Norse mythology : a guide to the Gods, heroes, rituals, and beliefs

Norse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland—outlining along the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world. The book begins with an Introduction that helps put Scandinavian mythology in place in history, followed by a chapter that explains the meaning of mythic time, and a third section that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term. These fascinating entries identify particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another. We meet Thor, one of the most powerful gods, who specializes in killing giants using a hammer made for him by dwarfs, not to mention myriad trolls, ogres, humans and strange animals. We learn of the ongoing struggle between the gods, who create the cosmos, and the jötnar, or giants, who aim to destroy it. In the enchanted world where this mythology takes place, we encounter turbulent rivers, majestic mountains, dense forests, storms, fierce winters, eagles, ravens, salmon and snakes in a landscape closely resembling Scandinavia. Beings travel on ships and on horseback; they eat slaughtered meat and drink mead. Spanning from the inception of the universe and the birth of human beings to the universe's destruction and the mythic future, these sparkling tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes will entertain readers and offer insight into the relationship between Scandinavian myth, history, and culture. A Note on Orthography 1 Introduction The Historical Background The Indo-European Background Cult, Worship, and Sacrifice The Importance of Scandinavian Mythology 2 Time The Nature of Mythic Time Mythic Past, Present, and Future Cyclical Time Time and Space Myth, Narrative, and Language Myth and History 3 Deities, Themes, and Concepts Ægir Ægir’s Daughters Æsir Æsir-Vanir War Álfablót Álfheim (Elf-land) Alfödr (All-father) Almáttki áss Alvíssmál Andhrímnir (Sooty-in-front) Andlang Andvari (Careful) Angrboda (She-who-offers-sorrow) Árvak and Alsvin (Early-awake and Very-swift) Ása-Thor (Thor-of-the-æsir) Ás-Brú (Æsir-bridge) Ásgard (Enclosure-of-the-æsir) Ask (Ash-tree) and Embla Atla Audhumla Aurboda (Gravel-offerer) Aurgelmir (Mud-yeller) Aurvandil Baldr Baldrs Draumar (Baldr’s Dreams) Báleyg (Flame-eye) Barri Baugi (Ring-shaped) Beli Bergbúa tháttr (The Tale of the Mountain-dweller) Bergelmir (Bear-yeller, Mountain-yeller, or Bare-yeller) Berserks Bestla Beyla Bil and Hjúki Bileyg (Wavering-eye) Billing’s Girl Bilröst Bilskírnir Bláin Bölthor(n) Bound Monster Bous Bracteates Bragi Breidablik Brimir Brísinga men Brokk Bur, Bor (Son) Búri Byggvir Byleist (Byleipt, Byleift) Dag (Day) Dáin (Dead) Delling Dísablót Dísir Draupnir (Dripper) Drómi Duneyr Durathrór Dvalin (Delayed) Dwarfs Eggthér Egil Eikinskjaldi (With-an-oaken-shield) Eikthyrnir (Oak-encircler) Ein(d)ridi (Lone-rider) Einherjar (Lone-fighters) Eir Eiríksmál Eistla Eitri Eldhrímnir (Fire-sooty) Eldir Élivágar (Hailstorm-waves) Elli (Old-age) Elves Eyrgjafa Falhófnir (Pale-hoofed)Fárbauti (Anger-striker) Fenrir Fensalir (Bog-halls) Fimafeng Fimbul- Fjalar (Deceiver) Fjölnir Fjölvar Fjörgyn Fólkvang (People-field or Army-field) Fornjót Forseti (Chairman) Freki (Ravenous-one) Frey Freyja (Lady) Frigg Fródi Fulla Galar (Yeller) Galdrar Game of the Gods Garm Gefjon Gefn Geirröd Gerd Geri (Ravenous-one) Gestumblindi (One-blind-to-guests?) Gimlé Ginnunga Gap Gísl Gjallarbrú Gjallarhorn (Screaming-horn) Gjálp Glad (Glad) Gladsheim Glær (Glassy) Gleipnir Glen Glitnir Gná Gnipahellir (Gnipa-cave) Gods, Words for Greip (Grip) Gríd Grímnismál Grottasöng Gullinborsti (Gold-bristle) Gullintanni (Gilded-tooth) Gulltopp (Gold-top) Gullveig Gungnir Gunnlöd Gyllir Gymir Hábrók (High-pants) Haddingjar Hadingus Hákonarmál Háleygjatal Hallinskídi Hárbardsljód Harthgrepa (Hard-grip) Hati Hródvitnisson Hávamál Heid Heidrún Heimdall Hel Hermód Hildisvíni (Battle-pig) Himinbjörg (Heaven-mountain) Hjadningavíg (Battle-of-the-followers-of-Hedin) Hlidskjálf Hlín Hlóra Hlórridi Hnoss (Treasure) Höd Hoddmímir’s Forest Hœnir Hörn Hræsvelg Hraudung Hrímfaxi Hrímgrímnir (Frost-masked) Hringhorni (Ring-horn) Hródvitnir Hropt Hrungnir Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Mind) Hvedrung Hvergelmir (Hot-spring-boiler) Hymir Hymiskvida Hyndluljód Hyrrokkin (Fire-smoked) Idavöll Idun Ifing Ing Ingunar-Frey Interpretatio Germanica Interpretatio Romana Járnsaxa (Armed-with-an-iron-sword) Járnvid (Iron-woods) Jörd (Earth) Jötunheimar (Giant-worlds) Kvasir Lærad Laufey Léttfeti (Light-foot) Líf and Lífthrasir Lit (Color, Countenance) Ljódatal Loddfáfnismál Lódur Lofn Logi (Fire) Lokasenna Loki Lopt Magni (The Strong) Mánagarm (Moon-dog) Máni (Moon) Mannus (Man) Mardöll Matres and Matrones Mead of Poetry Meili Merseburg Charms Midgard (Central-enclosure) Midgard Serpent Mímir (Mím, Mími) Módgud (Battle-weary) Módi (Angry-one) Mundilfœri Muspell Naglfar Naglfari Nál (Needle) Nanna Nari and/or Narfi Nerthus Nidafjöll Nidavellir Nídhögg (Evil-blow) Niflheim (Fog-world) and Niflhel (Fog-Hel) Njörd Norns Nótt (Night) Ód Odin (Old Norse Óƒinn) Ódrerir Ögmundar tháttr dytts ok Gunnars Helmings (The Tale of Ögmund Dint and Gunnar Half) Ragnarök (Judgment-of-the-powers) Rán Ratatosk (Bore-tooth) Regnator Omnium Deus Rígsthula Rind Röskva (Ripe?) Sæhrímnir Sæming Sága Seid Sif (In-law-relationship) Sigyn Sindri (Slag) Sjöfn Skadi Skídbladnir Skínfaxi (Shining-mane) Sköll Skrýmir (Big-looking) Sleipnir Slídrugtanni (Dangerous-tooth) Snotra Sól (Sun) Sörla tháttr Starkad Surt Suttung Syn Syŕ (Sow) Thjálfi Thjazi Thor Thrúd (Strength) Thrúdgelmir (Strength-yeller) Thrúdheim (Strength-world) Thrúdvangar (Strength-fields) Thrymheim (Din-world) Thrymskvida (The Poem of Thrym) Tuisto Tyŕ Ull Urdarbrunn (Well-of-Urd) Útgard (Outer-enclosure) Útgarda-Loki (Loki-of-the-Útgards) Vafthrúdnismál Válaskjálf Valhöll (Carrion-hall) Váli, Son of Loki Váli, Son of Odin Vanir Vár Vedrfölnir (Storm-pale) Vídar Vídbláin (Wide-blued) Vídblindi (Wide-blind) Vidfinn (Wood-Finn) Vili and Vé Vingólf (Friend-hall) Völund Völuspá Vör Yggdrasil (Ygg’s-steed) Ymir Yngvi 4 Print and Nonprint Resources Background—Viking and Medieval Scandinavia Archaeology Etymology The Conversion of Iceland Medieval Iceland Women and Gender Encyclopedias Primary Sources—Translations Primary Sources—Commentary and Analysis Eddic and Skaldic Poetry Snorri Sturluson Literary Histories Mythology: General Treatments Mythology: Important Studies Nonprint Resources

Norse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland—outlining along the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world.

The book begins with an Introduction that helps put Scandinavian mythology in place in history, followed by a chapter that explains the meaning of mythic time, and a third section that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term. These fascinating entries identify particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another. We meet Thor, one of the most powerful gods, who specializes in killing giants using a hammer made for him by dwarfs, not to mention myriad trolls, ogres, humans and strange animals. We learn of the ongoing struggle between the gods, who create the cosmos, and the jötnar, or giants, who aim to destroy it. In the enchanted world where this mythology takes place, we encounter turbulent rivers, majestic mountains, dense forests, storms, fierce winters, eagles, ravens, salmon and snakes in a landscape closely resembling Scandinavia. Beings travel on ships and on horseback; they eat slaughtered meat and drink mead.

Spanning from the inception of the universe and the birth of human beings to the universe's destruction and the mythic future, these sparkling tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes will entertain readers and offer insight into the relationship between Scandinavian myth, history, and culture.

Norse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland and outlines the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world. The book begins with an Introduction that helps put Scandinavian mythology in place in history, followed by a chapter that explains the meaning of mythic time, and a third section that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term. These fascinating entries identify particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another. We meet Thor, one of the most powerful gods, who specializes in killing giants using a hammer made for him by dwarfs, not to mention myriad trolls, ogres, humans and strange animals. We learn of the ongoing struggle between the gods, who create the cosmos, and the jotnar, or giants, who aim to destroy it. In the enchanted world where this mythology takes place, we encounter turbulent rivers, majestic mountains, dense forests, storms, fierce winters, eagles, ravens, salmon and snakes in a landscape closely resembling Scandinavia. Beings travel on ships and on horseback; they eat slaughtered meat and drink mead. Spanning from the inception of the universe and the birth of human beings to the universe's destruction and the mythic future, these sparkling tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes will entertain readers and offer insight into the relationship between Scandinavian myth, history, and culture. Norse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland and outlines the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world. The book begins with an Introduction that helps put Scandinavian mythology in place in history, followed by a chapter that explains the meaning of mythic time, and a third section that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term. These fascinating entries identify particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another. We meet Thor, one of the most powerful gods, who specializes in killing giants using a hammer made for him by dwarfs, not to mention myriad trolls, ogres, humans and strange animals. We learn of the ongoing struggle between the gods, who create the cosmos, and the jötnar, or giants, who aim to destroy it. In the enchanted world where this mythology takes place, we encounter turbulent rivers, majestic mountains, dense forests, storms, fierce winters, eagles, ravens, salmon and snakes in a landscape closely resembling Scandinavia. Beings travel on ships and on horseback; they eat slaughtered meat and drink mead. Spanning from the inception of the universe and the birth of human beings to the universe's destruction and the mythic future, these sparkling tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes will entertain readers and offer insight into the relationship between Scandinavian myth, history, and culture.