Norse Gods and Norse Gods and GoddessesGoddesses

OdinOdin Chief of the gods and men – called Chief of the gods and men – called

AllfatherAllfather Father of Thor, Balder, and other godsFather of Thor, Balder, and other gods Wears winged or floppy hatWears winged or floppy hat God of magic, wisdom, wit and leaning; God of magic, wisdom, wit and leaning;

later with war and bloodshedlater with war and bloodshed Odin pierces himself with a spear and Odin pierces himself with a spear and

hangs on Yggdrasil for 9 days and hangs on Yggdrasil for 9 days and nights to learn the secret knowledge of nights to learn the secret knowledge of runesrunes

Has one eye because he traded it for a Has one eye because he traded it for a drink from the spring of clairvoyance to drink from the spring of clairvoyance to gain inner wisdomgain inner wisdom

Resides in Valaskjalf (“shelf of the Resides in Valaskjalf (“shelf of the slain”) slain”)

Attributes are the spear Gungnir (which Attributes are the spear Gungnir (which never misses its target) the ring never misses its target) the ring Draupnir and his 8-footed steed Draupnir and his 8-footed steed Sleipnir.Sleipnir.

During Ragnarok he will be killed by During Ragnarok he will be killed by the wolf Fenrirthe wolf Fenrir

The day Wednesday is named for him.The day Wednesday is named for him.

His two ravens are called Huginn and Muninn (Thought and Memory)

ThorThor God of thunder and lightningGod of thunder and lightning Huge, red-bearded, with burning eyesHuge, red-bearded, with burning eyes Similar to Hercules in his feats of Similar to Hercules in his feats of

strength and giant-killing.strength and giant-killing. Son of OdinSon of Odin Mated with giant Jarnsaxa, but his wife Mated with giant Jarnsaxa, but his wife

is Sif (golden hair)is Sif (golden hair) Mjolnir (the destroyer) – an ax-Mjolnir (the destroyer) – an ax-

hammer that can destroy giants and hammer that can destroy giants and mountains in a single blow; he also mountains in a single blow; he also carries a belt of strength and iron carries a belt of strength and iron gloveglove

His home was called BilskirnirHis home was called Bilskirnir Has a chariot pulled by two goats. He Has a chariot pulled by two goats. He

can kill these goats and eat them and can kill these goats and eat them and they will come back to life.they will come back to life.

Is constantly fighting the World Is constantly fighting the World Serpent – JormungandSerpent – Jormungand

He once drank from a horn that was He once drank from a horn that was emptying the water from the ocean– emptying the water from the ocean– gigantic appetitegigantic appetite

Thursday is named for himThursday is named for him Thor’s Helmet

BalderBalder ““The Beautiful” and “The The Beautiful” and “The

Good”Good” Son of Odin and FriggSon of Odin and Frigg Primarily known for his death Primarily known for his death

and resurrection – Loki tricked and resurrection – Loki tricked his brother Hod into killing him his brother Hod into killing him with a mistletoe dartwith a mistletoe dart

His death is the harbinger of His death is the harbinger of RagnarokRagnarok

After Ragnarok, when a new After Ragnarok, when a new world arises, Baldor and Hod world arises, Baldor and Hod will be reborn to rulewill be reborn to rule

His hall is BreidablikHis hall is Breidablik Considered to be the best of Considered to be the best of

the godsthe gods Friendly, wise and eloquent, Friendly, wise and eloquent,

little power little power

LokiLoki God of mischief and fireGod of mischief and fire Trickster figureTrickster figure Assists and causes problems for the Assists and causes problems for the

godsgods Shape shifter – appears, as salmon, Shape shifter – appears, as salmon,

mare, seal, fly, womanmare, seal, fly, woman Born of giants, but welcomed by the Born of giants, but welcomed by the

godsgods Responsible for Balder’s death and Responsible for Balder’s death and

punished by having snake venom punished by having snake venom dripped on his foreheaddripped on his forehead

Jormungand (world serpent), Hel, Jormungand (world serpent), Hel, and Fenrir (wolf) are his childrenand Fenrir (wolf) are his children

Will begin RagnarokWill begin Ragnarok Fights with the giants during Fights with the giants during

Ragnarok – slayed by HeimdallRagnarok – slayed by Heimdall

FreyrFreyr God of sun, rain, and plentiful harvestGod of sun, rain, and plentiful harvest God of peace and a brave warriorGod of peace and a brave warrior Member of the VanirMember of the Vanir Gods gave him Alfheimr, the realm of Gods gave him Alfheimr, the realm of

the Elvesthe Elves Marrried to giantess Gerd, son of Marrried to giantess Gerd, son of

NjordNjord Rides the dwarf-made boar Rides the dwarf-made boar

Gullinbursti – symbol is boarGullinbursti – symbol is boar Possesses a ship which always has a Possesses a ship which always has a

favorable breeze and can be folded favorable breeze and can be folded together and carried in a pouchtogether and carried in a pouch

Killed by the fire demon Surt at Killed by the fire demon Surt at RagnarokRagnarok

Twin to FreyaTwin to Freya Has a sword that can fight by itself, Has a sword that can fight by itself,

but he gives it awaybut he gives it away The boar is his symbolThe boar is his symbol

FreyaFreya Goddess of love and fertilityGoddess of love and fertility Vanir goddessVanir goddess Most beautiful goddessMost beautiful goddess Patron of crops and birthPatron of crops and birth Daughter of Njord, sister of FreyrDaughter of Njord, sister of Freyr Married to Od, when he died she Married to Od, when he died she

cried tears of goldcried tears of gold Attributes are the necklace of Attributes are the necklace of

Brisings (pure gold), a cloak which Brisings (pure gold), a cloak which allows its wearer to change into a allows its wearer to change into a falcon, and a chariot pulled by two falcon, and a chariot pulled by two cats.cats.

The symbol of sensuality, called The symbol of sensuality, called upon in matters of loveupon in matters of love

Particularly fond of elves (fairies)Particularly fond of elves (fairies) Divides slain warriors with Odin; ½ Divides slain warriors with Odin; ½

go to her palace, ½ go to Valhalla . go to her palace, ½ go to Valhalla . Women also go to her hall.Women also go to her hall.

FriggFrigg Mother Goddess, Queen of Mother Goddess, Queen of

AsgardAsgard Patron of marriage and Patron of marriage and

motherhoodmotherhood Goddess of love and FertilityGoddess of love and Fertility Wife of Odin, mother of Balder Wife of Odin, mother of Balder

and Hodand Hod Weaves cloudsWeaves clouds She knows events She knows events

in the present and future, in the present and future, but is powerless to but is powerless to change themchange them

Learning of her son’s (Balder) Learning of her son’s (Balder) death, she makes everything death, she makes everything promise not to harm him – promise not to harm him – except the mistletoeexcept the mistletoe

The term Friday derives from The term Friday derives from her nameher name

HeimdallHeimdall ““World Brightener”, God of lightWorld Brightener”, God of light Son of nine mothersSon of nine mothers Born at the end of the world and Born at the end of the world and

raised by the force of earth and raised by the force of earth and seawater, and the blood of a boarseawater, and the blood of a boar

Carries the horn, Gjallar, which Carries the horn, Gjallar, which announces gods, warns of danger, announces gods, warns of danger, and will signal the beginning of and will signal the beginning of RagnarokRagnarok

Great hearing (can hear grass grow) Great hearing (can hear grass grow) and eyesightand eyesight

Watchman of the gods and guards Watchman of the gods and guards Bifrost (the rainbow bridge to Bifrost (the rainbow bridge to Asgard)Asgard)

Will Kill Loki at Ragnarok, but will Will Kill Loki at Ragnarok, but will die from woundsdie from wounds

Created 3 races of Men: serfs, Created 3 races of Men: serfs, peasants, and warriors.peasants, and warriors.

TyrTyr God of war and justiceGod of war and justice Precursor of Odin Precursor of Odin Boldest of the gods, inspires Boldest of the gods, inspires

courage and heroism in battle courage and heroism in battle Lost his hand to Fenrir, Loki’s Lost his hand to Fenrir, Loki’s

wolf-son wolf-son His symbol is the spear which His symbol is the spear which

has become a symbol of justicehas become a symbol of justice At Ragnarok, he will kill the At Ragnarok, he will kill the

hound Garm, the guardian of hound Garm, the guardian of hell, but he will die from his hell, but he will die from his wounds. wounds.

HodHod God of winter and God of winter and

darknessdarkness BlindBlind Son of Odin and FriggSon of Odin and Frigg Tricked by Loki into Tricked by Loki into

killing Balder with killing Balder with mistletoemistletoe

Vali killed Hod in Vali killed Hod in revenge for Balderrevenge for Balder

After Ragnarok, he will After Ragnarok, he will be reborn and rule with be reborn and rule with Balder Balder

IdunIdun

Goddess of immortalityGoddess of immortality Keeps the golden Keeps the golden

apples of youthapples of youth Major story deals with Major story deals with

a giant who, with Loki’s a giant who, with Loki’s help, stole the apples, help, stole the apples, causing the gods to causing the gods to witherwither

Married to BragiMarried to Bragi

BragiBragi

God of poetry and God of poetry and eloquenceeloquence

Loki calls him Loki calls him “Braggart” and the “Braggart” and the verb “to brag” verb “to brag” comes from his comes from his name.name.

Married to IdunMarried to Idun

HelHel Daughter of LokiDaughter of Loki Giantess, half alive/half deadGiantess, half alive/half dead Ruler of Helheim, Goddess of Ruler of Helheim, Goddess of

death and the underworlddeath and the underworld Half black/ half whiteHalf black/ half white Her face and body are human Her face and body are human

but her legs are of a corpsebut her legs are of a corpse Spread the plague with a Spread the plague with a

rake or a broomrake or a broom Agrees to release Balder from Agrees to release Balder from

Helheim if everything weeps Helheim if everything weeps for him.for him.