Norse Mythology, both fascinating and full of mystery, is not necessarily easy to approach. How to untangle truth from falsehood? Popular legends from reality?
Today we tackle a big topic, an extremely comprehensive article to talk to you about Norse mythology as a whole. A big challenge for us, as we usually cover topics one by one. It's time to make a synthesis! Are you ready?
We enter the world of the Vikings, those Scandinavian peoples who are still talked about today!
WHO ARE THE GODS AND GODDESSES OF NORSE MYTHOLOGY?
If you think that the gods and goddesses of Norse mythology have always been as popular as they are today, you are wrong. Before the 19th century, few people heard about Norse mythology outside of Iceland and Scandinavia.
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However, if it weren't for Snorri Sturluson, the situation could have been much worse. Snorri was a historian and scholar who lived in Iceland in the 13th century. He created what is often considered the first, or at least the most complete written source of Norse mythology, called the Prose Edda (in Icelandic: Snorra Edda).
Fortunately, we live in a time when the Vikings and the gods of Norse mythology are very popular. We have to thank the Internet, literature, and, of course, Marvel movies and comics for that.
The birth of the gods of Norse mythology
The Norse creation myth begins with Ginnungagap, Niflheim, and Muspelheim. Ginnungagap was the primordial void, a place of darkness and silence, located between the fiery land of Muspelheim and the icy land of Niflheim.
The power of Nilfheim and Muspelheim grew, and eventually, the worlds clashed in the middle of Ginnungagap. The ice began to melt and turned into drops of water, and these drops created Ymir, the first living being.
Ymir, a destructive and hermaphroditic giant, was killed by Odin and his brothers, Vé and Vili. After killing Ymir, the three of them used his bones, flesh, blood, teeth, eyelashes, hair, and skull to create the Norse mythological universe.
What if you took the time to listen to Nota Bene talk about Norse Mythology.
Who are the different gods of Norse mythology?
For centuries, stories of Norse mythology have been passed down orally. Therefore, it is almost impossible to say how many Norse gods exist.
However, what we know is that there are two great tribes of gods in Norse mythology. These are called the Æsir and the Vanir.
The most famous representatives of the Æsir tribe are Odin, the All-Father, Frigg, Thor, Balder, Loki, Hod, Tyr, and Heimdall. They are also known as the principal gods. On the other hand, the most notable members of the Vanir tribe are the fertility gods and include Freyr, Freyja, and Njord.
Now that we have covered the basics, without further ado, let's take a look at some of the most powerful and revered gods and goddesses of Norse mythology.
1. ODIN - THE KING OF THE ÆSIR GODS
Even though we should probably start with Ymir, the predecessor of all Norse gods, we cannot do so. The first place on this list is reserved for Odin (Óðinn in Old Norse), the God of Gods, the Father of Fathers.
In addition to being the king of the gods' realm (Asgard), Odin is also the All-Father of the gods in Norse mythology. His mother was the Jötunn Bestla, and his father was Borr. Odin is known to go into battle on Sleipnir, his eight-legged horse. His spear, Gungnir, was forged by dwarves, and it is said that it can never miss its target.
Odin is associated with many different aspects, such as wisdom, healing, sorcery, and even frenzy. Odin is depicted as a poor and haggard wanderer seeking knowledge, although he is the king of the Æsir gods. However, as a god of war, Odin, who has only one eye, thirsts for battle.
The All-Father has five sons with four different wives. With Frigg, his wife, he had Höðr and Baldr, and the Jötnar Rindr and Gríðr gave him Váli and Viðar. Jörð, the personification of the Earth, gave him his most famous son, Thor.
Nowadays, the word Odin refers to Wednesday. This is because the name Odin derives from wodnesdæg ("Woden's day"), while Odin is called Wōden in Old English.
2. YMIR - THE ANCESTOR OF THE GIANTS
Even though Ymir does not belong to the group of gods in Norse mythology, we decided to include him as well.
Ymir was the primal entity of the Norse pantheon and the ancestor of all mythical creatures in the universe. These mythical entities are known as jötnar.
Often perceived as the "first being," Ymir was "born" when the heat of Muspelheim and the ice of Niflheim clashed. As a hermaphrodite, he gave birth to the first male, female, and other creatures of Norse mythology. This is how it all began.
After Ymir, Buri was created. He is thought to be the first of the Norse gods. Buri's son, Bor, married Bestla (also a descendant of Ymir), and she gave birth to three sons: Ve, Vili, and Odin. These three young Norse gods killed Ymir in the battle that followed.
From the corpse of Ymir, Odin, with his brothers, created the entire earth. They made oceans and seas from his blood and mountains from his bones. Ymir's teeth turned into rocks while his hair created trees and vegetation. The young gods created the sky from Ymir's skull, and they used his brain to make clouds. Finally, with his brothers, Odin used Ymir's eyebrows to create a great wall that would surround and defend Midgard, the realm of humanity.
3. THOR - THE GOD OF THUNDER
Perhaps the most famous of all the gods in Norse mythology today (thanks to Marvel movies), Thor, the god of thunder, is the husband of the goddess Sif and the son of Odin. As the faithful protector of Asgard, Thor was given a symbolic role as the protector of the realms.
With his beard and Viking red eyes, Thor is considered the strongest being among gods and men. His immense strength is further enhanced by his iron gloves and his power belt, Megingjard. However, the object most associated with Thor is undoubtedly Mjöllnir (which means "lightning"), his hammer made by dwarves. Norse mythology describes Mjöllnir as one of the most powerful artifacts that ever existed.
For example, the ancient Scandinavians believed that thunder was the result of blows struck by Thor with his mighty hammer as he killed monsters and giants from his chariot. Thor's chariot was pulled by Tanngrisnir and Tanngniost, two giant goats.
Over the last century, archaeologists have discovered many ancient pendants shaped like hammers throughout Scandinavia. These pendants are believed to be made in the image of Mjöllnir.
In modern culture, Thor also gives us a day of the week, just like Odin. The word "Thursday" comes from Old English þurresdæg. It is a contraction of þunresdæg, which literally means "Thor's day."
4. LOKI - THE GOD OF CUNNING AND MISCHIEF
Nowadays, when people think of Loki, they believe he is the sworn enemy and adoptive brother of Thor (thanks to Marvel, once again). However, in Norse mythology, Loki is a jötunn, the son of the giantess Laufey and the giant Farbauti, with the ability to transform.
Loki is the god of mischief and cunning and the father of monsters. He created Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged steed, as well as the serpent Jörmungandr and the monstrous wolf Fenrir.
Because of his cunning, Loki is often not considered one of the Æsir gods.
In addition to causing Baldr's death, it is predicted that Loki will bring death to many Norse gods during Ragnarok. For example, Fenrir the wolf is believed to kill Odin, and Jörmungandr the serpent will cause Thor's death.
5. HEL - THE GODDESS OF THE UNDERWORLD
Hel is considered the most powerful of all Norse goddesses. Moreover, she is thought to be even more powerful than Odin within the borders of her realm, Helheim. She is so powerful that she can decide the fate of Baldr's soul. The soul of the purest and wisest Æsir gods.
Hel is the daughter of the giant Angrboda and Loki. She rules over Helheim, the realm of eternal damnation. Helheim is the home of Jörmungandr the Serpent, Fenrir the Wolf, and all those who died of illness or old age. It is a place not so different from current associations of hell.
6. HEIMDALL - THE GUARDIAN OF THE BRIDGE TO ASGARD THE BIFRÖST
Another famous god in current culture, thanks to the Thor movies, is Heimdall (Heimdallr in Old Norse).
Heimdall is a vigilant protector of the home of the Norse gods Æsir, Asgard. He is a descendant of the giant Fornjót. Heimdall uses his great horn Gjallarhorn to warn others when intruders approach Asgard. It is believed that Heimdall's sight can extend for hundreds of kilometers and that he can hear the sound of wool growing on sheep.
Heimdall's role at the beginning of Ragnarok is also very important. He will use the Gjallarhorn to signal the arrival of monsters and giants. Moreover, it is predicted that Heimdall will eventually face Loki and that they will kill each other.
Norse Mythology is so vast that we could keep naming gods for hours, but we have just presented the main ones. You can read our other articles to discover more specifically each god. It is time to tackle the Norse creatures.
WHAT ARE THE CREATURES OF NORSE MYTHOLOGY?
Many famous characters from Norse mythology would not be as popular as they are if they did not have exciting enemies to fight. There are many creatures from Norse mythology that Odin, Thor, and other gods have battled. Each of these creatures has its own story.
In the Viking Age, people believed that all these creatures existed because the gods had already defeated them many times; therefore, they are all real. Every exceptional story needs a hero and a villain. It was a way to explain unknown diseases, deaths, etc. Someone had to be responsible for what was happening, and who better than terrifying, malevolent, and nocturnal creatures.
The place of creatures in Norse mythology
The gods and goddesses were not the only entities known to men. There were many creatures of Norse mythology with which the Vikings interacted in one way or another. It was believed that the Gods frequently helped the Vikings in various ways by traveling via the Bifröst bridge from Asgard to Midgard (Earth). The Vikings claim that the Gods were with them in every battle, helping them to win.
The Gods fought against many of these creatures, and that is what made them incredibly famous among the people. Most of these creatures were less powerful than the Gods, but they played an essential role in the popular creation of the universe we know today.
Some of these creatures were chaotic, fearsome, and destructive, while others were benevolent. Some creatures could be both, depending on the context of the story.
Discover 10 creatures of Norse mythology in this video.
The most popular creatures of Norse mythology
Many of these entities were creatures of the night. They are frightening and malevolent spiritual entities that sought to bring destruction and end the world of men. Most creatures of Norse mythology were far more powerful than the Vikings, but the latter had the Gods on their side in every battle and every other situation.
The universe of Norse mythology also showed us that there were many benevolent creatures, like dwarves and elves, with whom the Vikings frequently interacted.
The most extraordinary creatures were the giants, also known as the "devourers." These chaotic beings of darkness, death, night, and winter were often the enemies of the great tribe of Aesir gods. The most famous giant is Hel, the ruler of the underworld. However, the most remarkable being in the Norse creation story is Fenrir. Fenrir is the wolf who devoured Odin during the infamous Ragnarok.
Now that we have scratched the surface, let's take a closer and more detailed look at all the most important creatures of Norse mythology.
1) THE DWARVES
These human-like creatures were known in Norse and Germanic mythology. Dwarves were also considered dark elves. They are small twisted creatures, and it is believed they were born as maggots from the corpse of one of the first giants - Ymir. The dwarves were endowed with reason by the powerful gods of Asgard.
Svartalfheim was considered a maze of forges and mines. It is an underground place where the dwarves lived. Dwarves are known as the creatures of Norse mythology who made some of the finest weapons and jewelry. It is said that the dwarves made Mjölnir, Thor's powerful hammer, and Gungnir, Odin's spear.
Some myths say that if dwarves were exposed to sunlight, they would petrify and literally turn to stone. One day, a dwarf named Alviss asked for Thor's daughter's hand in marriage. The dwarf was tricked and talked until dawn when he was struck by sunlight and turned to stone.
2) THE ELVES
There were two kinds of elves: dark elves and light elves. The Ljosalfar were known as the light elves, while the Dokkalfar were the dark elves. The dark elves were said to be equated with dwarves because they lived underground and were completely black.
The Ljosalfar, or light elves, were a sight to behold. They were said to be more beautiful to look at than the sun. They were considered the gods of the Aesir and Vanir and one of the most beautiful creatures in Norse mythology. The Vanir god Freyr was considered the lord of Alfheim, the home of the elves.
Elves are known to have an ambivalent relationship with humans. They were powerful enough to heal and cause diseases. It is believed that elves and humans crossed paths and gave birth to children who had a human form but also possessed incredible magical powers.
3) THE KRAKEN
The Kraken is one of the most recognizable creatures in Norse mythology. It is a sea monster that lives off the coasts of Greenland and Norway. It is described as a gigantic creature resembling a squid or an octopus. Some stories say their bodies were so large that they could look like an island.
If men were to go to the island, it would sink as soon as they set foot on it; this is how this monster was capable of killing its potential prey in order to feed. When the Kraken rises to the surface, it causes huge whirlpools that would help it attack any ship nearby.
The Kraken usually attacks fish. The tactic used by the Kraken is to release its intestines into the water, which would attract fish due to the extreme smell of its excrement. Many schools of fish would be drawn to this smell, and the Kraken would devour them all.
4) THE TROLLS
There were two different groups of trolls in Norse myths. The first are large and ugly trolls who live in the mountains and forests, while the second live deep in caves and grottos and are known as gnome-like trolls. They are generally considered malevolent and not very intelligent, but they are known to show kindness to people if they can ask for a favor.
The Scandinavian countryside is covered with many rocks, and it is believed that trolls are responsible because they use these rocks as weapons. Another belief is that these rocks are actually trolls turned to stone by sunlight. Yes, as in The Hobbit, it is important to note that Gandalf is the result of inspiration from Odin.
5) THE NORNS
A common belief in Norse mythology was that fate was relentless and blind. There is no solid evidence that anyone succeeded in preventing the Norns from changing their fate. It is believed that the three Norns were the guardians of the tree of life. The Tree of Life was known to hold together the nine worlds of the Norse mythology universe.
Their care of the tree actually only slows its death, since Norse mythology teaches us that everything will eventually cease to exist. All life will end with Ragnarok.
6) THE VALKYRIES
The Valkyries are probably the most famous creatures in Norse mythology. They are the female spirits of Odin, noble and elegant young women whose purpose is to bring to Valhalla all the brave Viking warriors who lost their lives in battle. Valhalla is known as Odin's celestial home for fallen warriors awaiting Ragnarok.
The word "Valkyries" roughly translates to "the choosers of the dead." The Valkyries did not only work for Odin, but they were capable of deciding who would live and who died in battle. It is believed they used their evil magic to ensure the outcome would be in their favor.
7) THE SLEIPNIR HORSE
This celestial being was Odin's personal horse. Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse, and it is believed that Sleipnir had each of its legs in one of the eight worlds of Norse mythology. An exciting story says that Loki is Sleipnir's mother. When Loki transformed into a mare, he was impregnated by one of the giant's stallions, which gave life to Sleipnir.
8) FENRIR THE GIANT WOLF
Our little favorite…
When it comes to creatures of Norse mythology, Fenrir is the most famous wolf in the entire Nordic universe. It is known that the giantess Angrboda and the god Loki were Fenrir's parents. Fenrir desired to wreak havoc on the nine worlds, so the gods of Asgard decided to raise him themselves in order to control his disturbing nature.
Fenrir grew so fast and caused so many problems that the Gods decided to chain him and keep him locked up. They managed to convince him to be chained by playing a game.
The game the Gods played was to see how strong Fenrir was. Fenrir was able to break any bond with ease, so the Gods asked the dwarves to make bonds and chains much stronger than anything else, but Fenrir broke free again.
Fenrir suspected that this chain might be stronger than the previous ones, so he asked any God to put their hand in Fenrir's jaw as a sign of good faith. The God Tyr decided it was his duty to do so. Even though Tyr knew he would lose his hand, he did it to protect the realm.
When Fenrir realized he had been trapped in the chains, he took Tyr's hand. It was a necessary sacrifice that allowed the other Gods to chain Fenrir to a rock and put a sword in his mouth to keep it open. Fenrir's saliva is the origin of a foamy river known as Expectation.
The name of the river refers to Ragnarok - the end of all worlds. When Fenrir finally breaks his chains, he will unleash his fury on the Gods.
We will have to stop here on Nordic creatures, there are still a few missing though… Like for example Fenrir's brother, the giant serpent Jörmungand, but unfortunately we must move on! It is time to discover some stories that have marked Norse mythology.
MEMORABLE TALES AND SAGAS FROM NORDIC TRADITIONS
If you have ever read the Norse sagas, you should know that they are among the greatest written works in the history of human civilization. Moreover, the Norse sagas are the most authentic documents of ancient Nordic culture and tradition.
These oral stories (mainly in prose) were passed down from generation to generation for several hundreds of years before being written down during the Middle Ages. In some cases, the sagas were told in the form of complex narrative poems, but prose was much more common.
Keep in mind that, although some scholars doubt the historical accuracy of the sagas, it is generally accepted that the sagas directly influenced many of the well-known Norse myths and legends today. Furthermore, it is clear that all these epic narratives had a profound impact on the people of the time and leave an equally great impression on us who read them today.
One of the most common themes in all Norse tales concerns the concept of fate. However, before telling you more about the most famous sagas of the Viking era, let's see how and where the first sagas were born.
What are Norse sagas and where did the first ones come from?
The word saga comes from the ancient Norse language and means "story." Sagas mainly refer to epic prose narratives. The greatest number of them originated in Iceland between the 12th and 15th centuries AD.
These narratives describe the culture, traditions, and legendary history of the Scandinavian people. Although Latin was common for writing laws and fairy tales in the Middle Ages, Norse sagas were written in the vernacular language (the language of medieval Iceland).
Besides Iceland, Norse sagas were also written in Norway and other Scandinavian countries. Perhaps without even realizing it, the authors who wrote these stories created one of the most important literary genres of medieval Europe.
Although the sagas began to be written in the 12th century, their origins take us back to a much more distant past, to the era of the Vikings and beyond. The sagas focused on the daily life of the old Norse people, describing the problems faced by wealthy farmers, kings, warriors, but also other layers of society.
Depending on the subject they describe, Norse tales can be divided into several genres:
- The legendary sagas (Fornaldarsögur),
- The knightly sagas (Riddarasögur),
- The royal sagas (Konungasögur),
- The Icelandic family sagas (Íslendingasögur),
- the contemporary sagas (Samtíðarsögur).
Although the characters in these sagas are real, the elements of their lives often do not correspond to archaeological evidence and historical facts. However, the Norse tales remain the best source for learning more about the mentality, social structure, daily habits, and customs of the ancient Norse people.
Here are some of the most famous Viking sagas:
The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok
We begin the saga's story with the tale of one of the most famous Vikings, Ragnar Lothbrok. Since little is known about the life of this brave Viking, this saga is the complete account of his life, his family, his adventures, his exciting journeys, and his dangerous battles.
The saga of Ragnar Lothbrook belongs to the subgenre of legendary sagas. Thus, it intertwines battles with mythical creatures and, as in many Nordic tales, this saga ends with the cruel death of Ragnar.
The saga begins with the story of Aslaug's childhood, who would become Ragnar's second wife. According to this saga, Aslaug was the daughter of Sigurd (the famous dragon slayer) and Brunhilde (a Valkyrie from Germanic mythology). When Aslaug was three years old, her parents died and a poor Norwegian family took care of her. Aslaug also receives a new name in her new home: Kraka, so that her origin would be hidden.
Meanwhile, Ragnar becomes a handsome and brave warrior. According to the saga, Ragnar's first adventure was to help Herrauðr (count of Götaland) solve his problem with the dragons. After killing a dragon, Ragnar wins the hand of Herrauðr's daughter, Thora, as a reward.
Thora and Ragnar had two sons, Eirek and Agnar. After Thora falls ill and dies, Ragnar meets Aslaug and remarries, knowing nothing of her origins. With her, Ragnar had four sons.
After some time, Aslaug tells Ragnar the truth about who she really is. To prove she is telling the truth, Aslaug predicts that their next son will be born with a serpent in his eyes. The result of this prophecy is the birth of Sigurd-Snake-in-the-Eye.
The saga ends when Ragnar attacks England with only two ships and is captured by Ælla, king of Northumbria. Ælla throws Ragnar into a pit of snakes, and Ragnar dies in great torment, as is the case in legendary tales.
We leave you with a short video that talks about the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok.
The saga of the Völsungs
The story of the Volsungs was born at the end of the 13th century, describing the fall of the Volsung clan. On this occasion, we will only describe the part of the saga that talks about the birth and life of Volsung and includes events that describe the revenge of Volsung's eldest son, Sigmund, following the death of his father and brothers.
SIGI AND RERIR
The saga begins by describing the life of a man named Sigi, who was said to be the son of Odin.
One day, Sigi went hunting with a slave named Bradi. When Sigi saw that Bradi's prey was bigger than his own, he became terribly angry, killed him, and buried his body in the snow.
Following this brutal act, Sigi was condemned and declared an outlaw. However, according to the saga, Odin helped Sigi and took him to a place where warships and military troops awaited him. With the army obtained, Sigi became a prosperous conqueror and a powerful king who ruled over Hunland.
Sigi had a son named Rerir, who, over time, became a king even more powerful than his father. Since Rerir could not have children for a long time, he and his wife prayed to the gods to give them children. Their prayers were heard by Frigg (Odin's wife) and passed on to Odin.
Odin then gave the apple to one of his maidservants and told her to give it to Rerir. The young woman transformed into a raven, flew to Rerir, and dropped an apple on his knees. Rerir immediately understood the purpose of the apple, took a bite, and went to join the queen.
THE BIRTH OF VOLSUNG
Shortly after, the queen learned she was pregnant. However, King Rerir died. Instead of the usual nine months, the saga states that the queen's pregnancy lasted up to six years. Realizing she would not live long, the queen ordered the child to be removed from her.
When they brought out the boy, he was already an adult, he kissed his mother, and she died. The son was named Volsung and became the new king of Hunland.
With his wife Hljod, Volsung had ten sons, the eldest of whom, Sigmund, had a twin sister named Signy.
Furthermore, according to the saga, King Volsung built a magnificent palace whose main hall had a large tree growing inside it, with branches passing through the palace roof. The tree is called "Bernstock."
SWORD IN A TREE
One day, King Siggeir (ruler of Gautland, in Scotland) came to Volsung to ask for the hand of his daughter Signy. Despite Signy's opposition to the marriage, her father accepted the proposal.
One evening, a tall, unknown, one-eyed man, believed to be Odin, entered the main hall of the palace. The man approached the "Bernstock" tree and drove the sword blade into the tree up to the handle. He said he was giving the sword to whoever could pull it from the tree. After that, he left.
Of all the people present, only Sigmund managed to pull the sword from the tree. Siggeir offered gold three times the weight of the sword in exchange for it, but Sigmund did not accept the trade. He said the sword should not have belonged to Siggeir since he could not pull it out.
Siggeir decided to one day take revenge on Sigmund for these words.
SIGGEIR'S DEPARTURE
The next day, Siggeir and Signy left the palace, inviting King Volsung and his sons to visit him in Gatland.
THE DEATH OF KING VOLSUNG
At the agreed time, Volsung and his sons came to King Siggeir's palace. However, upon their arrival, Signy warned them that Siggeir was setting a trap for them and begged them to return home and come back with a large army.
Volsung did not want to heed her warning. The next morning, Siggeir attacks them, and Volsung and all his men are killed. Only Volsung's sons survived.
Signy suggests to her husband to capture her brothers instead of killing them immediately, hoping to find a way to save them later.
Siggeir accepts Signy's proposal and builds a prison in the woods where he imprisons the sons of Volsung. Every night, the brothers were attacked by a she-wolf who killed them one by one. The murders took place for nine nights until only Volsung's eldest son, Sigmund, survived.
When Signy learned of her brother's fate, she ordered a servant to coat Sigmund's face with honey and put some in his mouth. When the wolf came to kill Sigmund, it began to lick the honey on his face.
At the moment when the wolf also tried to lick the honey from Sigmund's mouth, according to the saga, Sigmund bit it so hard that the wolf jumped in pain and broke the trap in two. Sigmund then fled.
TESTS OF COURAGE
After escaping with the help of his sister, Sigmund built an underground hideout where he lived freely. Both of them devised a plan for revenge, and Signy decided to use the two sons she had borne for this purpose.
With her brother, Signy tested the courage of her sons. Since the boys were not brave enough, Signy ordered them to commit suicide.
SINFJOTLI
The saga then tells that Signy asked a powerful witch to change form. Thus, the sorceress spent three consecutive nights in bed with Siggeir in Signa's body while Signy slept with her brother Sigmund.
After three nights, Signy returned to her body and, after some time, gave birth to a son whom she named Sinfjotli. The boy's father was her brother Sigmund, but he did not know it.
Signy wanted to avenge the death of her father and brothers with the help of her son, and she also gave him tests of courage. Unlike his brothers, Sinfjotli showed extraordinary courage, thanks to which he stayed alive.
THE MAGIC WOLF SKIN
Sigmund wanted the boy to become cruel, so he took him with him to commit thefts in the forest, where they killed many people. One day, they came across two men who were sleeping and on whom wolf skins were hanging. Sigmund and Sinfjotli took the wolf skin and put it on. However, when they wanted to take it off, they could not. The wolf skins were magical. They began to howl like wolves, wandered in the woods, and continued to kill people.
When they finally managed to get rid of those magical skins, they threw them into the fire and burned them. When Sigmund was convinced that Sinfjotli was mature enough, he took him to King Siggeir's domain to take revenge.
The first act of revenge was the murder of two small children that Sigmund and Siggeir had in the meantime. When Siggeir learned that Sinfjotli had killed his children, a fierce battle ensued. Sigmund and Sinfjotli were captured, and Siggeir ordered that they be buried alive in a stone tomb. Before the tomb was closed, Signi threw in a bundle of straw in which Sigmund's sword was hidden.
Thanks to the sword, Sigmund found a way out of the burial mound. After their escape, Sigmund and Sinfjotli set fire to King Siggeir. While the king was burning, the two men told him that he should know the Volsungs were not dead. Signi caught fire and died at the same time as Siggeir.
Sigmund returned to his homeland with Sinfjotli and reclaimed the kingdom of the Volsungs.
To conclude on the ancient Norse sagas
As we said at the beginning, many experts reject the possibility that the sagas can be considered a reliable historical source, and these stories are therefore regarded as "historical fiction." However, the details described in these stories greatly help us understand the past of the old Norse people. In fact, one can say that the sagas are remembered experiences that have been passed down from generation to generation until they began to be written down.
Therefore, the Norse sagas are the best source that brings us closer to the lives of people in the Viking Age. Come on, it's time to talk about death in Norse mythology...
THE RELATIONSHIP TO DEATH IN NORSE MYTHOLOGY
Did you know that even death in Norse mythology was quite interesting? Dying is not the end, according to Viking beliefs. They believed that after their death, the afterlife began. Like many people in many other cultures, death is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a new one.
Life after death in Norse mythology is a fascinating subject that goes far beyond explaining the various beliefs, customs, and traditional ways of honoring the dead. Every part of Norse mythology is explained in detail, and the segment about life after death is perhaps the most interesting of all, because it is where humans will finally meet the Gods.
We will explain in detail the life after death and the death of the Vikings in Norse paganism. As strange as it may seem, the beginning of this journey starts with death. What comes after death is what the Vikings eagerly anticipated – meeting the Gods and enjoying the endless celebration in the Valhalla. However, it is a long journey, and not all Vikings will enter the halls of Valhalla.
Let's start with the end of life.
Viking Funerals
Death in Norse mythology and Viking funerals were specific events that involved many customs. Since the Vikings believed each of them would leap into the afterlife, they resorted to many traditions to organize their funerals.
When a person dies, they are sprinkled with their personal effects, but not random objects. People were buried with items that represented who they were and what their profession was when they were among the living.
For example, if a deceased Viking was a shipbuilder, he was buried with the tools of his trade. If a noblewoman died, she was buried with jewelry and gold, while warriors were buried with their weapons. The objects placed beside the deceased were mementos representing their life on this plain. They believed the deceased would need these items in the afterlife.
What sets Viking funerals apart from other civilizations is the way they buried their dead. Bodies were generally cremated, but here is a detail that illustrates the significant differences in funeral tradition. The incredibly wealthy Vikings were buried in ships.
According to various Viking beliefs, taking the dead on a burning ship offered them a safe passage to the afterlife. Moreover, if the deceased was to be buried underground, another tradition was to build stone mounds shaped like a ship by arranging the stones to create the silhouette of a boat.
However, some burial rituals were mandatory, regardless of the type of burial. The custom was to dress the body in new clothes, specially made for the funeral. Thus, the deceased would enter the afterlife wearing beautiful new clothes. Additionally, the burial ceremony included plenty of food and alcohol, as well as psalms and songs.
The "funerary goods" were gifts intended to pay a final tribute and last respect to a deceased person. The value of these gifts was equal to the social status of the deceased. All gifts, as well as the body, were either burned or buried.
In Norse mythology, death was seen as an important journey for the deceased person. Therefore, other cases show that very wealthy individuals were even buried with slaves, so they would have servants when they entered the plain of the dead.
Beliefs about life after death in Norse mythology
Death in Norse mythology means that when Vikings die, they go directly to Valhalla, right? Not quite.
There are several levels of life after death. Valhalla is reserved for warriors killed on the battlefield, and not everyone. Where do all the other Norse men and women go after their death? First, let's explain their beliefs from the beginning, then we will go further into the explanation of life after death in Norse mythology.
Norse mythology teaches us that people are made up of four different parts. The first part is the physical appearance known as Hamr. The second is Flygja, which is represented as the totem of a known spirit. The third part is the person's character or personality, known as Hugr, while the fourth part, Hamingja, is presented as the quality of the person's life.
It is believed that people who have been evil or greedy during their life cannot leave this world, but remain trapped in it in a Draugr body (the undead warrior creature). It is also believed that a person's Hugr moves to another plane of existence. Meanwhile, their Hamingja stays here and is shared with the rest of the family over the coming years.
Reincarnation is another belief surrounding life after death in Norse mythology. When people die, they can be reincarnated into the family line to strengthen their family tree. Pagan reincarnation should not be confused with Christian beliefs in reincarnation, and here is why.
If we consider that the pagans viewed the family as something all-powerful, it makes a lot of sense. Being reborn into the family line to make it more enduring and much more stable was a firm belief. Thus, reincarnation after death in Norse mythology shows us once again that the Vikings believed death is not the end.
Valhalla, Odin's palace
When it comes to the most famous lands of the afterlife in Norse mythology, Valhalla is the one most talked about. What is Valhalla? Valhalla is known as the hall of Asgard reserved for warriors fallen in battle. They are invited to dine and drink with Allfather Odin and all the other gods, as well as with the other Vikings fallen in battle.
However, not everyone could enter Valhalla. It is believed that Odin, with the help of the Valkyries, chooses those Viking warriors who fell in battle to join him in the halls of Valhalla. The reason is that all those who dine and drink with the gods are good enough warriors to stand by their side when Ragnarök arrives.
In Norse mythology, death is described as a new journey. People had a journey during their lifetime, but when they die, another adventure begins. There are several other lands of the afterlife in Norse mythology, and we will review them all.
There is also Helheim, which resembles hell in Christianity, but it is not the same. Helheim is not a place for bad and wicked people. It is said that when Vikings who were not killed during battle die, they go to Helheim, and it was their punishment for surviving the battle.
The realm of Helheim is located beneath Midgard in the Norse cosmos, and the ruler of this land of the afterlife is the goddess Hel. The realms of Midgard and Hel are separated by an impassable river and massive gates. When a soul passes into the realm of Helheim, it can no longer return.
Even the gods, including the grandfather Odin, do not have the power to control death. When a death occurs, it is final, and they were powerless. A trickster god, Loki, trapped the indestructible god Baldr, Odin's son, in a game that was fatal for Baldr. When Baldr died, no one could reverse the process, except the ruler of Helheim.
It is also believed that Viking warriors who did not die on the battlefield tried to trick the goddess Hel by cutting themselves with blades on their deathbed. By doing this, they created wounds that resembled those obtained on the battlefield.
In Norse mythology, death is perceived in different ways, as there are places where Viking warriors were eager to go, such as Valhalla. Nevertheless, Helheim, as an alternative, was also an acceptable option.
However, there is a place within Helheim reserved for wicked and evil people, called Nastrond. Nastrond is a place everyone fears, but there have always been ill-intentioned people who ended up there.
Considering that the Vikings were known to sail to the edges of Midgard to explore the known and unknown territories of the realm, it is not surprising that the afterlife of Nordic mythology also has a unique land for sailors. Ran is a land where Viking sailors went after their death.
Ran was a giantess who lived at the bottom of the ocean. The ocean floor was the brightest land of all the lands of the afterlife, due to the huge amounts of treasures that had sunk with many ships. It is also believed that Ran used to catch sailors with nets and drown them so they would stay by her side in the underwater afterlife.
Another great land of the afterlife is known as Helgafjell. According to other sources, Helgafjell is another place where the dead can gather. It is a sacred mountain thought to be an exceptional place.
Moreover, it is said that the dead can lead a very ordinary life there, as if they were still among the living. The deceased would find their loved ones there, such as their families and friends. Some people have seen this mountain in the afterlife and described it as a place of happiness, home, and peace.
Let's stop here on the death of the Vikings! It is time to conclude.
THE VAST UNIVERSE OF NORDIC MYTHOLOGY
You will have understood, the universe of Nordic mythology is rich in history, information, legends and other legendary creatures. If you have made it this far, it means you are passionate, needless to say!
That is why I have several things to recommend to you:
You can turn to the reading of “The Edda: Tales of Nordic Mythology” by Snorri Sturluson to take the time to discover the Viking stories with fascination.
You can also turn to the book by Nota Bene and his team, which offers a very comprehensive work on Nordic mythology!
I definitely invite you to visit the online store Odin’s Hall to find Viking accessories that will daily testify to your love for this universe.
And on these beautiful promotional words, I suggest you instead board your drakkar to continue sailing on our website.
