By: Kora

Ms. Nicole Bush

Anglo-saxons, Scandinavians, Iceland, and Denmark

Defined by Tacitus, a Roman, by the language spoken Not Celtic-, Latin-,or Slav-based

Each tribe had it’s own name, king and history.

Considered barbarians by the Romans.

Around 800 ad, different German dialects develop into:

• Dutch • English• Flemish• Danish• Swedish• Norwegian• Icelandic

• as the different tribes migrate around Europe.

24 letters in the original runic alphabet.

Called “futhark” From the order of the first 6

letters

Used for recording names on weapons

Associated with magic

Early Germans worshiped in natural, sacred places

GrovesHilltopsIslands

Heroic PoetryFrom the oral traditions

Two types of poetryPoetic Edda

A collection of lays found in 1 Icelandic manuscriptComposed around 800 ad.Primary source for:

Thor versus GiantsOdin as god of wisdom, poetry and magicThe death of BalderThe creation and destruction of the world

EpicOnly 1 complete example survives.

English BeowulfGermany

A fragment of The Tale of Hildibrand and Hadubrand None from Scandinavia survive.

3 areasNiflheim: land of ice, mist and darkness

NorthMuspelsheim: Land of fire

SouthAbyss in between the two

Ginnungagap

Rivers flow from MuspelsheimWinds from Niflheim

Ymir – the first giantFather of giants, humans and gods

The Cow – Audhumla4 rivers flow from her uddersBuri born from the drops off her tongue

Giant

Buri capable of reproducing and bore a sonBor - Married Bestla, one of Ymir’s descendants.

3 gods born of this marriage.Odin, Vili and Ve

The race of giants created from Ymir’s sweatSons of Bor attacked Ymir and killed him

Blood filled Ginnungagap

One son and his wife survive.

God‘s dragged Ymir’s bodyIt’s pieces created

Blood – oceansFlesh – earthBones – mountainsSkull – vault of heaven supported by 4 dwarfs

Later named the 4 directionsBrain – clouds

Sun’s sparks got stuck in the vault of heavenBecame stars

Gods decided and began the rhythm of the seasons

Night came first, then dayCommon in ancient cultures

Humans Created after Asgard was built

Two tree trunks molded into human shapesOdin – soulsHoenir – sensesLodur – life and color

3 realms Asgard: home of the godsMidgard: home of human raceNiflheim: land of the dead

AsgardConnected to Midgard by a bridge, The Bifrost

Formed by rainbowsContains many halls

Valhalla – hall of the slain herosValaskjalf – houses Odin’s high seat Hlidskjalf

Vanaheim – home of the VanirAlfheim – home of the Light-Elves

MidgardLand surrounded by an ocean

Inhabited by a huge serpent

NiflheimOnly giants and dwarfs can live thereHel’s domainLand of ice and darkness

An Ash treeWhole world is in the shadow of its branches

Roots go deep into the earth and up into the sky3 roots

1 in Urd’s wellFountain of youth

1 in Niflheim to the Hvergelmir fountainGives water to all rivers in the world

1 to the fountain of MimirFountain of wisdom

Will protect 2 humans during RagnarokLif and Lifthrasir

2 races of godsAesir – Gods of warVanir – Gods of fertility and earth

War with each other Compromise – Njord, Freyr and Freyja to Asgard

Father and leader of all the godsMaster of magic

RunesGod of war

Patron of warriorsDecides the fates of warriors

Patron god of poetryWeapon

Spear – GungnirAnimal attendants

Wolves: Geri and FrekiRavens: Huginn (mind) and Munnin (memory)Sleipnir: 8 legged horse

God of thunderDestroyer of giantsSon of OdinWeapons

Hammer – MjollnirA very short handleLike a boomerangThe thunderbolt

Magic beltMakes Thor twice as strong

Iron gloves

God of the seaInvoked for sailing or fishing

Extremely richMarried to Skadi

He lived in his hall by the sea, she in her hall in the mountains

Father of Freyr and Freyja

God of human procreation and male potency

God of horses During the migration

period Many horse remains are

found in Viking graves and at sites in Sweden.

A horse cultFreyja’s twin brother

Resembles the relationship between the Greek Artemis and Apollo

Not much is known about this god

Son of OdinGod of lightAdored by all the gods

Good naturedBeautifulPeaceful

His dreams directly precede Ragnarok

Killed by HodGuided by Loki

Reborn after Ragnarok

Odin’s wifeChief goddess

Comparable to Hera in Greek mythologyMen prayed to her to

Protect marriagesBless them with children

She knew the futureTold no-one

Goddess of erotic and sensual loveMimics the Greek

AphroditeCan turn into a falcon

or a featherShamanistic powers

seeressShe is described as

DesirableStrong willedPassionate

Not a god, but allowed to live in AsgardThe trickster

Nobody was immune from his practical jokesThe gods used his advice to get out of sticky

situationsThe wall of Asgard

Becomes truly evil after a fashion of playing pranks

Father of monstersSleipnirHelFenrir

Nordic gods are mortalEveryone dies during Ragnarok; some to be

reborn in a new worldStarts with Balder’s dreamDeath of BalderGods vs. Giants

Odin is the first god to dieEaten by FenrirAvenged by his son, Vidar

Freyr is killed by the fire giant, SurtThor kills the serpent of Midgard

Breathes too much poison and fallsLoki kills Heimdall, and then is slain

NatureStorms and cataclysmsFires, earthquakes and tidal waves

Human race dies except Lif and Lifthrasir sheltered in Yggdrdasill

The ocean submerges everything The Ginnungagap opens again on all sides

at once a new world rises from the wavesEverything is new and

pureAn Eden-like world

Some gods are rebornBalder – Master of this

worldHod – Balder’s brotherOdin’s sons

VidarVali

Odin’s brothersViliVe

Thor’s sonsMagni and Modi

HoenirAnnounces the new age