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…

Thor’s Hammer, Mjolnir, is the most iconic object from Norse mythology. This was true in Viking times as well as today. Mjolnir is by far the most common Viking amulet found, and its use survived well into the Christian period as a symbol of continued allegiance to the old faith. But where did Mjolnir, the…

Norse mythology is full of enchanted objects that enhanced the powers of the Viking gods. One such object was Draupnir, a powerful ring that belonged to the god Odin, the king of the Norse gods. But why was Odin’s ring an important object in the Nose world? The Dripper Odin’s ring Draupnir, which means “dripper”…

In most ancient cultures we encounter ideas of magic, witchcraft, and shamanism. Norse society is no different. The Viking witch was known as a Völva, and they were considered to be powerful seeresses, shamans as well as workers of Seidr magic. Read on to find out more about these Viking witches, the powers these Volva…

Hel, goddess of death, could there be a more fearsome being in the world of Norse mythology? But don’t be taken-in by the portrayal of the Norse goddess of death in the Marvel universe. While the Norse goddess was the ruler of the underworld, she was never represented as pure evil. Hel was a more…

Norse mythology is full of fearsome beasts with the power to wreak havoc over the nine worlds of the Norse cosmos. One of the most important and dangerous among them is the mighty Norse wolf Fenrir. A beast of terrifying strength, he stands out among the Norse beasts as he is destined to kill Odin…