Some of the most interesting characters in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore are not the powerful gods, but rather the creatures who appear to challenge the gods or terrorize men. Read on to meet 15 of the most fascinating or fear-inducing monsters from Norse myth (or check it out on our YouTube channel). 1. …
Considering the warrior lifestyle of the Vikings, it is no surprise that weapons played an important role in Norse mythology. Almost all the Norse gods had special magical weapons that enhanced their warrior abilities. Here are 10 of the most interesting and powerful mythological weapons wielded by the Norse Gods, according to Norse mythology. 1.…
According to Norse mythology, the cosmos is composed of nine discreet worlds, all of which are held together and connected by Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life. Chief among these worlds, and situated high above the others in the heavens, is Asgard. This is the realm of the Aesir gods, the principal gods in Norse mythology.…
Long before the conversion to Christianity, the Vikings celebrated Yule in December in the lead up to the Winter Solstice and the turning of the year. One of the most important mythological events that was believed to happen around Yule was Odin’s Wild Hunt, known as Oskoreia, Odens jakt (Odin’s hunt), or Asgardreien (Asgard Ride).…
Avalon holds a special place in the hearts of anyone interested in the magical and supernatural. While it first appeared in the stories of the Arthurian legends, it grew in the popular imagination with the publication of Marion Summer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon in 1983. She retells the Arthurian legends from the female perspective,…
Many cultures have stories of “riddlers,” who block heroes at some point on their journey. They pose challenging questions, which the hero must answer correctly, or face the consequences. In Greek mythology, this is usually a sphinx, such as the one who challenged Oedipus. In Norse mythology, the riddler is Vafthrudnir, whose name means “strong…
In polytheistic religions, individual gods are often best identified by their attributes, key things they carried with them that distinguished them from the other gods in the pantheon. In Greek mythology, Zeus has his thunderbolts, and Hermes has his winged shoes. Norse religion is no different. Odin always carries his famous spear Gungnir and ravens…
It is now well-known that the Vikings set foot in the New World around the year 1000, when Leif Erikson and his family led several expeditions to areas around Newfoundland, which they called Vinland. However, the Vikings didn’t settle in the region, as the goods they were able to take back home weren’t worth the…
The Vikings began raiding the coastal regions of France at the end of the 8th century, at around the same time that they started raiding in England. Just as in England, the scale of their raids grew over time. Five thousand Vikings, under the leadership of a chief named Ragnar, sacked Paris in 845, and…
The Vikings started raiding England at the end of the 8th century and moved to invading and colonizing in the 9th and 10th centuries. By the early 11th century, there were even Viking kings of England. But not long after that, the Norman Conquest happened, and Viking influence largely disappeared from England. But what happened…