Norse gods et al Flashcards
Frigg
- Mother goddess
- Odin’s favourite wife out of three
- Most important goddess
- Earth goddess
- Makes clouds from spinning wheel
- Can see the future but does not reveal it to anyone
Odin/Woden
- Oldest and greatest of the gods
- Father and ruler of all the gods
- God of war
- God of wisdom, source of wisdom drinking from Mimir’s well (had to sacrifice one eye)
- Never eats, only drinks to find solace
- Eyes represent the sun and moon
- Hangs himself on a tree for nine days and nights in order to learn how to best pass on knowledge to man, dies but is reborn through willpower
- Creates the runes
- Two ravens Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory)
- Two wolves Geri (cunning) and Freki (savagery)
- eight legged horse, Sleipnir
- Children with Frigg:Balder, Thor, Hoder, Bragi, Hermod
Thor
- Son of Odin and Frigg
- Strongest god
- Second greatest god after Odin
- God of thunder
- God of fertility and rain
- God of peasants and slaves
- fiery temper, incredible strength
- Mjollnir (hammer), mighty belt which doubles his strength, iron gloves
Balder
- Son of Frigg and Odin
- Most gentle and best loved of all the gods
- Most wise and most kind
- God of light and truth
- What he says can never be changed
- Death signals the start of Ragnarok
Njord
- Originally from Vanaheim, the home of the Vanir gods
- Makes the land and sea fertile, very important to sailors and fishermen
- He is wealthy and makes those who worship him wealthy
- generally creates calm friendly weather
Frey
- One of Njord’s children
- Third in importance
- Decides when the sun will shine and the rain will pour
- responsible for the fertility of the earth
- Human beings pray to him for peace and prosperity as well as that of their fields
- God of the elves
Freya
- As important as Frey
- Ask her for help in matters of love
- Queen of the warrior maidens, Valkyries, choosers of the slain
Idun
- wife of Bragi
- Goddess of youth
- Keeps the golden apples of eternal youth for gods
Bragi
- Son of Odin and Brigg
- God of wisdom, skilled in poetry
Heimdall
- Watchman of the gods
- Guardian of Asgard and the Rainbow Bridge
- Can hear the wool growing on the backs of sheep and the grass grown in Midgard
- He can see further than 300 miles, even at night
Loki
-Son of two frost giants, evil
flows in his blood
-Considered a god
-God of lies, chaos, trickery, cleverness, cheating
-Most often associated with mischief rather than evil
-Main cause of Ragnarok
-Father of Lies, Disgrace of Gods and Men
-Often gets the gods in or out of trouble
-Father of three monstrous children: Fenrir, World Serpent, Hel
Hel
- Monstrous daughter of Loki
- Ruler of straw deaths in Niflheim
Hoder
- Son of Odin and Frigg
- Blind brother of Balder
- God of darkness and sin
Hermod
- Messenger god
- Courageous son of Odin and Frigf
Hoenor/Ve
Brother of Odin
Father of Mortals
Gave us intelligence and emotions
After Ragnarok, ruler of remaining gods
Uller
- God of winter
- God of straw death
- God of hunting and archery
- Ruler of Asgard during the harsh winters
Vidar
- Silent god
- Symbolizes sheer force of nature
- One of the survivors of Ragnarok
Tyr
-God of war
Aegir
-God of the sea
Forsetti
-God of justice and law