A long time ago, before humans were created, three gods walked the worlds searching for answers. Along the way, they encountered many beings. From the mighty giants of Jotunheim to the talented dwarves, there was no shortage of life in the Nine Realms. However, the three gods craved more.
One evening, when the sky turned crimson and the waves lapped on the shore of the Great Sea, the three gods walked side by side. Two pieces of driftwood were brought to their feet by the tide. It was a beautiful scene. Curious shore birds called from the skerry. Sea foam glittered in the pale moonlight, and the salty air blew gently across the beach. With his hand, the one eyed god breathed life into the driftwood. The second god gave it mind and thought, while the third gifted it passion and love. The driftwood stood in the form of a man and a woman, looking upon their new world with hope and awe. Two ravens soared overhead, listening for the inevitable whispers from their one-eyed master.
Soon Asgard would learn the news. Midgard was now inhabited. Ask and Embla, the first people, were created.
( an adaptation of the story of creation according to the Prose Edda)
The Viking Gods
Islendinggabók (The Book of the Icelanders) sets the period of the earliest settlement in Iceland between 870 and 930 AD. The main settlement period is said to be from 874-930, which was primarily Vikings from Norway and other smaller British Settlements.
During this time, the Vikings primarily practiced a polytheistic religion, now known in modern terms as Norse Paganism. This involved beliefs in various Nordic gods, such as Odin, Freyja, Freyr, and Thor, as well as other beings, including the giants or jotnar and elves.
This belief system encouraged respect for nature, belief in otherworldly beings such as land spirits (land vætter), and the glorious afterlife for warriors in places such as Valhalla (Odin’s Hall) and Folkvangr (Freyja’s Hall).
Over time, as Christianity spread over northern Europe, Icelanders gradually began to convert from their beliefs in the old gods. Iceland peacefully converted to Christianity at the Althing in 1000 AD; however, the stories of the old gods and heroes live on in its otherworldly landscapes and namesakes, which are found all over the country.
Since stories of the Norse gods and my adaptation of them are what first brought me to Iceland, I decided to include more about them here on my website for curious visitors. Beyond the Netflix show Vikings or the movie The Northman, there are many forgotten stories of the Norse gods. So sit back and enter the worlds of the hammer-wielding mighty Thor, or the cunning shapeshifting Loki. Or better yet, catch a ride with Freyja in her golden chariot pulled by her two cats and learn more about the Viking gods.
Sources
The most significant sources of stories featuring the Norse gods and heroes are found in the Prose Edda, the Elder Edda, and the Icelandic sagas.
Tales of giants, gods, and the fascinating world in which they took place can be found in the Prose Edda, or Snorri Edda, one of Iceland’s most cherished pieces of literature.
Snorri Edda – Published in 1225, the Prose Edda is considered one of Iceland’s most significant pieces of literature. The Icelander chieftain Snorri Sturluson wrote this collection of tales, which not only revolutionized prose but is also the most popular source of Norse myth to date. It features stories of the Norse gods, beginning with the creation of the worlds and ending with the twilight of the gods, a time known as Ragnarök. It is the most significant source of the mythological lore of the Viking gods and revolutionized prose style writing. Some of Norse mythology’s most beloved tales can be found here, like the masculine Thor dressing as a bride to get his hammer back, or Loki birthing Odin’s eight-legged horse. It continues to inspire other writers, creators, and readers to this day.
Icelandic Sagas– The Sagas of the Icelanders is a collection of prose narratives of historical events occurring in Iceland’s settlement period. These eventful stories give readers an accurate glimpse into the difficult, trying, and sometimes bloody lives of Iceland’s earliest settlers. Filled with family feuds, drama, love, unbridled passion, and conflict, the sagas are Iceland’s most cherished piece of literature. Throughout the sagas, you will find stories of wild beings such as the Valkyrie, as well as tales of the gods and how the Vikings related to them. Personally, my two favorites are Laxdæla and Njal’s saga, but I have yet to read one I did not enjoy. I recommend reading them with a pen and notebook handy to keep track of the characters and family tree!
The Poetic Edda – Also known as the Elder Edda, the Poetic Edda was compiled in the 13th century and is a collection of older mythological poems, some dating back to the 9th century. This manuscript, initially known as the Codex Regius, was copied in Iceland in 1270. Its most famous poem, Völuspa, recounts the story of an old seer delivering the prophecy of Ragnarök to the Norse god Odin. I was floored when I saw a complete copy in the original text for sale at the oldest bookstore in Iceland, The Old Bookstore in Flateyri. If it had fit in my suitcase, it would have been mine!
The Arctic Henge in Iceland is dedicated to this poem and the dwarves named in it, who are said to control the seasons. This mystical-looking sundial is way north in Iceland in a small town called Raufarhöfn. I highly recommend a visit if you are interested in Norse lore or mysticism. It is set atop a peaceful hill which overlooks the sea and is especially beautiful during the Northern Lights season.
Godafoss is a beautiful waterfall in Northern Iceland, believed to be where the idols of the old gods were thrown when Iceland converted to Christianity. This remains a folktale; however, the waterfall is named “the waterfall of the gods” for this reason.
The Main Players
There are two main tribes of gods in Norse Mythology, the Æsir and the Vanir. It is said that the two tribes warred at the start of the world, coming to an agreement that they would live peacefully together in Asgard. Some of the Vanir, such as Freyja and her twin brother Freyr, agreed to live in Asgard as part of the peace treaty.
Although there are many gods and goddesses in Norse Mythology, here are the key players featured in the main stories of the documented lore. It is worth noting that each figure plays a crucial role, especially for those who practice the theology, which remains very much alive to this date. Just because I do not name them here does not determine their value in the pantheon. At the end of this article, I list more sources if you desire a deeper dive into academia or the belief system.
The Æsir
Odin– Known by many names, such as Grimnir, or the Raven god, Odin is the highest of the Æsir gods. Odin is most known for the two sacrifices he gave for wisdom. One is for hanging on Yggdrasil for nine nights to gain knowledge of runes, while the other is giving his eye for wisdom, which is why Odin is often depicted with one eye. His companions are two wolves, Geri and Freki, and two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, whom he sends out into the world to retrieve knowledge. Odin is associated with war, poetry, travel, wisdom, and the runes. He rides an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir, and his spear is called Gungnir. His hall is Valhalla (hall of the slain). Its roof is made of shields, and it is filled with warriors called Einherjar, who are mortal souls that died in battle. Odin’s primary objective in the lore is to gain wisdom and delay the inevitable, the twilight of the gods.
Frigga – Odin’s wife is Frigga, a high-born goddess named in the Prose Edda as the one who weaves the fate of all men. Not much is written about Frigga, but she is associated with the household, magic, fate, and weaving.
Thor – One of the most beloved and popular of the Norse gods, Thor is the god of fertility, protection, and prosperity. His weapon is the mighty Mjölnir, a hammer forged by the dwarves that he uses to strike down his main adversaries, the giants. Thor is featured in many of the Norse tales, often alongside Loki, or his father, Odin. Thor was widely worshipped in Iceland by both seafarers and farmers, and his namesake is popular. His wife is the goddess Sif, and his children are Þrudr, Magni, and Modi. Þórsmörk is a valley in Iceland believed to have been formed by Thor striking the ground with his hammer, and two volcanoes are named after his children. He travels the skies with his chariot, which two goats pull.
Baldur – Believed to be the most beloved of the gods in the lore, Baldur was the son of Frigga and Odin. It is said that Frigga loved Baldur so much that she enchanted everything not to harm her son. Regretfully, she neglects the mistletoe, which ends up being the one thing that kills him at the hands of his blind brother, Höd, and Loki. This event is the catalyst for Ragnarök.
Tyr – Tyr governs justice and law. Known as the one-handed god, Tyr is associated with courage when he willingly sacrifices his hands in the destructive jaws of Fenrir, the enormous wolf son of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
Loki – Although a Jotun, Loki is counted as one of the Æsir due to his blood oath with Odin. Loki is one of the most controversial and fascinating figures in Norse Mythology. He is often at the center of the problems of the gods, as much as he is the creator and solver of said problems. Loki is depicted as a shapeshifter and takes the shape of a mare, a salmon, a seal, and even Thor’s bridesmaid in one tale. He is the master mind behind the treasures of the gods as well as a leading player in Ragnarök. In the Snorri Edda, Loki is written as ultimately becoming evil and turning against the gods. The reasoning behind this is unknown and much debated. He is believed to be punished by the gods, bound under the earth, and at the mercy of a poisonous serpent. When the serpent drips the poison on Loki, he shakes from the pain. This is called an earthquake. His faithful goddess wife, Sigyn, sits by his side. Despite this, he remains a favorite among many lovers of Norse Mythology, including myself.
The Vanir
The Vanir gods are believed to have come from a place called Vanaheim. They are associated with magic and nature, but in the case of Freyja, they are no less warlike than the Æsir. It is believed their collaboration with the Æsir was the result of a great war between the two tribes.
Freyja – Freyja was named in the Snorri Edda as the most noble of the goddesses. She is often the subject of desire by the gods, giants, and men alike and is associated with household prosperity, fertility, and magic in Viking society. Freyja was considered a high-ranking goddess and is depicted with her war chariot, which two enormous cats pull. She is associated with the Valkyrie, fierce battle-hungry women who not only claimed the souls on the battlefield for Valhalla but are named as determining the fate of men in battle in Njal’s Saga. Freyja is believed to have taken the first half of the men who died in battle to her hall, a place called Folkvangr and even engaged in a magical war with the Norse god Odin when she learned of his plot to steal her beloved gold necklace, Brisingamen. She is often depicted standing naked on a battlefield with her shining gold strands, a shield, and a spear. Her boar is called Hildisvini. She is named on several occasions in the Icelandic Sagas and the term “battle Freyja” is used in Njal’s Saga to refer to Valkyrie.
Freyr – Freyja’s twin brother, Freyr, was widely worshipped in England and Scandinavia as a god of prosperity and fertility. Tales speak of Freyr disguising himself as a poor person and traveling the countryside to appeal to farmers for a place to stay. If you accepted the god into your home, you would be promised a prosperous year on your farm. Freyr is associated with the phallus, the elves, and farming. In the Eddic poem Skírnismál, Freyr falls deeply in love with the giantess Gerð, sacrificing his sword to marry her.
Idunn – Keeper of the Apples of Immortality, Idunn is most noted for the Eddic poem Haustlöng, where the giant Thiazi kidnaps the goddess in eagle form. The goddess is eventually taken back by Loki, the one who was at fault for the calamity to begin with. In the poem Lokasenna, Idunn is introduced as Bragi’s wife, the god of skaldic poetry.
Heimdall– the watchman of the gods- is the guardian of Asgard’s gates. He is believed to be the all-seeing one and will battle Loki at the end of days. Heimdall is also noted to possess shapeshifting abilities, turning himself into a seal to fight with Loki in the poem Húsdrápa.
There are many other gods and goddesses mentioned in Norse Mythology, such as Sigyn, Sif, Eir, and Bragi- the skaldic god of poetry, all deserving of their own feature.
The Vikings and Their Gods
The Vikings did not adhere to a strict protocol in their belief systems. Instead, their faith was rooted in nature and a relationship of sacrifice with their gods. Their churches to the old gods were simple, wooden structures or rocky mountains such as Helgafell, an old temple to Thor on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
Worship involved sacrifices that were often made during a ceremony called a blót. This is a traditional ceremony in which offerings were made to the gods in exchange for favors such as fair weather, health, prosperity, protection, and success in battle. Often, a volva, or Icelandic seer, would hold space during this ceremony to communicate with the spirits and gods and translate any divine messages to attendees.
Furthermore, the Vikings’ afterlife beliefs encouraged a sense of fearlessness during battle. If they died a brave death, they were collected by the Valkyrie and gifted an afterlife in Folkvangr or Valhalla. If you won in battle, it was believed you were in Odin’s favor, and if you lost, you had been betrayed.
To this day, Norse paganism has become a worldwide religion and is growing in Iceland, with an estimated number of followers returning to their old beliefs, rooted in nature, the elements, and ancient stories.
If your travels take you to Holmavík, be sure to stop into the Icelandic Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft to see a traditional blót cup used in these ceremonies. The museum also holds an annual festival, usually around late April, where a blót is performed.
You can find traces of old beliefs in namesakes, places with folktales attached to them, such as Þórsmörk or Ásbyrgi Canyon, as well as in museums like the Viking Museum in Keflavik or the Sorcery Museum in Holmavík.
You can find a plethora of trinkets of the Norse gods at souvenir stands around Iceland, but if you listen closely, their footsteps and whispers still linger across the landscapes.
Notable reads:
I was honored to give a talk on Norse Mythology last year in Hvosvöllur and read an excerpt from one of my books based on the Edda during an art residency on Hrísey. Iceland has a large selection of books on this topic, ensuring a wealth of recommended reading. I loved seeing several children’s adaptations of the stories. I hope that Iceland continues to tell these cherished stories, never losing them to time.
The Norse Myths A guide to the gods and heroes by Carolyn Larrington
Loki and the Vat of Truth by yours truly – this is an imaginative twist on some of the stories in the Edda.
