Norse Mythology Flashcards
Old Norse work of literature written in Iceland during the early 13th century, assumed to have been written, or at least compiled, by Snorri Sturluson (It is considered the fullest and most detailed source for modern knowledge of Germanic mythology.)
Prose Edda
The World of fire, guarded by Surtr
Muspelheim
Odin’s second son, slain with a spear/arrow of mistletoe (crafted by Loki and thrown/shot by Höðr)
Baldr
God who sacrificed his arm to the monstrous wolf Fenrir, who bit off his limb while the gods bound the animal
Týr
The god’s name in Old English is Tíw, from which we get “Tuesday”
The personified Sun and sister of the personified Moon, Máni
Sól (or Sunna in German)
Sea jötunn associated with the ocean and husband of Rán. He is also known for being a friend of the gods and hosting elaborate parties for them.
Ægir
The pair of ravens that fly all over the world and bring information to the god Odin
Huginn and Muninn
Goddess associated with war, death, love, sex, beauty, fertility, gold, and seiðr. She is the owner of the necklace Brísingamen, rides a chariot pulled by two cats, is accompanied by the boar Hildisvíni, and possesses a cloak of falcon feathers.
Freyja (Old Norse for “(the) Lady”)
The World of the light elves, given to Freyr
Álfheimr
God of justice and reconciliation; the son of Baldr and Nanna
Forseti
A legendary hero who killed a dragon and was later murdered
Sigurðr (or Siegfried in German)
A figure in Norse mythology, renowned for his knowledge and wisdom, who was beheaded during the Æsir-Vanir War. Afterward, the god Odin carried around his head and it recited secret knowledge and counsel to him.
Mímir
Goddess associated with foresight and wisdom; the wife of Odin
Frigg
The modern attribution for an unnamed collection of Old Norse anonymous poems. Several versions exist, all primarily of text from the Icelandic medieval manuscript known as the Codex Regius.
Poetic Edda
Son of Odin born for the sole purpose of avenging Baldr, and does this by killing Höðr, who was an unwitting participant, and binding Loki with the entrails of his son Narfi. He grew to full adulthood within one day of his birth.
Váli
The World of the dark elves
Svartálfar
The female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. Selecting among half of those who die in battle (the other half go to the goddess Freyja’s afterlife field Fólkvangr), they take their chosen to Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin, where they serve them mead.
valkyries
God who gave up his sword (which fights on its own) to Skírnir for the hand of the giantess Gerðr; he will die at Ragnarök, because he does not have his sword, fighting Surtr with an antler.
Frey(r)
Son of Freyr and Gerðr, claimed as the progenitor of the Swedish Yngling dynasty, reigning from Gamla Uppsala
Fjölnir
Jötunn and goddess associated with bowhunting, skiing, winter, and mountains
Skaði
The two wolves that accompany the god Odin
Geri and Freki
What animals does Thor use to pull his chariot? He eats and resurrects them every day.
two goats (Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr)
God who possesses the resounding horn Gjallarhorn, is called the shining god and the whitest of the gods, and is the son of Nine Mothers. He is attested as possessing foreknowledge, keen eyesight and hearing, and keeps watch for invaders and the onset of Ragnarök while drinking fine mead in his dwelling, located where the burning rainbow bridge Bifröst meets the sky.
Heimdallr
Hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, and the protection of mankind
Thor
The binding that holds the mighty wolf Fenrir, forged by the dwarves to be impossible to break from six supposedly impossible things:
The sound of a cat’s footfall
The beard of a woman
The roots of a mountain
The sinews of a bear
The breath of a fish
The spittle of a bird
Gleipnir
Meadow or field ruled over by the goddess Freyja where half of those that die in combat go upon death (the other half go to the god Odin in Valhalla)
Fólkvangr
The personified Moon and brother of the personified Sun, Sól
Máni
The horn of Heimdallr that he used to drink from the well of Mimir and make himself wise and that will sound at Ragnarök to awake and assemble the gods
Gjallarhorn
Virgin goddess associated with ploughing, who plowed away what is now lake Mälaren, Sweden, and with this land formed the island of Zealand, Denmark
Gefjon
The World of Mist, later the abode of Hel
Niflheim
The principal pantheon in Norse religion. This pantheon includes Odin, Frigg, Thor, Baldr and Týr
Æsir
The World of the dwarves
Niðavellir