Norse Mythology: Gods, Cosmology, and Ragnarok Uncovered

Norse mythology covers the mythological tradition and beliefs of the Norse people who lived in ancient Scandinavia: Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Icelanders, and Faroese people.

The Old Norse mythology shaped their beliefs and their purpose, and parts of it survived even after the Christianization of the Nordic people.

It never really disappeared, as the popularity of Vikings and Norse gods still stands strong today.

The Creation Myth

Norse people believed that the cosmos started in Ginnungagap, the void where the gods, led by Odin, and his brothers Vili and Vé, killed Ymir – the first being and the father of giants – and created the elements from his slain body.

Ymir represents the chaos before creation, he was born out of the first conflict between fire and ice.

This theme is central to many myths, which explains the Vikings’ eagerness for battle and conflict.

After using the chaos to breathe life into humans, the gods had daily meetings at Yggdrasil, or the World Tree, an ash tree that connects the cosmos through different realms of existence.

Cosmology: The Nine Realms 

The cosmology of Norse mythology is explained through nine main realms or worlds, each with different inhabitants and characteristics.

1. Asgard: Realm of the Gods

This rich land where order rules is inhabited by the Aesir gods, including Odin, Thor, Loki, and Baldr. The gods can leave their palaces and instantly travel to our world through a burning rainbow bridge called Bifrost.

The gods built Odin a silver-roofed hall called Valaskjálf, from which he oversees the entire universe.

This is also where the famous Valhalla (Valhǫll) lies, awaiting brave heroes who die in combat, until it’s time for them to join Odin in the final battle, Ragnarök.

2. Vanaheim: Realm of the Vanir Gods

The Vanir are a bit more peaceful gods living west of Asgard. This land is more natural, untamed, ruled by the gods and goddesses of harvest and fertility.

3. Alfheim – Land of the Light Elves

Ruled by Freyr, the fertility god, light elves possess all creative and fruitful powers. Their realm radiates with peace, abundance and light.

4. Midgard – The Human Realm

Middle earth is where all mortals dwell, unfortunately surrounded by enemies, which is why they need divine protection at all times. It is surrounded by an ocean where the huge serpent called Jormungand lives, separating humans from the unfriendly frost giants.

The Midgard Serpent Jormungand circling the realm / Unknown Source

5. Jotunheim – The Realm of Giants

The frost giants are sworn enemies of the Aesir gods, constantly seeking revenge for the death of Ymir – their ancestor. They live in this cold, rocky land, where snow and frost covers deep and dark forests.

6. Muspelheim – The Fire Realm

One of the two original realms, this land is home of the fire giants, namely the famous Surt, who is destined to destroy the World Tree with his flaming sword. 

Surt’s castle / Ken Nguyen / ArtStation

7. Svartalfheim / Nidavellir – Land of the Dark Elves / Home of the Dwarves

This dark realm that lies below Midgard is quite ambiguous, as it may refer to both Dark Elves and Dwarves as one group, or two different realms that are placed next to each other. The mysterious land is a maze of caves and tunnels where dwarves and elves can mine for metals and gemstones. These creatures are excellent craftsmen, they created Thor’s hammer Mjolnir and many magical objects for Odin and other gods.  

8. Niflheim – The Realm of Mist and Snow

The counterpart to Muspelheim is a place as cold as it is dark. This primordial realm has twelve icy streams running from Hvergelmer, the well from which all life started. This land is too cold even for the Frost Giants.

9. Helheim – The Realm of the Dead

Close to Niflheim, or maybe even a part of it, the gates of Hel are guarded by Nidhogg the dragon. Nidhogg torments and feasts on the banished souls who are forced to roam around the eternal ice.

Ice Dragon / Seraphandreyl / Reddit

Norse Gods and Goddesses

Although I can’t include every possible Norse god here – there are 66 of them – here are the deities who are still relevant in today’s media, whether through mythological art, TV-shows, comics, or movies. 

1. Odin – The Ruler of the Gods

Odin is the god of magic and death, as well as god of wisdom and poetry. He is the king of Asgard and thus all Germanic (Aesir) gods.

Odin / Keja Blank / DeviantArt

2. Thor – The God of Thunder and Agriculture

Thor is the protector of Asgard and Midgard, known for wielding Mjolnir, the hammer forged by dwarves, either providing blessings to friends or deathly blows to enemies.

Thor wielding Mjolnir / James Holko / Marvel Studios

3. Freya – The Goddess of Fertility, Love, and Death

Daughter of the sea god Njörd, Freya (or Freyja) chooses half of the brave heroes who die in combat to join her in the Fólkvangar fields, while the other half joins Odin in Valhalla. Freya is the one responsible for teaching the Aesir gods witchcraft.

Freya / Francesca Resta / NijiArt.it

4. Loki – The Trickster God

This shape-shifting god of mischief’s only purpose is to create chaos. He is neither good nor evil, and he was the one to create Jörmungand (the giant snake, remember?). He also created Hel, the goddess of death.

Loki / Arthur Rackham

5. Freyr – The Benevolent God

Freyr, also known as Yngvi, is Freya’s twin brother. He is the ruler of peace, prosperity, and fertility, and he is the god to summon if you want a bountiful harvest. 

Freyr and his boar Gullinbursti / Unknown Source

6. Frigg – The Goddess of Marriage

This motherly figure is associated with clairvoyance, maternity, and marriage. She is Odin’s wife, and although she shares similarities with Freya, people still regard them as two different goddesses – Frigg is an Aesir goddess, while Freya is a Vanir goddess.

Frigg: Odin’s Wife / Book Cover / William P. Reaves

7. Tyr – The God of Law and Justice

This Aesir god is a patron god of all the brave heroes and warriors. He is not just a vicious god of war; he is noble, just and self-sacrificial. His Roman equal would be Mars.

Tyr / Unknown Source

Ragnarok and the End of the World

Ragnarök (“Fate of the Gods“) is a cataclysmic event predicted by a seer who was summoned by Odin. This tenth-century prophecy was first found on runestones, and it was later included in the Edda manuscripts.

According to the prophecy, Ragnarok is the final battle between chaos and order, between gods, giants and monsters. This clash ends the Nine Realms, and many gods, including Odin, Thor, Loki, and Freyr, die. However, order is preserved, and a new world is born out of the destruction, continuing the cycle of existence.

Freyr’s Last Stand at Ragnarok / Sam Flegal / DeviantArt

Conclusion

If you made it this far, congrats! There’s still so much to learn about Norse mythology, many more gods and monsters and hot Vikings that enrich Norse tradition. Whether you stumble upon these myths for the first time or you are revisiting one of your favorite narratives, may Odin’s wisdom guide you, and may Thor’s thunder protect you. 

FAQs:

Who were the main gods and goddesses in Norse mythology?

Odin, Thor, Freya, and Loki are some of the main gods in Norse mythology. The Allfather Odin stands for wisdom, death, poetry and divination, while his son Thor is the hammer-wielding god of thunder. Freya is the North goddess of fertility, beauty, and love, and Loki is the shapeshifting trickster god of mischief. 

What is Ragnarok?

Apart from being a fantasy TV-show, Ragnarök is a predicted apocalyptic event, a battle between gods and monsters that will lead to the deaths of many gods (Odin, Thor, Heimdall, Loki, Freyr) and the end of the world. After the devastation, a new world is supposed to be born again, representing the cyclical nature of life.

What are the nine realms in Norse mythology?

The nine realms (or nine worlds) in Norse mythology are Asgard (realm of the gods), Midgard (Earth, the human realm), Jotunheim (realm of giants), Alfheim (land of the Light Elves), Svartalfheim (land of the Dark Elves) with Nidavellir (home of the Dwarves), Niflheim (ancient realm of ice), Muspelheim (realm of fire), Vanaheimr (realm of the Vanir gods), and Helheim (realm of the dead).

How can I learn more about Norse mythology? 

Translated texts, such as the Prose Edda, the Poetic Edda and The Saga of the Volsungs, are the best ways for you to tap into Norse mythological tradition. If you hate reading, BBC and other documentaries are several clicks away from you. 

Are Freya and Frigg the same person?

No, Freya and Frigg are two separate goddesses – Frigg is an Aesir deity, while Freya is a Vanir goddess.

How was the world created according to Norse mythology?

Odin and his brothers kill Ymir, their great-grandfather, and create Earth and humans from his slain body. Ymir was created in the void, when primordial Niflheim ice and Muspelheim fire touched for the first time.