Although Norse mythology is not as famous as Greek mythology and the Bible, its influence on the world is still extremely extensive, permeating almost every aspect of life. There are still a large number of books based on the Norse mythology system, and almost all of them are thunderous masterpieces: The Lord of the Rings trilogy is almost a copy of Norse mythology, in addition to Harry Potter, Warcraft in the game, and Diablo , even QUAKE has the shadow of Nordic mythology. The spells and charms used by Westerners when performing magic must contain Nordic characters and follow the laws of mythology. Another major influence is the various festivals in the West. For example, Christmas evolved from activities to commemorate the sun god, Easter is the name of the goddess of spring, and Sundays are named after the Nordic gods (Monday, the moon god, Tuesday, the war god, Wednesday, the main god, Thursday, the thunder god, Friday, the spring god, and Sunday). Six fire gods, Sunday sun god). Nordic mythology reflects the polytheistic beliefs of primitive tribes and their magical and magnificent imagination of fighting against nature. Odin, the king of the gods, is a one-eyed hero, and Tyr, the god of war, is a one-armed warrior. This image shows the brave spirit of the ancient Nordic tribes who struggled to conquer nature, especially the ice and snow.
Origin
The earliest Norse myths appeared in the form of songs. In BC, this kind of legend about the supernatural beings and monsters in the period of "the beginning of chaos and the beginning of heaven and earth" has been circulated among the Germanic tribes in Northern Europe. By the Middle Ages, Icelandic scholars recorded them in writing. There are mainly two "Edda" that can be checked now (the meaning of this word cannot be verified. Some people think that it means "poetry"; others think that it is an altered pronunciation of Audi, the academic center of southern Iceland, which may mean "Odi Series" meaning): First, the "Pre-Edda", or "Poetic Edda", was discovered by Icelandic scholar Brynjolf Svensson in 1643. It was written probably between the 9th and 13th centuries, and includes 14 A mythological poem; the first is the "Later Edda", or the "Prose Edda", written by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson (1178-1241) in the early 13th century. It is an interpretive work of the "Pre-Edda".
Norse mythology is a mythological system unique to Scandinavia. It was formed relatively later than other major mythological systems in the world. The history of oral transmission of Nordic mythology can be traced back to AD In the 1st and 2nd centuries, it was first popular in places such as Norway, Denmark and Sweden, and then spread to Iceland and other places with a group of immigrants heading north around the 7th century AD. During the Middle Ages, Christianity prevailed throughout Europe. Due to its strong political attack, most of the works recording Norse mythology were considered heretical and burned. The relatively complete ones that have been preserved to this day include the Icelandic epic "Edda" and the Germanic epic "Nieber". Song of Dragon Roots" etc.
Mythology system
The styles of Nordic mythology are completely different from those of Greek, Egyptian, Indian and Chinese mythology. The gods in Nordic mythology are not omnipotent, and the world is not eternal. God King Odin passed through the Mist Forest at the cost of one eye, met the wise man Mimir who guarded the World Tree, and gained great wisdom. He used the branches of the World Tree to make the invincible meteor gun Kungunir. The body of the spear is engraved with a sacred contract: "Whoever holds this spear will rule the world." This is the reason why he became the God King.
Norse mythology is a polytheistic system, which can be roughly divided into four systems: giants, gods, elves and dwarves. Among them, the giants created the world and gave birth to the gods, but they were also the greatest enemies of the gods. They can be understood as personified natural forces. The gods are divided into two tribes, the Asir tribe headed by the main god Odin and the Vanir tribe headed by Niord, the god of the sea. There are twelve main gods. Elves and dwarfs are demigods who serve the gods. Their specific origin is still unclear and they are a special creation in the Germanic region.
There are many very special parts in Nordic mythology, such as the creation of human beings. The first thing to be created was a woman, and the material of creation was not the soil shown in most myths, but a branch. Another more prominent feature is determined by its geographical location. Since Scandinavia is located in the extreme north and is cold all year round, the frost giants have a high status in mythology and often cause headaches to the gods. . Secondly, the views on death and rebirth have the greatest influence. Unlike other mythological systems, the gods in Nordic mythology are imperfect and will also face the fate of destruction. For example, Odin sacrificed his left eye in order to gain knowledge and was hanged. After spending nine nights in the tree and suffering a lot of trauma, he received the spear that symbolized his power. But on the other hand, Nordic mythology believes that when all things die, new life will be formed again, and everything in the world is cyclical.
Mythical characters
Twelve main gods
Norse mythology is a polytheistic system, which can be roughly divided into four systems: giants, gods, elves and dwarves. Among them, the giants created the world and gave birth to the gods, but they were also the greatest enemies of the gods. The gods are divided into two tribes, the Asir tribe (ASIR) headed by the main god Odin and the Vanir tribe headed by the sea god Niord (Vanir). There are twelve main gods:
I. Odin: Lord God.
The King of the Gods, the ruler of the world, also known as the "Heavenly Father". He wears a large golden helmet with two divine crows perched on his shoulders, symbolizing "thought" and "memory" respectively.
They fly all over the world every morning and come back to report what they have seen to Odin. Crouching at Odin's feet are two wolves, serving as guards. In order to increase his intelligence, predict the future, and rule better, Odin wanted to drink water from the Well of Wisdom, the holy spring beside the roots of the Qinpi tree. But the giant Mimir who guarded the well asked him to give him an eye as a price, so Odin immediately gouged out one eye without thinking. After drinking the water from the well, he became knowledgeable. He invented the ancient Nordic writing (Rona), which was used by the fateful fairy to record destiny on the shield.
II. Frigg:
Goddess of love, in charge of marriage and family, Odin’s wife. There is dominion in heaven and in Hades. She was beautiful, with white feathers in her golden hair. Wearing a white robe with a golden belt on which hangs a bunch of keys. She loves beautiful clothes and sparkling jewelry. She stole Odin's gold to buy a valuable necklace. When Odin found out, he ran away angrily. The universe was immediately ruled by the Frost Giants, and the harsh winter suffocated all life. It was not until Odin returned to Asgard seven months later that this crisis passed.
III. Thor:
Thor, the eldest son of the main god Odin, and the son of the earth goddess Pheochin. Thor is a tall man with extraordinary arm strength. He has a pair of leopard eyes and a red beard. Thor's clothes were simple, but he wore a magic belt around his waist, which doubled his strength. Thor wears an iron glove and holds on to the magic hammer Mjollner. Thor has been in the east all year round to defend against the invasion of frost giants and pythons, and to protect the homes of the gods. Thor is upright and dares to contradict Odin. Thor is grumpy but heroic. When the end of the gods came, Thor, the god of thunder, fought again with the python of Midgard (Grafvinir) and died together with the python.
IV. Siv:
Thor’s wife, goddess of land and harvest. She has beautiful blond hair that hangs from her head to her feet. One day, Loki, the god of fire, cut off her hair as a prank while she was sleeping. Sif suffered greatly because of this, and Thor felt extremely angry. From then on, the world was filled with chaos and chaos, and there was no day of peace.
V. Freyr:
The god of abundance, prosperity, love, and peace, the king of the beautiful fairyland Alfheim. It is said that he and Balder are both the god of light, or the sun god. His elves do good deeds all over the world. He often rides a wild boar with a golden mane to patrol. Everyone enjoys the peace and happiness he has bestowed upon them. He has a sword that shines brightly and can fly through the clouds and mists. He also has a miniature magic ship that can carry all the gods and their weapons if necessary.
VI. Loki:
Vulcan. The son of the giant Farbot and the half-brother of Odin, Loki is a descendant of the Frost Giants. He is handsome but surly. He gave birth to some terrible monsters, such as Fenrisian wolves, Midgardian pythons, etc. He appears to be kind, but is actually treacherous. He often makes rude remarks, quarrels with other gods, and causes trouble. At first he was just teasing for the sake of teasing, such as secretly cutting off Sif's hair. Later, he committed evil unscrupulously and turned into a demon, even instigating the God of Darkness to murder the God of Light. He was proficient in magic and had vast supernatural powers. He could turn himself into countless monsters in an instant. Later, he was tied up with iron chains because of his crimes.
VII. Tyr:
The god of war, son of the giant Himiel. Legend has it that he is the guarantor of the contract and the protector of the oath. While the other gods laughed with the Fenrisian wolf and tied it up, Tyr thrust his arm into the wolf's mouth as a guarantor of trust. The wolf discovered that the gods who had bound it were actually setting a trap, and immediately bit off Tyr's arm. From then on Tyr became a one-armed god. But he always looks majestic and majestic when wearing a sword. The ancient custom of swearing by sword originated from the Norse people's worship of Tyr, the god of war. Many traditional sword dances are choreographed in honor of the God of War.
VIII. Freyja:
The god of fertility, in charge of fertility and love, Freyja’s sister. She is very kind and beloved, because people in the ice and snow eagerly look forward to the coming of spring. She often wears heavy makeup and colorful clothes, and sometimes goes into battle in full armor, leading the fairies to select heroes for Odin. In some stories, she and Frigga are the same god.
IX. Heimdall:
The patron saint of the gods. Also known as Rig, he has a mouth full of gold teeth and a keen and far-reaching vision. He can see in all directions. He can see three hundred miles away no matter day or night. He can also hear in all directions. He can hear the grass growing when he is lying on the ground. The hissing sound. He guards the Bilrost Rainbow Bridge, the main entrance to the heavens, day and night to defend against the invasion of the Frost Giants. He rides a golden-maned horse and carries the Oral horn on his shoulder. In case of emergency, he blows the horn and summons the gods to come to deal with it. Legend has it that he is the first person in heaven. When the end of the gods came, Heimdall and the fire god Loki died together.
X. Baldur:
Odin’s other son, the God of Light.
He has outstanding talent and appearance, and his face is full of charm. When he smiles, people feel extremely happy. He had a nightmare and had a premonition that someone was going to plot against him. The gods were worried about this, so Odin sent an order to strictly order that no birds, beasts, or trees could harm Balder. But the commander did not send the order to the parasitoid because he felt that this fragile and incompetent plant did not need to be protected. Loki, the god of fire, took advantage of this opportunity and made sharp arrows out of parasitoid, inciting Holder, the god of darkness, to come forward, hold his hand and bend the bow to aim, and shot Balder to death.
XI. Hoder:
The God of Darkness, said to be Balder’s twin brother who is blind. Light is the enemy. He was ordered by Loki, the god of fire, to put the joyful god of light to death.
XII. Budle:
Odin’s son, the god of poetry, is said to be the god of wisdom, poetry, and eloquence. He often composed poems praising great figures and warriors. His wife Idun is also a goddess of Asgard. She has a treasure box in which are stored the golden apples of youth. When the gods reach old age, they can rejuvenate themselves by tasting a golden apple. At Scandinavian sacrificial banquets, guests often use the horns dedicated to Bragi, the god of poetry, as wine glasses, drink to their heart's content, and vow to establish meritorious deeds and be immortalized in poetry.
Other Gods
Goddess Gevjon
The goddess Gevjon knows the past and the future. Geofein came to Sweden disguised as a witch, and after several trysts with King Gulf, asked him for a small piece of land. The king promised to give her as much wasteland as could be plowed in a day and night. That night, Geofein's staff plow, her four sons turned into bullocks, plowed a large area of ??land from central Sweden and moved it to Denmark. This land became Denmark's largest island, Zealand, and central Sweden was The plowed hole filled with sea water and became Sweden's largest lake, Lake M?laren.
Vale
Son of the Lord God Odin. Vali is the illegitimate son of Lind and Odin. He grew up in the wind as soon as he was born. He was able to fight in just one day and night. He did not wash his hands or comb his hair until he captured Baldr's enemy Hodr and became the god of light Balder. Revenge was taken.
Rind (Rind)
The mother of Vali, the mistress of the main god Odin. Linde repeatedly rejected Odin's pursuit, first asking him to come back at dusk, and then setting up a tight guard. When Odin went again, she planned to escape, leaving a dog on her bed. In the end, Odin cast a spell to bewitch Lind, and succeeded. Linde and Odin had a son, Vali.
The Giants
The creators of the mythical world, the oldest race in Nordic mythology, all the gods have the blood of the Giants, but the Giants are also their eternal enemies.
Ancestor: Ymer
In the ancient prehistoric era, there was a wide and bottomless Jinganon crack in the middle of the Taixu chaotic world, with cold and hot air, flames, ice, The interaction of smoke and steam formed a blockage at the edge of the crack and turned into the giant Ymir. When Ymir's descendants Odin, Vili and Wei grew up, they killed Ymir and used his body to form the world: blood turned into lakes and oceans; flesh turned into land; bones turned into mountains; teeth turned into rocks; brain turned into The clouds; the skull turned into the sky; the eyebrows turned into a fence.
Ocean God: Tjatse
Giant, Skadi’s father. Tiaz kidnapped Idune, the golden apple goddess of eternal youth. Because this was the trouble caused by Loki's private appointment with Idun, the gods ordered Loki to rescue him. Loki borrowed Frigga's feathers and turned into an eagle, sneaked into the castle of the giant Tiaz, turned Idun into a walnut, held it in his mouth and flew to Asgard. Unexpectedly, he was discovered by Skadi. After hearing the news, Tiaz turned into a falcon and chased after him. When he was about to catch up, Tyr lit a torch and burned the falcon to death, and the giant Tiaz died.
Mountain Goddess: Skade
The daughter of Tiaz and the wife of Niord, the chief god of the Vanir tribe. After her father Tiaz was killed by the gods, Skadi asked the main god Odin for compensation for the murder. Odin reluctantly agreed that she could find a husband among the gods. Skadi fell in love with the god of light, Badr. Ding naturally didn't want to, so he used some tricks to marry Skadi to the old and ugly sea god Niord. Scardy married Niord and divorced soon after.
Sorcerer: Olbuda (Gurveg)
The mother of the grain goddess Gilder and the wife of the giant Kimil. Giantess, lover of the fire god Loki. With Loki, they gave birth to the wolf Fenrir and the Midgardian python Grafvenir. Olbuda spies for her lover Loki, and the Asir tribe wants to execute her, triggering a war between the two tribes.
Gronru
The daughter of the giant Su Dong. The giants stole the ale brewed by the wine spirits Fiera and Giera. The main god Odin served in Su Dongyuan for one year in order to ask for ale, but was refused. Later, Odin seduced Su Dong's daughter Gonglu, and with Gonglu's help stole the ale and returned to Asgard. Odin fled Su Dongyuan and abandoned Gonglu. Gonglu was sad all day long.
Mythical Stories