Research Paper On Norse Mythology

Another difference is the creatures. In Greek mythology there are three basic non-human creatures: the gods, the titans, and the nymphs. In Norse mythology there are 5 main non-human creatures: the Aesir and Vanir (gods), the Jotnar (giants), the Álfar (Álfar), Svartálfar (dark Álfar), and the Valkyries. The Aesir and the Vanir are your basic extraordinary immortals, though in Norse mythology the gods were thought to be mortal, only kept immortal by eating the apples of Idun. However, they could be slain even if they ate the apples. The Jotnar were giants or the Norse equivalent to the Greek titans, but the Jotnar did not fight with the gods in a war like the titans did with the Greek gods. The Álfar are lesser "gods" that control nature. Álfar are viewed as "gods" of fertility due to their connection to nature (agriculture specifically); they're not actual gods in the sense it is used but more so magically inclined creatures. Finally are the Svartálfar or commonly referred to as dwarves, trolls, dark Álfar, or black Álfar. The Svartálfar aren't anything like the Álfar; they are regarded as being small, disfigured people who dwell in mountains and mounds and hate the light. The Svartálfar were master craftsman and made many things for the gods such as Thor's hammer (Mjollnir) a wall around

When looking at the myths between various ancient cultures, distinct similarities appear between motifs and symbols of their stories. It is often speculated why these characteristics remain consistent despite differences in time, location, culture and beliefs. Looking at the similarities between Greek, Aztec, and Norse mythology can perhaps shed some light on this mystery. All three myths feature an apocalyptic event that starts a new life cycle, an element of sacrifice to retain order, and the death and rebirth of a god. The theory of James Frazer best explains why these similarities exist, possibly bringing a new perspective into the study of ancient mythology.

Norse Mythology’s creation started with a giant named Ymir. He emerged from the ground and grew very large from cow’s milk. In time, the god Buri and his wife appeared and gave birth to Bor and Bor’s son was named Odin. Ymir, was evil, and the gods didn’t like it, so they killed him, making his huge body form the earth. His blood became the sea, his flesh became land, his bones became mountains, his hair became the trees, and his

There was a misleading image of the Vikings that made them be known as pagans with a hatred of the Christian Church. What some people failed to realize was that the Vikings had many gods and found it to be no problem accepting Christian god alongside their own. The Vikings encountered with Christianity through their raids, and as they began to settle in lands with a Christian population, they also could adapt to Christianity much quicker. The Vikings had 14 major Gods. Their appreciation is the cosmos is divided into three main levels which are, Asgard, Aesir, which is also the upper level where the major gods such as Odin, along with the fertility gods, and the light levels lived. Midgard was known to be the middle level where dwarves, giants, men, and even the dark elves lived. Niflheim was known to be the lower level, and well known as the underworld. They called Niflheim the world of the evil dead because this was where the evil dead died the second death in the fortress city of Hel. Yggdrasil was known to be above

Scandinavian Paganism, more commonly known as Norse Mythology, was a popular polytheistic religion during the Anglo-Saxon time period. It is believed to have been derived from the culture of Germanic Paganism. According to Norse Mythology, at the center of the universe lies the greatest ash tree, known as Yggdrasil, whose roots and branches spread across the universe connecting each of the nine realms of Aesir, giants, and Niflheim. The world was believed to have been created by the body of Ymir, a giant that was killed and dismembered by the first gods. His flesh created the earth, his bones formed the mountains, and his blood filled the seas.

Norse mythology has been traced as far as the 2nd century AD and has been studied by the Vikings mostly. These Viking were from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Faroe Island, and Greenland. Norse mythology was at one point a religion of which people studied. North religion bases all its stories on the Elder Edda, which creates stories from god's other wise known as the Aesir and gives a standard of how the earth was made, how we should treat others, and stories of lessons we must learn. In this type of mythology it also gives knowledge as to what happens when you die. It says there are two possible places people could go, Helheim, Valhalla. Most people who die go to Helheim but those who die an honorable death are rewarded by going to Valhalla.

In Norse mythology, the Norns are the demigoddesses of destiny, they control the destinies of both gods, men and the unchanging law of the cosmos. The Norns are shown as three sisters, Urd who is fate, Verdandi who is necessity, and Skuld who is being, and they live at the base of the World Tree Yggdrasil in the realm of Asgard. The Norns decide the fate of the world and because of this no one can change it and they have the ability to unravel people's lives and end it with shears whenever they please. When the Norns decide to end the world, “a day of doom shall come upon thee, a day or wrath and a day of

The Norse story did not have one maker of good, but multiple elements and events that emerged from one evil giant in this creation myth. Ymir was malicious and wicked and when Odin and the other gods could no longer tolerate Ymir's evil acts, they united to kill the giant. "Ymir’s huge body formed the earth, his blood became the sea, his flesh became the land, his bones the mountains and his hair the trees" (Distant Train, Inc., 2011). The other gods and Odin shaped the sky with his skull, it was held up by four towering tall pillars. Odin created the sun and moon out of sparks of the fiery depths of Muspell and placed them in the sky. The ice began to melt in the new world of Ginnungagap from the illumination of the sun and moon and vegetation began to grow. Odin named the new world Midgard, meaning 'The Middle Land'. Odin discovered two fallen trees, of ash and of elm, which he then extracted from the mud and shaped the first woman and man. "Odin breathed life into the beings, gave them reason and feelings, hearing and sight" (Distant Train, Inc., 2011). Similar to the Genesis story of Adam and Eve, Odin then called the man Ask and the woman Embla.

When we look at these sources, it is clear that change is usually good. Change is an important part of the fictional story of the Norse Creation Myth. The Norse Creation Myth is a story about how the Norse gods created the world out of nothing. In the story, Odin and the other gods fight Odin’s Father, Ymir, and they create the world. In the Norse Creation Myth, change is a good thing.

The Rath of Loki and his Children During Ragnarök In Norse Mythology, Loki is a mischievous, trickster who has the ability to change his sex and shape. He also has three children with a giantess named Angrboða. The event, Ragnarök also known as Doomsday, translates from Old Norse to “Doom of all Gods” which is fitting in the way that it’s the end of all god and men.

In Norse mythology the heroes are willing to do what needs to be done without calling attention to themselves. The Norses are also better than the Greeks because the Norses are more merciful. Odin is willing to let the giant Vafthrundner keep his head even though it was his right to takeit. By him doing this he is showing a lot of mercy. In a different story Loki kills a otter and it ends up that they have to go through a lot of trials to pay recompense for his wrong deed.

Another value we see throughout the creation myth is magic. In the creation myth the gods had set the sky and stars, leaving no light until they took two children, Sol and Moon. The gods put them in the sky, Sol drove the chariot that carried the sun and Moon filled the night sky with light (Sturluson). Magic is seen when the gods take to very human beings and set them in the sky to be light for day and night. Furthermore the bifrost was another example of magic in the Norse mythology. The bifrost was a rainbow bridge and its perfected arc and majestic colors are a proof of its origin with the gods (Sturluson). It allowed the gods to get to earth and through the different realms of the heavens. The bifrost sits behind or in a visible

At last, in the ultimate reversal of the original process of creation, the ravaged land sank

There was basically nothing, the land of fire, Muspelheim, in the north, Niflheim, The land of ice, in the south, and the Ginnungagap which spanned the land between. The heat and ice met in the Ginnungagap, forming the river Élivágar, from which the first two beings were born, Ymir, the Jotun, who was nourished by his cow, Auðhumla, both born from the venoms from the river. As he drank the milk of Auðhumla, the sweat that dripped from him gave birth to giants. From his armpits, two humanoid beings were born. From between his legs, the next Jotun were born. Three gods were born from Borr, son of Búri, who was formed as Auðhumla licked the salty ice of Niflheim. They were Odin, Vili, and Vé. When Ymir died,

The Greeks believed the god of the winds, Aeolus, was the culprit behind tornadoes. Aeolus is the ruler of the floating island of Aeolia. At the command of the gods he would release his tremendous winds and cause chaos. The story of