serpent has a sister, Hel, the mournful ruler of the underworld, and a brother too – Fenrir the wolf. Fearing that this child of Loki would grow up to cause trouble, Odin threw Jörmungandr into the ocean. But the serpent survived, and its size – and hatred for the Aesir – grew to epic proportions.

ENEMIES Jörmungandr loathes the Aesir because they killed the Frost Giants, but he hates Thor most of all. Thor once almost caught the serpent while out on a fishing trip, and they will meet again at Ragnarök.

END OF THE COSMOS At Ragnarök, Jörmungandr will crawl onto the land and spray poison into the sea and the air. The serpent will fight Thor to the death. 78

Jörmungandr encircles Midgard, holding its tail in its mouth.

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Giant

Hymir

THE ILL-FATED GIANT Hymir is a giant – or jötunn – who lives in a hall near the sea in Jotunheim. He tried to be a good host when Thor paid a visit, but this ended badly for him when they went out fishing and met the World Serpent Jörmungandr. MOTHER: A monster with 900 heads CHILDREN: Tyr

SACRED SYMBOLS

CAULDRON

OXEN

The giant owns a huge cauldron.The Aesir gods wanted to use it to brew beer.

Hymir raises oxen, which he slaughters and cooks for guests.

FISHING BOAT

CRYSTAL GOBLET

One of Hymir’s favourite activities is fishing. He often fishes for food in the sea near his home.

Hymir owned an unbreakable goblet, which finally shattered when Thor threw it at the giant’s head.

MANY-HEADED MOTHER Some say that Hymir’s mother was a monster with 900 heads. She lived with the giant and guarded his home. It’s also said that she and Tyr, Hymir’s son, did not get along too well. 80

giantess

Skadi

THE SKIING GIANTESS Skadi is a giantess who became accepted by the Aesir as a goddess when she married the sea god, Njord. Skadi is a skilled warrior. When the Aesir killed her father, furious Skadi prepared to crush them in battle. Rather than face her, the Aesir preferred to bargain their way out of trouble. FATHER: Thjazi CHILDREN: Saeming

SACRED SYMBOLS

BOW AND ARROW

WINTER

Skadi is a great hunter and can hit any target with an arrow released from her bow.

Skadi is associated with winter because she lives high up in the freezing mountains.

SERPENT

SKIS

Skadi uses a venomous snake to punish Loki for the death of Baldr.

Skadi is an excellent skier – the best way to travel in snowy mountain areas.

SKADI AND THE SEA Unlike Hymir, Skadi detests the sea. After marrying Njord, she has to stay overnight on the beach and complains at the awful screeching of the gulls waking her up. She prefers her mountain home, where it’s quiet. 81

The Marriage of Njord and Skadi The giantess Skadi lived high up in the snowy mountains in a place called Thunder-home. She was the daughter of Thjazi – the giant whom the Aesir killed for abducting the goddess Idun. When Skadi heard of her father’s death, the walls of Thunder-home shook with shouts and wails, as rage and grief battled in her heart. In the end, rage won. “All the Aesir do is meddle, steal and destroy,” she cried, strapping on her armour and her skis. “To them, life is a game and we are their pawns. Well, this time their crime will be punished.” Skadi skied down the mountains into Asgard, and with a single kick smashed open the doors to the drinking hall where the gods were celebrating Thjazi’s death. They all turned to stare as the grim-faced giantess strode inside, holding her bow and arrow aloft.

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“Do you know why I’m here, Aesir?” she cried. Odin stood up, but before he could speak Skadi had nocked an arrow and pointed it at his remaining eye. “Choose your next words carefully,” she warned. Odin weighed the situation and said, “Has enough blood not already been shed? Perhaps we can offer you something to keep the peace?”

“I want you to cast my father’s eyes into the sky, so I can feel his gaze upon me,” Skadi replied. So Thjazi’s eyes became two stars in the night sky. “My grief overwhelms me,” she continued. “I wish to laugh again.” This time Loki stepped forward. He tied one end of a rope to an angry goat, and the other to his own nose-hairs. Loki and the goat pulled and strained in a protracted and painful game of tug-o-war. Eventually Loki’s nose-hairs tore free, and with a scream he tumbled into Skadi’s lap. “I have one more demand,” Skadi said after she’d finished laughing. “Name it,” Odin replied. “I want to marry a god.”

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Odin stroked his beard. “If that will appease your anger, then so be it. However, you can only choose your husband by looking at his feet.”

Skadi agreed, and all the gods lined up behind a woollen drape with only their feet on show.

Odin told Skadi that she could only choose her husband by looking at his feet.

Skadi the giantess married the sea god Njord – the festivities lasted for days. 84

Now, Skadi had already decided that handsome Baldr was the best match for her, so she picked the nicest pair of feet, assuming them to be his. In fact, they belonged to the sea-god, Njord. Despite her disappointment, Skadi went ahead and married him. It was a lavish ceremony. The hall was decorated with flowers, music filled the air, and the gods ate, drank and danced for days. When the festivities wound down, the Aesir stumbled home, leaving the newlyweds to discuss their domestic arrangements. This is when their problems began. Skadi wanted to live in the mountains, whereas Njord preferred the sea. In the end, they decided to compromise by staying at one home for nine days, and then swapping to the other.

“Behold, Thunder-home!” Skadi declared after leading Njord high up into the snowy peaks. “Breathe the frigid air! Behold the icy-blue sky! Rejoice at the peaceful isolation!” But Njord hated the place and wandered unhappily through Thunder-home’s chilly halls – he felt lonely, and the howls of the wolves kept him awake at night. Nine days later, Njord took Skadi to his home, Noatun – which means “place of boats”.

“Breathe the salty air!” he cried. “Behold the rolling blue waves! Rejoice at the teeming birds!” But Skadi hated Noatun and sulked among the sand-dunes – it was too hot, and the noisy gulls disturbed her sleep. “Njord,” she said. “We need to talk.” The giantess and the god decided that they would never be happy together, and they separated to live in their preferred homes.

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Sigurd and the Dragon One day, Odin, Loki and Hoenir were taking a walk by a river when they saw an otter eating a salmon. Loki threw a rock and killed the otter, and bagged both animals. “The salmon at least will provide a tasty meal,” he said. Later, they came to a farmhouse and asked to stay for the night. “Of course,” the farmer said. “Come inside. My name is Hreidmar, and these are my sons, Fafnir and Regin.” “Dwarfs!” Odin said. “Then I expect you’ll have excellent food to share.” As they ate a fine feast, Loki – in the mood to show off – held the dead otter up by its tail and declared, “Look what I killed with a single stone.” A deathly silence fell over the table. “That’s my son, Otr!” Hreidmar bellowed. “But... it’s an otter,” Loki stammered. “Otr turns himself into an otter sometimes,” said Regin and without hesitation, he tied up the dumbstruck gods. 86

Hreidmar, as was the custom at the time, demanded compensation for the murder of his son. He made a bag from Otr’s skin. “Fill this with gold and I’ll consider the debt repaid,” he growled. “Fail, and I’ll kill you all.” This whole mess being Loki’s fault, the gods agreed that he should be the one to find the gold. Loki set out to seek a wealthy dwarf called Andvari, and found him swimming in fish-form. “Give me every ounce of your gold,” demanded Loki, holding Andvari by the fin. “Or I’ll carve you open from head to tail.” As Loki staggered away with the treasure, the furious dwarf cried, “Death will befall any who possess that gold!” “No problem,” Loki muttered. “I won’t be keeping it.” As soon as the gods had paid their debt, they returned – with much relief – to Asgard. Fafnir took one look at the gold before striking his father dead and throwing his brother Regin out onto the road. “This treasure is mine,” he roared, transforming himself into a monstrous dragon. “And no one shall take it from me!” Fa f n

r ne ir tu

d in

m to a

o

us o r t ns

d

on rag

.

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Despondent about losing his brother and father – but mostly about losing all that gold – Regin moved to a nearby town. There he adopted Sigurd, the son of a king slain in battle. In time, Sigurd grew up to be a courageous, generous and courteous warrior. One day, Regin told Sigurd about Fafnir and the hoard. “Imagine what great deeds we could do with all that treasure,” he said.

“Make for me a sword sharp enough and I will slay any dragon,” Sigurd replied. So Regin laboured over his forge, heating, hammering and dousing until he’d created a sword sharp enough to cut his own anvil in two. “I shall call it Gram,” Sigurd said, giving it an experimental swish. Regin took Sigurd to the hill where Fafnir lived. “There, see how the great worm sits on all that treasure?” the dwarf said, his eyes glinting. Fafnir was huge – a scarlet, scaly, spiky dragon with a sinuous tail and serpentine neck. “I might be brave,” Sigurd gasped, “but I’m not stupid enough to fight that.” As they watched, Fafnir crawled on his belly to a river and took a long drink of water.

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“That gives me an idea,” Sigurd said. That night, he snuck down to the riverbank, dug a hole, and lay down in it. Next morning, as Fafnir crawled down to reach the river, Sigurd leaped up and thrust his sword into the dragon’s soft underbelly. Fafnir slumped to the ground, dead. As they roasted Fafnir’s heart, some of the juices ran onto Sigurd’s finger. When he licked the juice off, he was suddenly able to understand birdsong. “Regin plans to murder you,” a nuthatch twittered. “He wants all that gold for himself.” So Sigurd killed Regin and took the gold, not realizing its deadly curse now fell on him.

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Sigurd and Brynhildr Soon after his fight with the dragon, Sigurd went on a journey into the mountains and came upon a grand hall. Inside lay a woman wearing golden armour, which seemed to grow from her skin. “Who’s this?” Sigurd wondered. He removed the armour and found inside a beautiful warrior-woman called Brynhildr. The woman saw Sigurd’s goodness, and he recognized her strength. They agreed to marry. First, Sigurd had another matter to attend to. A sorceress had wanted Sigurd to marry her daughter, Gudrun. So Sigurd travelled to their court to explain about his new-found love. The sorceress was not happy. She fed Sigurd a potion that made him forget his love for Brynhildr and agree to marry Gudrun instead. On top of this, the scheming sorceress offered her son, Gunnar, to Brynhildr as a husband. But Brynhildr didn’t want to marry this man. She said she would only marry Gunnar if he passed through the wall of flames that surrounded her hall. 90

The sorceress knew that this task was impossible for Gunnar, but not for Sigurd. She used her magic powers to transform Sigurd into Gunnar. In this new form, he walked unharmed through the inferno, and then returned to his own shape. Fooled by the sorceress’s magic, and with a heavy heart, Brynhildr agreed to marry Gunnar.

The two couples – Sigurd and Gudrun, Gunnar and Brynhildr – were wed on the same day. Later, the two young wives went bathing in a river. “My husband’s more courageous than yours,” Brynhildr said. “Only he was brave enough to pass through my fire.” Annoyed by her bragging, Gudrun said that she knew that Brynhildr had been cheated into marrying Gunnar. Brynhildr was furious. She felt betrayed by Sigurd and in her anger she arranged to have him killed. However, once the dreadful deed was done, Brynhildr was full of regret. She took her own life and was burned alongside Sigurd on his funeral pyre.

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Brokkr and Eitri MAGICAL METAL WORKERS

Dwarf brothers Brokkr and Eitri live in an underground realm called Svartalfheim, where they use their unmatched skill with magic and precious metals to make treasures, tools and weapons. They have a fierce rivalry with another group of dwarfs called the Sons of Ivaldi.

BROKKR AND EITRI’S TREASURES

GULLINBURSTI

MJÖLNIR

This boar, whose name means “golden bristles”, was a companion to the god Freyr.

Meaning “mountain grinder”, this hammer always hits its target and returns to Thor’s hand. .

DRAUPNIR This golden ring was given to Odin. Eight identical new rings drip from it every nine days. Draupnir means “dripper”.

MINERS, MAKERS AND MURDERERS There are many kinds of dwarf – some are evil, others are good. They delve into the earth, searching for precious metals to make into beautiful, unique and magical artefacts. Dwarfs are not necessarily short. 92

OTHER DWARF TREASURES The Sons of Ivaldi were also skilled at metalwork – they made each of the treasures below, apart from Brisingamen. Nobody knows which dwarfs made this.

SIF’S GOLDEN HAIR A skullcap of golden hair was made to replace the tresses that Loki cut from Sif’s head.

GLEIPNIR Light, supple and made from six impossible things, this is the only chain strong enough to hold Fenrir.

SKIDBLADNIR This best of ships belongs to Freyr. It can be folded and kept in a bag when not needed.

GUNGNIR Odin’s spear (“the swaying one”) always strikes its target no matter how poorly it is thrown.

BRISINGAMEN This bright necklace, or torque, was worn by the goddess Freya.

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The Binding of Fenrir Loki was many things, but he was also a father. With the giantess Angrboda, he had a monstrous, black-haired wolf called Fenrir. The gods knew that the offspring of a giantess and a deceitful trickster like Loki was bound to bring calamity down onto the cosmos, so they kept the wolf pup in Asgard where they could keep an eye on him. Only Tyr, the god of war, had the courage to get close enough to feed him. Fenrir grew quickly. His fur became thick and spiky, while his claws and teeth were like curved, bladed scimitars. His yellow eyes glowed like twin moons in the dark. Even Thor, the largest of the gods, looked small in Fenrir’s shadow.

The Aesir’s fear of Fenrir also grew quickly, so they hatched a plan to bind him up forever. First, they forged two huge chains from the strongest metal in the land. Then they challenged Fenrir to test his strength by breaking out of them. “Very well,” Fenrir said. “I’m strong enough to snap any fetter you lot can make.” So Fenrir allowed himself to be secured with the first chain – called Laeding – and broke it with a single kick. “I told you!” the great wolf snarled.

And so the gods turned to the second chain – Dromi – which was twice as strong. Odin himself wrapped the heavy iron links around Fenrir’s legs, confident that it was impossible for any beast to escape. The beast strained and bared his teeth. He thrashed and flailed, muscles nearly bursting through his skin. Finally, the chain shattered into a thousand pieces. The gods looked on in shock as Fenrir loped away.

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“That was the strongest chain we’ve ever made,” Odin said. “But we must bind the wolf before he brings disaster down on us.” “The dwarfs are the best smiths in the Nine Worlds,” Freya offered. “Only they can create a bond strong enough to hold Fenrir.” So the request was sent to the mines in Nidavellir, the home of the dwarfs, deep down underground. For days the dwarfs laboured to complete a chain not of metal, but of the sound of a cat’s footsteps, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the breath of a fish, and the spittle of a bird – things that don’t exist and so against which no one, not even Fenrir, could struggle. It was called Gleipnir. “It doesn’t even look like a chain,” Odin said, examining it with his one keen eye. “It’s like a length of ribbon.” “But is it strong?” Freya asked. “Let’s see,” Odin said, and he called out to the wolf: “Oh, Fenrir! Would you like to test your strength again?”

Fenrir sniffed the ribbon suspiciously. “It’s like no chain I’ve ever seen before,” he growled. “I sense trickery.” “No trickery,” Odin said. “You have my word.” “Not good enough. As a gesture of good faith, I want one of you to put their hand in my mouth while I try to escape.” 96

Tyr put his hand in Fenrir’s jaws.

The gods ummed and ahhed until brave Tyr stepped forward. As Odin secured the ribbon, Tyr put his hand in Fenrir’s jaws. Once again, the wolf strained every sinew, but no matter how hard he struggled he could not break free. Yellow eyes blazing, he clamped his teeth around Tyr’s wrist and bit his hand clean off. The triumphant gods tied Fenrir to a boulder and placed a sword in his mouth to hold it open. The wolf howled as a foamy river of drool flowed from his throat. And miserably trapped he’ll remain, until he can seek his vengeance... at Ragnarök.

Fenrir was bound by a strange ribbon-like chain. 97

Fenrir

THE FEARSOME GOD-KILLER Fenrir (“he who dwells in marshes”) is an enormous wolf with blazing eyes – but he’s not a mindless monster. Fenrir is clever and can speak to the Aesir. Fearing Fenrir, the gods chained him up, and from his mouth pours a river of spit called “Expectation”. PARENTS: Loki and Angrboda (a giantess) CHILDREN: believed to be Sköll and Hati SIBLINGS: Jörmungandr and Hel

OTHER WOLVES

SKÖLL

HATI

Sköll (which means “treachery”) pursues the Sun across the sky – he’ll swallow it at Ragnarök.

Hati (“he who hates”) chases the Moon. Like Skoll, he’ll consume his prey at Ragnarök.

GERI AND FREKI This wolf pair belongs to Odin, and they accompany him everywhere. Both their names mean “greedy”.

FENRIR’S FATE Fenrir is destined to break from his chains and run amok at Ragnarök. During that epic struggle, this great wolf will fight and slay Odin, and in turn be killed by Vidar, the All-Father’s vengeful son. 98

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The Duel of Hrungnir and Thor The Sun blazed over Asgard like a polished bronze shield. Most of the Aesir were idling in the heat, but Odin felt restless... “I must plot, learn and take advantage of others to further the Aesir’s cause,” he brooded. “Otherwise we’ll be unprepared when Ragnarök comes.” So he mounted eight-legged Sleipnir and rode out to spy on the Frost Giants. Upon emerging from a forest deep in Jotunheim, Odin found the road blocked by an enormous figure. “O-ho!” the giant rumbled. “I’ve been watching you ride from afar, little man. Your horse flies over the land like a bird!” “Sleipnir’s faster than any horse from your realm, I’d wager my head on it!” Odin replied, annoyed at being called “little man”.

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“I accept your wager,” said the giant. “And look forward to tearing off your head and kicking it into the sea!” And this giant – whose name was Hrungnir, or “brawler” – meant what he said.

So Hrungnir mounted his horse, called Gullfaxi, which means “golden mane”. The giant and the god raced through field, fen and forest striking sparks and kicking stones as the land swept by in a blur. Before they knew it, they’d barrelled into Asgard and come to a panting, sweating, skidding halt in front of the drinking hall. “Looks like I’ll keep my head,” a victorious Odin said. “But be a good sport and drink with us.” The Aesir welcomed Hrungnir and gave him so much ale he became drunk and very bad tempered. “You lot think you’re so much better than us giants,” he bellowed. “I’ve a mind to kill you all and smash Asgard into rubble!” Odin leaned close to Heimdall. “I’m tired of this boorish giant. Go fetch Thor from the mountains.”

Hrungnir was welcomed by the Aesir and drank lots of ale. 101

It wasn’t long before Heimdall returned with the Thunder God, by which time Hrungnir was shouting “Wretched, puny Aesir!” at the top of his lungs and smashing tables with his anvil-sized fists. “How dare you disrespect our hall with such loutish behaviour,” Thor cried, brandishing Mjölnir. “I will strike you dead where you stand!” “You’d kill an unarmed opponent?” Hrungnir said, holding out his empty hands. “That’s not very noble for a mighty god like you. How about a proper fight, at dawn tomorrow?” Thor accepted immediately. “I can hardly wait,” he growled. They met next morning on a plain of dew-sprinkled grass. Clad in stone armour, carrying a stone shield and wielding a huge whetstone, Hrungnir, who had a head and heart of stone, looked more fearsome than ever. “Ready?” he boomed.

Lightning flickered across the Thunder God’s brow. “Always,” he said softly. At the exact same moment, each threw their weapon at the other... And Mjölnir struck Hrungnir right between the eyes. Death was instant and the ground shuddered as the giant fell.

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Too slow to duck, Thor’s forehead took the full force of Hrungnir’s whetstone, which shattered into a million shards. “Ow!” Thor exclaimed. “That hurt!” “You won the duel,” Odin said, examining his son’s bloodied face, “but this doesn’t look good.” Odin took the dazed Thor to see a healer called Groa. “There’s a piece of the whetstone embedded in the bone,” she said, “but I should be able to remove it.”

Thor felt the shard move as the sorceress sang her spells. To encourage her, he told Groa that he had seen her husband – thought to be long dead – alive in the wilderness. Unfortunately, Groa was so overcome with emotion at this news, she forgot her healing spells. And so the shard remained in Thor’s forehead from that day forward.

Even Groa the healer couldn’t get the whetstone out of Thor’s head.

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Thor Visits Utgarda-Loki

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Thor and Loki were far from Asgard, exploring in Thor’s goat-drawn chariot, when they came upon an isolated farmhouse. It was getting dark, so they asked the farmer if they could stay for a night. He welcomed them inside and introduced his son, Thjalfi, and daughter, Röskva. “Thank you for your hospitality. I offer my goats as a splendid supper,” Thor said. The farmer frowned. “But don’t you need them to pull your chariot?” “Oh yes,” Thor replied. “But I can bring them back to life tomorrow!” The next morning, sure enough, the goats were magically restored. Thor asked if Thjalfi and Röskva would like to join them on their travels as helpers. The farmer agreed, but only if Thor left his goats behind in exchange. Thor did so, and the four companions set out together, crossing oceans and delving into forests until they reached Jotunheim. One night, they were sleeping in a deserted hall when they were suddenly woken by a bone-shaking earthquake. To their amazement, they saw an enormous giant lying stretched out by the hall, snoring. Thor raised his hammer, Mjölnir, to kill him, but the giant woke up just in time.

“Hello,” he boomed. “My name’s Skrymir. Have you been sleeping in my glove?” And with that, he picked up the hall and slipped it onto his hand. The party set off once more – now with a giant for company. The following evening, Skrymir fell asleep under an oak tree. 105

Thor decided to take a look inside the giant’s bag, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t undo the knot. Red-faced with rage, the Thunder God struck Skrymir on the head with Mjölnir. But the giant merely sat up and said, “Did a leaf just land on me?” before going back to sleep. Skrymir’s snores rolled around the valley like thunder, until Thor could stand it no longer. “I need my beauty sleep!” he bellowed before once again bringing Mjölnir crashing down onto the giant’s head. But Skrymir only said, “I think an acorn just landed on me,” and drifted into a doze.

“Argh!” Down again came Mjölnir, and this time Thor put every ounce of his strength into the blow, so that the clang of metal striking bone scared all the birds from the oak tree. “Strange,” Skrymir muttered, opening one eye. “I think a twig might have fallen on me.” It came as a relief – especially for Thor – when Skrymir went off on his own, leaving the companions to continue in peace. After a time, they found themselves staring up at the imposing towers and ramparts of a castle called Utgard.

The travellers arrived at Utgard.

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The formidable gates were locked, but the company managed to slip between the bars and soon found themselves inside a cavernous drinking hall filled with giants enjoying a feast. Giant King Utgarda-Loki sat at the head of the table, and he laughed when he saw his uninvited guests. “Who are you who’ve crawled under my gate? Mice, are you? Or insects?” Loki stepped forward before Thor could throw his hammer. “I’m a god,” said Loki, “and I bet I can eat faster than any giant.” So a trough of roast meat was set down – Loki sat at one end and a giant called Logi sat at the other.

“Eat!” Utgarda-Loki roared, and the feeding-frenzy began. God and giant met in the middle, but where Loki had only eaten the meat, Logi had also stuffed himself with the bones, gristle, and even the trough! “Giants win!” Utgarda-Loki crowed. Next, the boy Thjalfi challenged a giant to three running races, but he lost each time. 107

Then it was Thor’s turn. “No one can drink more than me,” he boasted, so the giants gave him a horn brimming with ale. “Drain this and you win,” Utgarda-Loki said. Thor began to drink, and drink and drink. His face reddened, ale spilled down his beard, his stomach swelled to bursting point, but still the horn stayed full. “Another giant victory!” Utgarda-Loki said. “How about an easier challenge?” “Like what?” Thor said sulkily. Utgarda-Loki pointed to a cat sitting placidly by the fire. “Lift him up.”

“Huh! That’s no challenge!” And yet, try as he might, Thor could only lift up one of the cat’s paws. “What’s wrong with me?” he cried. “Well now,” Utgarda-Loki said, smirking, “surely you can beat an old woman at wrestling?” Thor puffed out his chest. “Of course I can. Show me my opponent!” “Elli,” Utgarda-Loki called, and a small, scrawny woman hobbled in. Long and fiercely they fought, with Thor being humiliatingly thrown around the hall like a ragdoll. UtgardaLoki held up his hand. “No more contests,” he said, and they spent the rest of the night feasting and getting along surprisingly well. 108

Next morning, Utgarda-Loki told Thor his secret. “I’ve been using magic to trick you,” he said. “You remember Skrymir? That was me. The knot in my bag you couldn’t undo was made of iron. And I only survived those three hammer blows by deflecting them with sorcery.” Thor gaped as Utgarda-Loki continued: “Loki’s opponent was no giant, but fire, which consumes everything. Thjalfi raced against thought, which no one can outpace. Your drinking horn was connected to the sea, which you nearly drained. The cat was the World Serpent, Jörmungandr, which you actually lifted into the sky.” “And the woman who threw me about?” “Old age, which beats everyone.” Before a furious Thor could raise Mjölnir to strike, Utgarda-Loki and his castle disappeared.

The

ENd

of the

cosmos

Everything that begins has to end – day turns to night, summer gives way to winter, green leaves fade to brown. The Norse applied this understanding of life and death to their gods. The Norse gods are not immortal. They can be hurt and even killed. Ragnarök – the gods’ inevitable doom – hangs ever over them like a storm-cloud, casting a shadow they can never entirely ignore.

HEL

GODDESS OF THE UNDERWORLD Hel lives far from the sight of the living souls who dread her, so perhaps it’s no surprise that her name means “hidden”. She lurks in the chambers and halls of the land of the dead: Niflheim. She is partially beautiful, partially blue-skinned and rotten, and entirely gloomy. PARENTS: Loki and Angrboda (a giantess) SIBLINGS: Jörmungandr the World Serpent and Fenrir the wolf

SACRED SYMBOL

GARMR Garmr is a ferocious wolf, with blood-matted fur, that guards the gates of Niflheim.

HEL’S REALM Odin gave Hel Niflheim, which means “world of mist”, to rule. It’s a grim, cold place where the souls of the dishonourable are sent. The worst part is Nastrond – “corpse shore”. Here lie the ghosts of murderers and oath-breakers, and the dragon Nidhogg sucks their blood. 112

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Ragnarök

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And so to Ragnarök: the twilight of the gods and their inescapable doom. Odin’s efforts to stave off Ragnarök had failed, and the Aesir turned to face their deaths bravely. It was the Norns who brought about this unavoidable fate. First came Fimbulvetr, a winter that lasted for three years. The Sun’s warmth faded, and blinding snow swirled from the East, West, North and South. Ice crackled up from the earth – a white net, strong as iron, covered every surface. Freezing fog seeped through windows. All the hearths went out, never to be lit again. Darkness descended like a breaking wave, and death arrived. Harvests failed, fruit trees withered, animals perished, and the people began to starve. They wandered the land with pale, pinched faces and skinny limbs, driven to steal and even kill for a scrap of food.

Families and friends turned on one another. Nothing existed except fear and the brutal struggle to survive. In the heavens above, the ravening wolves Sköll and Hati finally caught up with their prey, and with jaws agape swallowed whole the Sun and the Moon. People wailed and fell to the ground. The stars blinked out, leaving nothing behind but a black void. Yggdrasil, the tree that held the cosmos together, trembled and shook. Leaves, bark and branches fell and were carried away on the howling wind. The ground rumbled, lava spurted forth, and all the mountains crumbled into dust. But worse was still to come. 115

Remember the enemies that the Aesir had made: Loki, tortured by a serpent; Fenrir, tricked and chained with his mouth propped open by a sword; baby Jörmungandr hurled by Odin into the sea to die. Now was the time for them to break free and have their revenge. Fenrir snapped his chain, spat out the sword and ran free across the land. His lower jaw tore up the ground, his upper ripped a hole in the sky, and he devoured everything in his path.

Far out to sea, Jörmungandr finally let go of his tail. Water cascaded from his flanks as he rose like a mountain range from the depths. Towering waves rolled up the beaches to drown the land. Jörmungandr swam in their wake and spewed poison into the sky.

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The rolling sea dislodged Naglfar, the black ship made from the fingernails of the dead. This vessel of doom sailed over the flooded earth, crewed by Loki and the Frost Giants. Spears and swords they held, as they sang songs of vengeance.

The sky, once Ymir’s skull, split open with a deafening crack. Fire and smoke surged through the gap, followed by the fearsome giants of Muspelheim and their king, Surt. Their beards were black, their skin smelled of sulphur, and their hearts burned with hatred for the Aesir. Heimdall blew Gjallarhorn when he saw this army of giants crossing Bifrost, and his heart broke as the bridge collapsed behind them. Alerted by the horn, Odin sought advice from Mimir, then gathered the Einherjar – the spirits of brave warriors who have fallen in combat. The rest of the gods entered the battlefield, known as Aigrid, for this last desperate fight.

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Thunder roared and lightning flashed as the Aesir and Jotunn met. Odin hurled Gungnir and it sunk deep into Fenrir’s shoulder, who howled as he leaped forward and swallowed the All-Father. Cries of woe rose from the Aesir. Vidar, seeing his father’s death, propped Fenrir’s mouth open with a magical shoe and plunged a sword into his throat. The mighty wolf’s eyes rolled in their sockets and he died in a fountain of blood. Elsewhere, one-handed Tyr fought Garmr, the blood-stained wolf that guarded the gates of Niflheim.

Wolf and god locked together in combat, and both died. Heimdall and Loki fought. They slashed and stabbed until they were mortally wounded. Surt and Freyr clashed and met their ends in a flurry of flaming blades.

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Thor attacked Jörmungandr, his age-old rival. Long they fought as carnage raged around them. The World Serpent lunged and swiped with his tail, but the mighty Thor dodged every blow. The great beast spewed venom at Thor, who took nine paces before falling dead to the ground.

So much blood drained into the earth that it sank into the sea, leaving nothing behind. This is the end for the Aesir – it’s as if they’d never existed at all. Some say a new land will emerge, and two humans called Lif and Lifthrasir will populate it with their children. Who knows, perhaps they will.

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about the

Myths

The stories, characters and creatures of Norse mythology were created and passed on from generation to generation more than 1,000 years ago. And, thanks to the Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson, they have survived today for us all to enjoy. The myths provide a valuable insight into the fertile Norse imagination, how they recreated their own visible world and the invisible realms of their gods.

The Norse To truly understand the wonderful tales of Norse mythology, we need to know about the people who created and told them. Who were the Norse? How did they live their lives? And are there any truths behind these fantastic stories?

WARRIORS The Norse people, also called the Vikings, were feared across northern Europe from around 790 to 1050 ce. They staged lightning raids on neighbouring lands – killing, stealing and taking slaves. No wonder their myths are gruesome!

FARM WORKERS Many Norse warriors were also farmers. They tilled the land, all year round, from dawn until dusk. Women and children helped out on farms too. Some Norse stories tell of hard work, such as “The Mead of Poetry” in which Odin toils in the fields.

Norse farmers, helped by slaves called “thralls”, grew wheat, barley, rye and oats, and reared cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and hens. Fish and meat were preserved by salting and drying. They prayed to their gods and goddesses for a good harvest.

For protection, wealthy Vikings wore domed iron helmets and chainmail. Poorer Vikings made do with thick, padded leather garments. All carried large, brightly coloured wooden shields.

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Just like the gods and giants, the Vikings fought with spears, axes, bows, knives and, occasionally, hammers. Only wealthy Vikings could afford swords.

RING FORTS The Vikings built fortified towns called ring forts. Ditches and earthen ramparts, or walls, topped with wooden logs made it hard for attackers to get inside. Each ring fort had four gates – placed north, south, east, and west. They were narrow, making them easier to defend. Mythical Asgard – with its wall built by giants – is similar to a ring fort. Inside the ringed walls of the fort were houses, stables and workshops.

The Norse asked Freyr, god of fertility, to bless their marriages with happiness and good fortune. Freya, a popular goddess, was also called upon in matters of love.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS The early Norse people believed in many gods and goddesses, including the major deities from Norse myths, such as Odin, Thor, Freya, Freyr and Sif. People made figurines of them to worship. Later, the Norse were converted to Christianity.

After a brave death, it was believed a Viking’s soul was carried to Valhalla – a majestic hall for eating, drinking, fighting and celebrating.

CRAFTWORKERS Like the dwarfs in their myths, the Norse were skilled craftworkers. Blacksmiths hammered red-hot iron to make knives, axe-heads, spear-tips, arrowheads, swords, and tools for farming and housework. Jewellers used gold, silver, bronze and pewter (a mixture of tin and lead) to make bracelets, necklaces (torques), brooches, and finger- and arm-rings.

Norse women used looms to weave woollen clothes and pictures to hang on their walls. In mythology, the Sons of Ivaldi used their weaving skills to create Sif’s golden hair.

The Norse were expert blacksmiths. The dwarfs of Norse myth made treasures such as Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, and Odin’s spear, Gungnir.

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PICTURE CARVINGS While most ancient cultures wrote on paper, parchment or papyrus (an early form of plant-based paper), the Vikings carved images and letters from their Old Norse alphabet onto stone and wood. This helped to immortalize their myths and stories, and the characters and creatures who appeared in them.

The story of Sigurd and the dragon was carved into a church doorway in Hylestad, Norway, around 800 years ago.

Snakes and serpentine dragons are common in Norse mythology. There is a carving of a Viking fighting a snake at City Hall in Norway’s capital, Oslo.

Telling the stories The Vikings created incredible stories filled with interesting characters. Some tales are funny, others tragic, many are epic and action-packed, others simply strange. These stories were not written down and read from a book at first. Instead they were remembered, spoken aloud, and passed down by word of mouth to each generation. The Vikings believed that Odin himself had given them the gift of storytelling. 124

RUNES Vikings wrote using symbols called runes. The runes were designed with simple lines so they could be carved quickly and easily onto stone or wood. The Norse alphabet was called “futhark”, after the first six letters: f, u, th, a, r and k. h

n

f

u

th

a

r

k

i

a

s

t

b

m

l

R

Rune letters

NORSE POETRY The Vikings loved to sit around the fire listening to poems. Norse poetry can be divided into two types. Eddic poems featured myths and stories starring the gods. Skaldic poems usually retold historical events. They were written by Skalds (poets) for Scandinavian kings and leaders.

Snorri Sturluson (1179-1241) was an Icelandic historian and poet who wrote The Prose Edda using older sources. Much of our knowledge of Norse mythology comes from this important literary work.

WRITING THE STORIES It wasn’t until after the Viking Age that the Norse myths were written down. The Prose Edda was written in the 1200s and is a mixture of prose and poetry. It includes accounts of the Norse creation myth, the wars between the gods, giants, dwarfs and elves, and the final battle of Ragnarök.

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The Cosmos Just as our world is split into different countries with their own beliefs and cultures, so too is the mythical realm of the Norse. Their cosmos is made up of nine worlds. The gods oversee, and often meddle with, some of these worlds – yet they have no access to others, such as Muspelheim. At the centre of it all is Yggdrasil, the World Tree, binding everything together. GINNUNGAGAP Before the creation of the cosmos, there was only Ginnungagap. Life sprang forth from this yawning void when the freezing winds and ice of the north met and mixed with the sizzling sparks and fire from the south.

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YGGDRASIL

BIFROST

This great ash tree stands in the centre of the cosmos, holding the worlds together in its roots and branches. Rivers spring from it, and concealed beneath is Mimir’s Well, source of all wisdom.

The Rainbow Bridge is a magical link allowing the gods to travel to and from Midgard. The all-seeing god Heimdall guards it from invaders, but it’s destined to be destroyed at Ragnarök.

THREE WELLS AND THREE ROOTS

INNANGARD AND UTANGARD

Yggdrasil has three long and twisting roots, each connected to a well. The first reaches the Well of Urd in Asgard, where the three Norns live. The second reaches Mimir’s Well in Jotunheim. The third reaches Hvergelmir, the “bubbling cauldron”, found in Niflheim.

The Norse believed in two opposing ways of being: innangard, meaning “within the enclosure”, and utangard, or “outside the enclosure”. The ordered, civilized gods and humans lived innangard, while the more chaotic, wild giants, dwarfs and elves lived utangard.

Nine worlds

The Norse cosmos is made up of nine realms populated by gods, giants, elves, dwarfs, mortals, and any number of monsters, creatures and spirits. Some worlds are beautiful, bright and full of life, others are dark, barren, and the home of dead souls.

ASGARD This is home to the Aesir gods and goddesses – a fortified place connected to Midgard by a magical bridge called Bifrost.

VANAHEIM

MIDGARD

This land is where the Vanir – the gods and goddesses of nature – came from.

This is the realm where men and women live. It is found further out from Asgard on the World Tree.

NIFLHEIM

JOTUNHEIM

Criminals, oath-breakers and those who die dishonourably go to this chilly land of the dead.

The land of the giants is a place where the gods go to fight, have adventures and make mischief.

ALFHEIM MUSPELHEIM This smouldering land, smoke-choked and hot, is home to the destructive Fire Giants and their swarthy leader, Surtr.

A bright and glorious realm where the light elves live, with the Vanir god Freyr as their ruler.

SVARTALFHEIM NIDAVELLIR This vast, deep mine is home to the dwarfs. The air glows fiery orange and echoes with the sound of industry.

A shadowy, underground place. Some dwarfs live here, as well as the mysterious and dangerous dark elves.

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Gods and Goddesses

THE AESIR GODS

The gods and goddesses of Norse mythology are a varied bunch. Each character has a unique personality, with good points, but with flaws and weaknesses too. Although often skilful, powerful and sometimes able to wield magic, they are not immortal. Baldr dies, and all the gods fear the coming of Ragnarök.

The Aesir represent power and warfare. They live in Asgard and see it as their job to maintain order in the cosmos. They mostly do this by fighting the Frost Giants, their arch enemies who stand for darkness and disorder.

THOR

ODIN

SIF

IDUN

HERMOD BALDR BRAGI

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THE VANIR GODS The Vanir are the second tier of gods in Norse mythology. Less important than the Aesir, they are associated with health, fertility, nature and wisdom. They are also magic-wielders and can see into the future. The Vanir joined the Aesir to end the Aesir-Vanir War.

NJORD NERTHUS

FREYA FRIGG FREYR LOKI

HEIMDALL

DAYS OF THE WEEK VILI AND VE

Four of our days are named after Norse gods: Tuesday comes from Tyr, Wednesday from Odin (or “Woden”, the Old English version of Odin), Thursday comes from Thor, and Friday is named after Frigg.

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Giants The Norse giants, whose proper name is jotnar (meaning “devourers”), are the gods’ greatest rivals. These giants are not like the huge, human-like and usually slow-witted ones found in fairy tales. Most jotnar are not oversized at all, and some are beautiful. Like the gods, they are not purely good or evil, and are capable of kindness as well as cruelty. They can also be creative – the cosmos was made by the first giant, Ymir.

GIANTS AND GIANTESSES

Mimir is the wisest of all the creatures of the cosmos and became counsellor to Odin. He might be a giant or a god.

There are three main types of giant, who live in their own worlds within the cosmos. There are Frost Giants, Mountain Giants, and Fire Giants. The Fire Giants are led by Surtr and include Loki in their ranks. All giants are destined to fight the gods at Ragnarök.

It was a Mountain Giant who bet the Aesir that he could build a wall around Asgard. It was only Loki’s trickery that caused him to fail.

GIANT BEASTS Though not usually classed as jotnar themselves, many of the huge creatures of Norse mythology are born from giants. These include the wolf Fenrir and the serpent Jörmungandr – created by Loki and the giantess Angrboda.

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Nidhogg is a malicious serpent-dragon who constantly gnaws at one of Yggdrasil’s roots as well as the dishonourable dead in Niflheim.

Tossed by Odin into the sea to die, Jörmungandr grew long enough to encircle Midgard. It harboured a hatred for the Aesir – especially Thor.

YMIR From this being all other giants came, springing from his armpits and legs. Yet, when Odin killed Ymir, nearly all his giant offspring were drowned in the blood that ran from his wounds. Odin made the cosmos from Ymir’s remains.

Aegir and Ran are husband and wife. They live in a magnificent hall under the sea, and sometimes entertain the gods there. Their nine children are spirits of the waves.

Surtr is the ferocious leader of the Fire Giants. He wields a blazing sword and wreaks great destruction during Ragnarök.

Skadi is a giantess who lives in the snow-capped mountains of Jotunheim. She’s a fierce warrior and loves to ski.

Sköll and Hati are no ordinary wolves. They surge across the skies with a dreadful aim: to swallow the Sun and Moon.

Fenrir was adopted by the Aesir. However, they cruelly chained him up when they became frightened of his strength.

Garmr is the fearsome wolf that guards the gates into Niflheim, preventing the living from entering and the dead from escaping.

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Nordri (North)

Sudri (South)

DWARFS The most skilled craftworkers in the cosmos, dwarfs live underground – mining, metalworking and making treasures. Some say they grew from the maggots that crawled in the dead body of the giant Ymir, others say the gods created them.

The Sons of Ivaldi are a group of master craftsmen of metal and magic. They made Odin’s spear, Freyr’s ship and Sif’s golden hair.

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These four dwarfs were placed by Odin at the four corners of the sky – made from Ymir’s skull – and ordered to hold it up.

Austri (East)

Vestri (West)

Svartalfheim is the dwarf’s underground home – a maze of tunnels, halls and fire-lit forges, ringing with the sound of hammers striking metal.

Brokkr and Eitri are brothers, expert treasure-makers, and rivals to the Sons of Ivaldi. They created Thor’s hammer, Freyr’s golden boar and Odin’s magical ring, Draupnir.

ELVES There are two types of elf. Bright, “good” elves are almost godlike creatures that deal in magic and are close to nature and the Vanir. The dark, “evil” elves also have magical powers, and live in an underground land.

Bright elves are very beautiful and said to be brighter than the Sun.

Because they live underground, dark elves are sometimes confused with dwarfs, but they are very different.

DWARFS, TROLLS AND ELVES All over the Norse cosmos are strange and magical beings, connected by ever-shifting alliances, loyalties and rivalries. Although the gods and giants hold the most power, these other creatures can influence events and can even outdo the gods in certain ways.

TROLLS Trolls are closely related to the giants. They are usually large and can be frighteningly ugly, although some are more human-like in appearance. Unhelpful and even hostile to other beings, trolls are best avoided. Sunlight turns them into stone landmarks.

Trolls usually lurk in harsh, lonely places such as mountains or rocky caves.

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DISIR

VALKYRIES

Disir means “ladies”. These female spirits are closely connected to fate and destiny. They can be kind or hostile to humans. Disir were sometimes adopted by Norse families and clans to be their guardian.

The Valkyries are female spirits who fly over battlefields and select the fallen warriors worthy of sitting with Odin in the halls of Valhalla. Once their choice is made, the Valkyrie lifts the warrior up and carries him away to become one of the Einherjar.

Spirits The Norse believed that strange and powerful spirits hovered over battlefields, accompanied travellers on long journeys, and were even present at the birth of every child. There were invisible forces everywhere and spirits who controlled the fate of people, bestowing luck, both good and bad.

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THE NORNS Norns are all-powerful and all-knowing female spirits. A Norn is present at the birth of every human, and they are there to decide that person’s fate. Evil Norns choose a bad future for the human, while good Norns choose a prosperous one. The three Norns living under Yggdrasil will decide when Ragnarök begins.

LAND SPIRITS

Hamingjur are attendant spirits.

Land spirits are also called “landvaettir”, or “land wights”. These creatures live in and protect features of the natural world, such as trees, rocks, waterfalls, fields, or even whole lands. Landvaettir also have the power to bestow blessings and lay on curses.

HELPFUL SPIRITS Some spirits stay with one person, and they’re called attendant spirits. Hamingjur travel alongside people, directing and bringing good luck. Fylgjur take the shape of an animal, such as a bear, horse, bull, bird, or fox, and sometimes appear in a person’s dreams. Some people have more than one fylgjur.

The eight-legged horse Sleipnir (“slippper”) is the offspring of Loki and a fast-moving fylgjur of Odin.

Hugin (“thought”) and Munin (“memory”) are Odin’s pet ravens. As his fylgjur, they fly all over Midgard and bring important news back to him.

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NILFHEIM The souls of those who died dishonourably are sent to the underground kingdom of Niflheim – the World of Fog ruled by the gloomy goddess Hel. It was said that whole families would end up together after death, close to landmarks they knew in life, such as mountains or streams.

THe afterlife Life in the Viking Age was hard, and the threat of famine and disease was never far away. No Viking felt the chill of death quite so closely as a warrior risking his life at sea, on a raid or in battle. So it’s no wonder that the question of what happened to a person’s soul after death was of great importance to the Norse. VALHALLA The Hall of the Slain. This is where half the warriors who fall bravely in battle go (the others go to Freya). Valhalla is a magnificent banqueting hall with a roof made from shields, and rafters from spears. Wolves guard its 540 doors and eagles circle the roof.

Einherjar or the “army of one” dwell in Valhalla. These souls of the bravest Viking warriors feast, drink and make merry – but only until Ragnarök, when they must go forth and fight for Odin one last time.

Hel, daughter of Loki, rules over the disgraced dead. Her face is downcast, her manner cold and uncaring.

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Saehrimnir is a boar who is slaughtered and cooked in a giant cauldron and eaten by the Einherjar every single day, only to be brought back to life afterwards.

FÓLKVANGR A huge goat called Heidrun eats from a tree and produces an endless supply of delicious mead from her udders. This is drunk by the Einherjar.

Fólkvangr (“field of armies”) is Freya’s home, where half of those warriors who die bravely are sent. Not much is known about it, but it’s said to be “great and fair”.

NORSE FUNERALS Valkyries are powerful female spirits who fly over battlefields and choose which of the slain to carry to Valhalla. They give horns of mead to the chosen warriors when they arrive.

Important Norse were buried under mounds of earth, along with their belongings, including weapons, armour, treasure, animals such as horses and dogs, and sometimes a whole ship. It’s not known how often, or if ever, the Norse cremated (burned) their dead in ships, as in Baldr’s story.

REBIRTH Some accounts say that the dead can be reborn into the body of one of their descendants. 137

pronunciation guide Pronunciation and spelling of Norse names vary from country to country. This is a guide to how they are often pronounced in English.

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AEGIR EYE-eer

DISIR DEE-seer

FUTHARK FUTH-arc

HATI HAT-ee

AESIR ai-SEER

DRAUPNIR DROPE-neer

FYLGJA FEEL-ya

HEIDRUN HEY-droon

ALFHEIM ALF-hame

EDDA EDD-ah

GALAR GAH-lahr

HEIMDALL HAME-dahl

ANGRBODA ANG-ger-boh-duh

EINHERJAR ANE-hair-yar

GARMR GAR-mur

HEL hel

ASGARD ASS-gard

EITRI AY-tree

GERI GAY-ree

HERMOD HAIR-mot

ASK ass-k

EMBLA EM-blah

GEROR GER-ur

HILDISVÍNI HIL-dis-vin-ee

AUDHUMLA OW-doom-lah

FAFNIR FAF-neer

GERSEMI GER-sem-i

HIMINBJÖ HIMINBJ ÖRG HIM-in-byorg

AUSTRI OW-stree

FÁRBAUTI FAR-baut-ee

GILLING GIL-ing

HLIDSKJALF HLID-skialf

BALDR BAL-dur

FENRIR FEN-reer

GINNUNGAGAP GHIN-un-ga-gap

HLIN hleen

BAUGI BAU-gee

FIMBULVETR FIM-bul-vet-er

GJALLARHORN YAL-ar-horn

HNOSS noss

BERGELMIR BERG-ell-meer

FJALAR FYA-lahr

GJÖ GJ ÖLL gyoll

HODR HOD-ur

BESTLA BEST-la

FJÖLNIR Fi-OL-neer

GNA ger-NAH

HOENIR HOO-neer

BIFROST BEE-frost

FJÖ FJ ÖRGYNN FIOR-gen

GROA GROW-a

HOFUD HO-fud

BOR bor

FÓLKVANGR FOLK-vang-er

GUDRUN GUD-roon

HREIDMAR RAYD-mahr

BRAGI BRAG-ee

FREKI FREK-ee

GULLINBURSTI GOL-in-BORST-ee

HRUNGNIR HER-ung-nir

BRISINGAMEN BREE-sing-ah-men

FREYA FREY-yah

GULLTOPPR GUL-top-eer

HUGIN HOO-ghin

BROKKR BROK-ur

FREYR freyer

GUNNAR GUN-ar

HVERGELMIR hev-ERG-el-meer

BRYNHILDR BREEN-hil-dur

FRIGG frig

GUNNLÖ GUNNL ÖD GUN-loh

HYMIR HEE-meer

BURI BOOR-ee

FULLA FUL-ah

HAMINGJUR HA-ming-yur

HYRROKKIN HEE-ro-keen

IDUN EE-dun

MUSPELHEIM MUS-pel-hame

SKADI SKAH-dee

UTANGARD OOT-an-gard

INNANGARD IN-an-gard

NAGLFAR NAG-el-far

SKALD scold

UTGARD OOT-gard

IVALDI EE-val-dee

NARI NA-ree

SKIDBLADNIR SKID-blad-neer

UTGARDA-LOKI OOT-gard-ah-LOW-kee

JARL yarl

NERTHUS NER-thus

SKÖLL SKÖ scoll

VALHALLA VAL-hall-ah

JÁRNGREIPR YARN-gray-per

NIDAVELLIR NID-a-vel-eer

SKRYMIR SKREE-meer

VÁLI VA-lee

JÖRMUNGANDR YOR-mun-gan-der

NIDHOGG NEED-hog

SKULD sculd

VALKYRIE VAL-ki-ree

JOTUNHEIM YOT-un-hame

NIFLHEIM NIF-el-hame

SLEIPNIR SLAYP-neer

VANAHEIM VAN-ah-hame

JOTUNN YOT-un

NJORD nee-YORD

SNORRI SNOR-ee

VANIR VAN-eer

KVASIR KVAH-seer

NOATUN NO-ah-tun

SOL soul

VE vay

LANDVAETTIR LAND-vet-er

NORDRI NOR-dree

STURLUSON STOOR-loo-son

VERDANDI VER-dand-ee

LAUFEY LAUF-ay

NORN norn

SUDRI SUD-ree

VESTRI VES-tree

LIF leef

ODIN OH-din or OATH-in

SURT sort

VIDAR VEE-dar

LIFTHRASIR LIF-thraz-eer

OTR oh-TEER

SUTTUNG SUT-ung-er

VIGRID VEE-grid

LOGI LOW-gee

RAGNARÖ RAGNAR ÖK RAG-na-rok

SVADILFARI SVAD-il-far-ee

VILI VEE-lee

LOKI LOW-kee

RAN ran

SVARTALFHEIM SVART-alf-hame

YGGDRASIL EEG-drass-ill

MANI MAH-nee

RATATOSK RAT-a-tosk

THJALFI thee-AL-fee

YMIR EE-meer

MEGINGJÖ MEGINGJ ÖRD MAY-in-gerd

REGIN RAY-ghin

THJAZI thee-YAT-see

MIDGARD MID-gard

RÖSKVA ROSK-va

THOR thor

MIMIR MEEM-er

SAEHRIMNIR SAY-rim-neer

THRALL thrall

MJÖ MJ ÖLNIR mee-YOL-neer

SEIDR SAY-der

THRYM thrim

MODGUD MOD-gud

SIF sif

THRYMHEIM THRIM-hame

MUNDILFARI MOON-dil-far-ee

SIGURD SIG-urd

TYR teer

MUNIN MOO-nin

SIGYN SI-ghin

URD oord 139

GLOSSARY AESIR one of the two tribes of Norse gods and goddesses

FATE future or destiny of gods and mortals

ALFHEIM one of the nine realms – home of the light elves and ruled by the god Freyr

FERTILITY ability to create life – fertile fields yield crops and fertile animals create offspring

ALL-FATHER another name for Odin

FIMBULVETR terrible winter that will last three years and heralds the beginning of Ragnarök

ASGARD “enclosure of the Aesir” – one of the nine realms and fortified home of the gods BIFROST magical bridge connecting Asgard to Midgard

FÓLKVANGR meadow ruled by the goddess Freya, where half the warriors slain in battle go to live

BRISINGAMEN bright and beautiful necklace owned by the goddess Freya

FUTHARK writing system used by the Norse – the runes were carved into wood and stone

COSMOS the nine realms of Norse mythology – connected by Yggdrasil, the World Tree

FYLGIA supernatural spirit that guides people towards their fate – often takes animal form

DISIR magical spirits who control fate and destiny DRAUPNIR magical golden ring made by the dwarfs Brokkr and Eitri that was given to Odin DWARFS race of people – expert miners and metalworkers; not necessarily short EDDAS two historical manuscripts compiled by the Icelandic skald Snorri Sturluson EINHERJAR Norse warriors chosen to live in Valhalla after a brave death in battle

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ELF magical and demi-god-like creatures who live in Alfheim

GIANTS race of people – dangerous, constant enemy of the gods; not necessarily big GINNUNGAGAP void that existed before the nine realms were created GJALLARHORN mighty horn that Heimdall will blow before battle commences at Ragnarök GJÖLL one of eleven rivers – it separates the land of the living from the land of the dead GULLINBURSTI “Golden Bristles” – golden boar made by dwarfs Brokkr and Eitri that was given to the god Freyr

GULLTOPPR “golden mane” – horse owned by the god Heimdall HAMINGIUR female guiding spirit who decides a person’s happiness and success HEIDRUN great goat in Valhalla that eats from a tree and produces mead for the Einherjar to drink HILDISVÍNI boar, owned and ridden by the goddess Freya HIMINBJORG “heaven’s castle” – located near Bifrost, this is Heimdall’s home HOFUD sword owned and wielded by Heimdall HUGIN “thought” – one of Odin’s two spying ravens IMMORTALITY everlasting life INFERNO fire, flames and destruction INNANGARD “within the enclosure” – civilized and in a state of order; the opposite of “utangard” JÁRNGREIPR iron gloves worn by the god Thor – help him throw his hammer, Mjölnir JOTUNHEIM one of the nine realms – the land of the giants LANDVAETTIR protective spirits of the land – they can live in trees, rocks and forests

LONGSHIP strong, swift vessels used by the Norse to explore, raid and trade – sometimes called “dragon-ships” MEGINGJÖRD Thor’s magical belt, which doubled his already great physical strength MIDGARD one of the nine realms – land of human mortals MJÖLNIR Thor’s magical hammer, which always hits its target and afterwards returns to his hand MUNIN “memory” – one of Odin’s two spying ravens MUSPELHEIM one of the nine realms – the smoke-filled home of the Fire Giants MYTHOLOGY collection of stories created by a particular culture, often involving lessons about life and morality NIFLHEIM one of the nine realms – the cold, icy, mistshrouded realm of the dead NINE WORLDS lands of Norse mythology: Alfheim, Asgard, Nidavellir, Jotunheim, Midgard, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Svartalfheim and Vanaheim OLD NORSE ancient language spoken by the Norse PANTHEON group of related gods and goddesses, such as the Vanir and Aesir RAGNARÖK the final and inevitable end of the Norse gods and goddesses

REBIRTH process of returning from death to start a new life REVENGE desire to punish or cause pain to someone you believe has done you wrong RING FORT village surrounded by a ditch and wooden wall to protect it from enemy attack RUNES letters in the Old Norse language carved onto wood, metal or stone SAEHRIMNIR boar that is killed every night for food in Valhalla and then reborn the next day SEIDR Norse word for “magic” – the Vanir goddess Freya taught it to the Aesir SHAPESHIFTER someone with the ability to change into animal form – Odin, Loki and Freya could shapeshift SKALD writer of poetry about the extraordinary deeds of Viking leaders

TRICKSTER mischievous character who likes to sow chaos and confusion – Loki is a trickster TROLL mythical creature that can be monstrous or beautiful UTANGARD “outside the enclosure” – uncivilized and in a state of disorder and chaos; the opposite of “innangard” VALHALLA Odin’s giant drinking hall, where the souls of brave warriors go after death VALKYRIES powerful spirits taking the form of flying warrior women – they carry souls to Valhalla VANAHEIM one of the nine realms and land of the Vanir gods and goddesses VANIR one of the two tribes of Norse gods and goddesses – particularly associated with wisdom, magic and fertility

SKIDBLADNIR the best of all ships; it could be folded up and put into one’s pocket

VIGRID “place on which battle surges” – location of battle between the gods and giants during Ragnarök

SLEIPNIR “slipper” – Odin’s eight-legged horse

VIKING another name for the Norse; it means “raider”

SPITTLE saliva; Kvasir, wisest of all, was born from the spittle of the Aesir and Vanir

WHETSTONE tool used to sharpen blades – sometimes used by giants as weapons

SVARTALFHEIM one of the nine realms – home of the dwarfs and the dark elves

YGGDRASIL also called the World Tree, this is the magical tree at the centre of the cosmos – all nine realms can be found in its branches and roots

THRYMHEIM “thunder home” – beloved mountain abode of the giantess Skadi

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index A Aegir 131 Aesir gods 9, 20–25, 29, 41, 53, 57, 59, 65, 67, 69, 70–75, 78, 81–84, 95, 98, 100, 102, 115–119, 127, 128–129 afterlife 64, 136–137 Aigrid 117 Aistri 132 Alfheim 8, 65, 127 Alsvinn 16 Andvari 87 Angrboda 78, 94, 130 Arvak 16 Asgard 9, 20, 21, 23, 25, 30, 32, 37, 45, 46, 47, 53, 61, 63, 68, 69, 72, 87, 94, 101, 123, 127, 128 wall of 26–29 Ask 18–19 Audhumla 13

B Baldr 52–59, 72, 74, 81, 84, 128 Baugi 24–25 Bergelmir 14–15 Bestla 13 Bifrost 9, 61, 117, 126 blacksmiths 123, 132 boars 38, 39, 57, 64, 65, 77, 92, 136 Bor 13 Bragi 70, 71, 128 Brisingamen 62–63, 64, 93 Brokkr 38–39, 65, 92–93, 132 Brynhildr 90–91 Buri 13

c 142

carvings 124 cockerel 32

cosmos, Norse 8–9, 126 end of 110–119 craftworkers 7, 123 creation myths 11, 125

D days of the week 129 disir 134 dragons 8, 77, 86–89, 90, 112, 124, 130 Draupnir 50, 92, 132 Dromi 95 dwarfs 22–23, 37, 38–39, 57, 77, 86–89, 92–93, 96, 123, 126, 127, 132–133

E eagles 8, 25, 66–69, 136 Einherjar 117, 134, 136–137 Eitri 38–39, 65, 92–93, 132 Elli 108 elves 8, 9, 65, 77, 126, 127, 133 Embla 18–19 Expectation 98 explorers 7

F Fafnir 86–89 farm workers 122 fate 30, 32, 115, 134 Fenrir 78, 93, 94–97, 98–99, 116, 118, 131 Fimbulvetr 115 Fire Giants 127, 130, 131 Fjalar 22–23 Fólkvangr 64, 137 Freki 50, 98 Freya 20, 27, 45–47, 64, 65, 68, 69, 93, 96, 123, 129, 136 theft of necklace 62–63 Freyr 39, 57, 65, 93, 118, 123, 127, 129

Frigg 27–28, 51, 53–55, 57, 59, 74, 129 Frost Giants 13, 14, 45–47, 61, 78, 100, 117, 128, 130 Fulla 51 funerals, Norse 137 fylgjur 135

G Galar 22–23 Garmr 112, 118, 131 Gerd 65 Geri 50, 98 giants/giantesses (jotnar) 13, 14, 30, 31, 42–43, 45–47, 48, 57, 59, 65, 67–69, 75, 77, 78, 80–85, 100–103, 105–109, 117, 118, 126, 127, 130–131 Gilling 23 Ginnungagap 13, 126 Gjallarhorn 61, 117 Gjöll 57 Gleipnir 93, 96 Gna 51 Gold Bristle 57 Golden Forelock 57 Greenland 6 Groa 103 Gudrun 90–91 Gullfaxi 101 Gullinbursti 65, 92 Gulltoppr 61 Gungnir 50, 93, 118, 123 Gunnar 90–91 Gunnlöd 23, 25

h hamingjur 135 Hati 17, 98, 115, 131 hawks 8 Heidrun 137 Heimdall 45, 57, 61, 62–63, 68, 74, 101–102, 117, 118, 129

Hel 78, 112–113, 136 Hell 57–59 helpful spirits 135 Hermod 57–59, 129 Hildisvíni 64 Himinbjörg 61 Hlidskjalf 51 Hlin 51 Hodr 54–55, 74 Hoenir 21, 66, 86 Hofud 61 Hreidmar 86–87 Hrungnir 100–103 Hugin 50, 135 Hvergelmir 8, 126 Hymir 42–43, 80, 81 Hyrrokkin 57

I Iceland 6 Idun 66–69, 70, 71, 82, 128 innangard 126

j Járngreipr 40 jewellery 123 Jörmungandr 8, 43, 78–79, 80, 109, 116, 119, 130 Jotunheim 9, 15, 30, 42–43, 46, 48, 68, 80, 100, 105, 126, 127

k Kvasir 21, 22–23, 72–73

L Laeding 95 landvaettir (land spirits) 135 Lif 119 Lifthrasir 119 Logi 107

Loki 60, 83, 86–87, 94, 105–107, 109, 116, 117, 129, 135 and Brokkr and Eitri 38–39 and death of Baldr 54–55, 59, 81 and Freya’s necklace 62–63 and Heimdall 61, 63, 118 and Idun 66–69, 70 and Jörmungandr 78, 130 punishment of 72–75 and Sif’s hair 36–37, 41 and Thor’s wedding 45–47 and wall of Asgard 27–29, 130

M Mani 8, 16–17 Mead of Poetry 22–25, 50, 122 Megingjörd 40 Midgard 9, 15, 19, 30, 61, 75, 78, 79, 127, 130, 135 Mimir 21, 48–49, 117, 130 Mimir’s Well 8, 9, 48, 49, 126 Mjölnir 38–39, 40, 45, 47, 69, 92, 102, 105, 106, 109, 123 Modgud 58 Moon 16–17, 27, 30, 98, 115 Mountain Giants 130 Mundilfari 16–17 Munin 50, 135 Muspelhiem 9, 13, 15, 16, 117, 127

N Naglfar 117 Nanna 57 Nastrond 112 Nerthus 129 Newfoundland 6 Nidavellir 9, 96, 127

Nidhogg 8, 112, 131 Niflheim 8, 9, 13, 53, 57, 58, 112, 118, 126, 127, 130, 131, 136 Nine Worlds 8, 16, 67, 96, 127 Njord 81, 82–85, 129 Noatun 85 Nordri 132 Norns 9, 30, 32–33, 115, 126, 134–135 Norse, the 5, 122–125 lands 6–7

O Odin 20, 21, 27, 39, 50, 62, 64, 66, 68, 78, 83–84, 86, 100–101, 103, 123, 124, 128, 135, 136 and creation 13–19 and death of Baldr 53, 55, 57, 59 and Fenrir 95–97, 98 and Loki 29, 72–74 and Mead of Poetry 24–25 one-eyed 48–49 and Ragnarök 115–118 and the runes 30–31 Otr 86–87

P poetry 71, 125 Prose Edda, The 125

R Ragnarök 17, 53, 55, 61, 75, 78, 97, 98, 100, 111, 114–119, 125, 128, 131, 134, 136 Ran 131 Ratatosk 8 ravens 30, 50, 135 rebirth 137 Regin 86–89 religious beliefs 123 ring forts 123 Röskva 105 runes 30–31, 50, 71, 125

S Saehrimnir 136 Scandinavia 6 serpents 8, 43, 75, 77, 78–79, 80, 81, 109, 116, 119, 124, 130 Sif 36–37, 41, 93, 123, 128, 132 Sigurd 86–91, 124 Sigyn 75 Skadi 75, 81, 82–85, 131 Skalds 125 Skidbladnir 65, 93 Sköll 9, 17, 98, 115, 131 Skrymir 105–109 Skuld 32 Sleipnir 29, 50, 57, 58, 100, 135 Snorri Sturluson 121, 125 Sol 9, 16–17 Sons of Ivaldi 37, 38, 92, 93, 123, 132 spirits 134–135 stags 8, 9 storytelling 124–125 Sudri 132 Sun 16–17, 27, 30, 98, 115 Surt 117, 118 Surtr 65, 127, 130, 131 Suttung 23, 24, 25 Svadilfari 27, 28, 29 Svartalfheim 9, 37, 92, 127, 132 swans 33

visits Utgarda-Loki 104–109 wedding 44–47 thralls 122 Thrym 45–47 Thrymheim 68, 69 Thunder-home 82, 85 trolls 30, 31, 39, 61, 133 Tyr 80, 94, 97, 118, 129

u underworld 112 Urd 32 Urd, Well of 8, 9, 30, 31, 32, 126 utangard 126 Utgard 106–107 Utgarda-Loki 107–109

V Valhalla 64, 123, 134, 136–137 Valkyries 57, 134, 137 Vanaheim 8, 20, 21, 127 Vanir gods 8, 20–23, 62, 64–65, 127, 128 Ve 13, 14, 18–19, 129 Verdani 32 Vestri 132 Vidar 98, 118 Vikings see Norse Vili 13, 14, 18–19, 129

T

W

Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjostr 40 Thjalfi 105, 107, 109 Thjazi 67, 68, 69, 70, 81, 82, 83 Thor 29, 36–37, 40, 69, 123, 128, 129 duel with Hrungnir 100–103 goes fishing 42–43, 80 and Jörmungandr 43, 78, 80, 119 and Loki 68, 74 and Mjölnir 38–39 and Sif 36–37, 41

warriors 7, 122 weaving 123 wells 8, 126 wolves 9, 50, 57, 77, 85, 94–99, 112, 115, 118, 131, 136

Y Yggdrasil (World Tree) 8–9, 16, 30–31, 48, 115, 126, 130, 134 Ymir 12–15, 18, 48, 117, 131, 132 143

The publisher would like to thank the following people for their assistance in the preparation of this book: Caroline Hunt for proofreading and Helen Peters for the index. Written by Matt Ralphs Consultant Dr Ragnhild Ljosland Illustrated by Katie Ponder Senior Editor Marie Greenwood Designer Bettina Myklebust Støvne Managing Editor Jonathan Melmoth Managing Art Editor Diane Peyton Jones Production Editor Abi Maxwell Production Controller Inderjit Bhullar Publishing Director Sarah Larter First published in Great Britain in 2021 by Dorling Kindersley Limited DK, One Embassy Gardens, 8 Viaduct Gardens, London, SW11 7BW The authorised representative in the EEA is Dorling Kindersley Verlag GmbH. Arnulfstr. 124, 80636 Munich, Germany Copyright © 2021 Dorling Kindersley Limited A Penguin Random House Company 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 001–321267–Jul/2021 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Matt Ralphs writes children’s non-fiction and novels, with a focus on history, myths and folklore. His published books include the dark adventure novels Fire Girl and Fire Witch. Before turning to writing, Matt worked as an editor for many years.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR Katie Ponder is an award-winning illustrator whose work has been featured in exhibitions at Somerset House, and the DK book Greek Myths. Her inspirations include ballet, ghost stories, and the greenhouses at Kew Gardens.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: 978-0-2414-6136-5 Printed and bound in China www.dk.com

This book was made with Forest Stewardship Council ™ certified paper – one small step in DK’s commitment to a sustainable future. For more information go to www.dk.com/our-green-pledge

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The stories in this book were inspired by Prose Edda and Poetic Edda, by Snorri Sturluson.