The cosmos as described in Norse mythology is very different from the universe as we understand it today. According to the Norse tales, the universe is composed of nine realms, one for each of the races of beings: gods, giants, men, and more. One of the most intriguing of these realms is Alfheim, the homeland…
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.…
Ragnarok, which means “Fate of the Gods” in Old Norse, is a prophecy about how the world will come to an end and the gods of Norse mythology will meet their doom. In the story, many of the gods die and the nine worlds of the Norse cosmos held in the branches of Yggdrasil are…
Vegvisir is an Icelandic runic stave, that evolved from earlier Viking runic magic. The rune had the power to ensure its wearer never got lost, and always found their way home, even when they did not the way. It was a wayfinding symbol, also often called the Viking or Norse Compass. But how does this…
The Viking world was full of symbols. Not only were they a powerful way to express ideas, but the Vikings also thought that symbols had power. As well as expressing the world, the Vikings believed that symbols, when made by the right hands, had the power to shape the world. One of the most common…
Symbols were important to the Vikings. For the Vikings, the runes were more than just an alphabet. They believed that runes could not only describe the world as a written script, but, when used correctly, could also shape the world. This is why the Norns, the Norse Fates, wrote the destiny of men by inscribing…
Often when we think of Norse mythology, we think of the Aesir as the gods – similar to deities from other ancient religions, responsible for different areas of life such as war, love, and fertility – and the giants as the opposing malevolent force. But the truth is far less clear-cut. The Aesir and the…
Norse mythology is full of mythical objects and weapons owned by the gods and heroes. While the most well-known of these objects must be Mjolnir, Thor’s Hammer, arguably the most important was Gungnir, the spear of Odin. Odin was the king of the Norse gods, as well as the god of war and wisdom. His…
Norse mythology is full of fantastic objects that had special powers or symbolism. The vast majority of these were associated with men, and in particular the male gods of Asgard, and reveal much about the characters and powers of these deities. In contrast, very few are associated with the female goddesses of Norse mythology, about…
Norse mythology is full of incredible creatures and fantastical treasures. The golden boar Gullinbursti, which belonged to the god Freyr, was both a beast and a treasure, and the fylgia of the god Freyr. What did the strange entity Gullinbursti represent to the Vikings? Freyr: God of Fertility and Virility Gullinbursti was an attribute of…