Newsletter 11/15/04

Norse Mythology

Next to Greek and Roman myth, Norse mythology is probably the best known in Western Society. It is also frequently used in popular culture. Thor is a comic book character by Marvel, and the other Norse figures appear there frequently. Odin made an appearance in the Gargoyles cartoon. American Gods features Norse figures prominently. There have been computer games, video games and other sources that feature Norse myth as well. The current long running Fantasy series, The Wheel of Time features a number of things that seem to relate to Norse myth. (For a more detailed analysis, check http://hem.passagen.se/kjnoren/jordan/norse.html.)

Norse mythology is Germanic in origin, but it was primarily followed in the Northern Scandinavian nations, particularly those inhabited by the Vikings. A Neonorse movement exists in Iceland.

Norse myth covers pretty much everything from beginning to end. The world was drawn out of the Ginnungagap, the vast crevasse between the fires of Muspelheim and the cold of Niflheim. Our World, Midgard (or the Middle World) was formed by the Eyebrow of the primordial giant Ymir, killed by Odin and some other gods. Ymir is also the progenitor of the Giants, Humans and Dwarves.

At the end of time, will come Ragnarok, the last war. At this time, the gods will battle the Giants and some darker gods, and all will be destroyed. Sources vary on what will happen next. In some, it says that the world will be devoured once again by the Ginnungagap and return to primordial chaos. In others it says there will be a few survivors, both human and divine, who will create a new world.

There are various worlds in Norse mythology. Midgard is the 'Real World' while Niflheim and Muspelheim are the homes of the giants. Niflheim is also the realm of the dead. Asgard is home to the Aesir, the warlike gods most commonly known, and Vanaheim is home to the Vanir, a race of gentler, more ethereal gods. Valhalla is the realm of the virtuous dead (who are all great warriors). Connecting all these worlds is the great Ash Tree Yggdrasil.

While Norse myth has several creatures roaming its stories, two stand out from the rest. Both are said to be the offspring of Loki, the trickster god and half giant, who will betray the gods and fight on the side of the giants at Ragnarok. The first of these beasts is Fenrir, the great wolf. He was a destructive force of nature that could not be bound. The gods finally had the Dwarves make a chain that could hold him, but he refused to be bound unless one of the gods put his hand in Fenrir's mouth. Tyr volunteered and when he was bound, Fenrir bit the hand off.

The second creature is Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent. It was a great sea serpent. The gods knew it would devour man if left unchecked so they threw it into the waters surrounding the world. It grew so huge it circled the world and bit its own tail. At Ragnarok, Thor will kill this mighty beast, but it will drip its poison on him, and kill him as well.

One thing about Norse mythology, despite the prophecy of Ragnarok, there is no obvious division of the gods into camps of Good and Evil. The chief division in Norse myth is Order (the gods and humankind) and Chaos (The Giants and other creatures). While the giants are generally violent and belligerent, they can be reasoned with and befriended. The gods, while generally seen as virtuous, have many foibles and quirks that leave them far from perfect. It is entirely possible that the Norse people did not see their mythology as reality, but rather as a set of allegories to instuct about life.

To learn more about Norse mythology, here are some starting sources.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythology

http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/norse/articles.html

http://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/

And also visit

ID: 908555   (Rated: 18+) Norse Mythology Forum  Forum for discussion of Norse Mythology by Colin Back on the Ghost Roads

to discuss Norse myth further.

Colin Back on the Ghost Roads