Scandinavian mythology - the most powerful and significant gods and goddesses

The mythology of different peoples is different, but there are similar motives. The beliefs of the people of that time were based on polytheism and every significant figure of the ancient Scandinavian pantheon had its own specific tasks that were carried out for the benefit or harm of the ordinary people.

Scandinavian gods

Mythology of the Scandinavians has a connection with Vikings, warriors and konungs who created gods and history. Moreover, the climatic conditions of that time allowed people to engage in farming and cattle breeding. The history of the Scandinavian gods divides them into two main groups: patrons of war and land. They are in many respects similar to ordinary people, so they have both positive and negative qualities.

God One in Scandinavian mythology

The main and supreme god of the Scandinavian pantheon was Odin, who was called the father of the gods, a warrior, a sage and a leader. He was considered the patron of war and victory. Modern researchers believe that the Scandinavian god Odin ruled the aristocracy.

  1. To the special symbols of this deity include Valknut ("knot of the fallen"), which personified the warriors who fell in battles.
  2. Odin has several characteristic attributes, for example, gungnir - a spear that never missed. He was forged by the dark albes. The supreme god in Scandinavian mythology also has another famous attribute - the seven-legged horse, which moved faster than the wind.

God Loki in Scandinavian mythology

A popular Scandinavian god who is a bright and pathos character - Loki. He was unique in that he lived with the Ases in Asgard, but he came from a different kind. The Scandinavian god Loki was a deceiver and cunning, and he was accepted by others for his intelligence and resourcefulness.

  1. He was always in search and he was interested in the secrets of the universe.
  2. Loki is vengeful, envious and dishonest.
  3. In the predictions it is stated that Loki will fight on the side of Hel against the Ases and he will die in the fight against Heimdal.
  4. There is a suggestion that Loki is derived from the Old Icelandic word, which means "lock or finish." In another version, this Scandinavian deity is closer to the cult of a bear and a wolf.
  5. Loki's image can be found in the "Younger Edda", where he is represented by a short and handsome man with long hair and a beard.
  6. He is the main culprit of Baldur's death, for he laid his brother on a branch, which he released and struck the god of spring.

God Tor in Scandinavian mythology

One of the most popular gods, who was the patron of thunder and storm, is Thor . He was the son of Odin and Erde. He held second place in importance after Odin. Represented him with a big red beard. Thor possessed mighty power and loved to measure it with everyone. Many were heard by the great appetite of this god.

  1. Scandinavian god Thor had a magic outfit - a hammer and iron gloves, without which it was impossible to hold the handle of a red-hot gun. He also had a belt that doubled his strength. With such equipment, Thor was considered invincible.
  2. He moved across the sky on a bronze chariot, which was hauled by two goats. Thor could at any time eat them, and then, using his hammer to resurrect the remains.
  3. Scandinavian mythology describes that the Torah often accompanied the cunning Loki, who held on to his belt.
  4. They consider him to be the main defender of the enemies, so he could draw the forces of enemies against them. With his energy, he can clean the surrounding space from the negative.
  5. They consider Torah an assistant to workers and peasants.

God Tyr in Scandinavian Mythology

The patron of justice and rational thinking was Tyur or Tiu. The Scandinavians called him the god of true faith. He was the son of Frigg and Odin. Türa was still considered the god of battle. The Scandinavians closely linked the cult of this god with Odin, so, for example, both were sacrificed brought hanged.

  1. German-Scandinavian mythology represents Türa as a one-armed god of military valor who keeps military rules and patronizes fights.
  2. According to some, the version of Tyr could initially be the god of heaven, whose powers later passed to Odin and Torah.
  3. In the myth describing the curbing of Fenrir's wolf, the god Tyr, in order to confirm that the chain that he was wearing on the animal, would not harm him, put his right hand in his mouth, which he bit off. Hence the name "one-armed".

The Scandinavian god Vidar

Son of Odin and the giantess Grid was the god of revenge Vidar. His goal is to avenge his father, whose projection he is. Heroes of the Scandinavian mythology had several obligations, and Vidar is no exception, so he was considered a god of silence and an assistant in crisis situations.

  1. According to the legends on the day of the death of the gods, a huge folk Fenrir will devour Odin, but after that Vidar will kill him. It is often represented as a stream of water, and a wolf with fire.
  2. The ancient Scandinavians believed that this god is the personification of the virgin forest and the forces of nature.
  3. Vidar lived in Landvindi (far land), where in the dense forest there was a palace decorated with branches and flowers.
  4. In Scandinavian mythology, Vidara is represented as a handsome man who was clothed in iron armor. At his belt was a sword with a wide blade. He shod in iron or leather shoes, which were supposed to serve as a protection against the wolf Fenrir, whom he successfully defeated. It is worth saying that the myths mention only one shoe.
  5. It is believed that Vidar after the death of Odin will take his place and will rule the new world.
  6. Scandinavians perceived Vidar, a symbol of the renewal of nature. They believed that with him instead of the old something new and beautiful comes.

Scandinavian god Head

One of the sons of Odin and Frigg was Head, who was the god of darkness. He was blind, gloomy and silent, as they thought, the Scandinavians personified the gloom of sin. In the legends it is said that Hed is in Hel, where he waits for Ragnarok's offensive (the day when all the gods will perish). According to the legends, he will return to the world of the living and will join the ranks of new deities who will rule the world.

About him there is not much information known, but the myths of the Scandinavian gods describe the story of how Hed killed his own brother Baldur, who was the god of spring. Frigga knew that her son Baldur would soon die, so she took a promise from all that existed on the earth that could harm the guy, except for the mistletoe escape, which seemed absolutely safe. This was taken advantage of Loki, who took a branch of the plant and put it into the hands of the blind Head, and he fired a bow and accidentally killed his brother.

Goddess of Scandinavian mythology

Along with strong gods there were also representatives of the fair sex who did not concede anything to them and had a wide range of duties. Scandinavian myths became the basis and inspiration for many thinkers, military and poets. The divine characters of that time are also used in the modern cinema and entertainment industry. Many pagans turn to Scandinavian deities until now, for example, the Scandinavian goddess Freya helps people in different endeavors. It is believed that Scandinavian mythology has become a symbolic basis for many religious movements.

The goddess Freyja Scandinavian mythology

The patroness of fertility, love and beauty was the goddess Freya, who was also a Valkyriya. Together with Odin, they move to different worlds, collecting souls, so they were also called deity-shamans. The name "Freyja" is translated, as the mistress or the mistress of the house.

  1. Represented the Scandinavians with her beautiful woman with long golden hair and blue eyes.
  2. The goddess of love in Scandinavian mythology moved on a chariot, in which two cats were harnessed.
  3. She had a valuable decoration - an amber necklace that she received for four nights of love with dwarfs and they symbolized the four elements.
  4. Scandinavian goddess of beauty possessed magical powers, and putting on falcon plumage, she could fly.
  5. Freya was married several times, but all her husbands were killed or faced with other misfortunes.
  6. Appeared to the goddess people who wanted to consecrate a new cause. It allowed us to discover our energy potential for achieving the goal . As a gift she was brought honey, flowers, pastries, fruits and various ornaments.

The goddess Frigga in Scandinavian mythology

The supreme goddess, who was connected by marriage to Odin, was Frigga. Since that time, a social status has arisen for women who had weight in the society.

  1. Scandinavian goddess Frigg had extensive knowledge and could tell about the past, present and future.
  2. It has to do with anything that is more or less connected with the family. Frigga helped create, save and protect from various misfortunes the family. She also contributed to pregnancy. They considered her to be the patroness of marriage and maternal love.
  3. The Scandinavian mythology represented the goddess as a tall, beautiful and stately woman with a heron feather hat on her head, and this bird was considered a symbol of silence. Her clothes are white, and there was also a belt of gold, from which the keys hung.
  4. The goddess was often represented with a spinning wheel, with the help of which she made yarns used later for burrowing human destinies.

The Scandinavian Goddess Sol

The personalization of the sun in the mythology of the Scandinavians was the goddess Sol or Sul. It is believed that she consecrates the world with magical sparks that appear from the fiery land. According to predictions, on the day when the end of the world happens, she will be swallowed by the Wolf Skole.

  1. The Goddess Sol had the ability to bless dying people.
  2. She had two horses, harnessed to the chariot on which she was moving.
  3. The Scandinavians regarded Salt as the source of life, light and victory.
  4. The color of this goddess is golden, which embodies the sun, but she was also represented in white robes.

Scandinavian goddess Ayr

In the mythology of Scandinavians for helping people and healing, Eyre answered, which could cure any disease and wounds. According to old traditions, a girl who can climb the mountain of Lifia will manage to cope with all the diseases.

  1. The goddess Eyre emerged from the ninth nipple of Audulla and is considered one of the older goddesses.
  2. At first she was at enmity with the aces - male gods, but later she was patronized by Thor and Head.
  3. Priests before appearing before the goddess-healer, should not eat meat and fruits, and not yet drink milk and alcoholic beverages.
  4. In ancient representations, Ayr was a virgin.