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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.
"This book has a very good and thorough dictionary of names.... Its essays on time in Norse mythology and its summary of the historical background are extremely helpful and enlightening."--Nicholas D. Humez, Montclair State University
| A Note on Orthography | xv | |
| 1 | Introduction | 1 |
| The Historical Background | 2 | |
| The Indo-European Background | 30 | |
| Cult, Worship, and Sacrifice | 33 | |
| The Importance of Scandinavian Mythology | 36 | |
| 2 | Time | 39 |
| The Nature of Mythic Time | 39 | |
| Mythic Past, Present, and Future | 40 | |
| Cyclical Time | 42 | |
| Time and Space | 43 | |
| Myth, Narrative, and Language | 44 | |
| Myth and History | 45 | |
| 3 | Deities, Themes, and Concepts | 47 |
| AEgir | 47 | |
| AEgir's Daughters | 49 | |
| AEsir | 49 | |
| AEsir-Vanir War | 51 | |
| Alfablot | 53 | |
| Alfheim (Elf-land) | 54 | |
| Alfodr (All-father) | 55 | |
| Almattki ass | 55 | |
| Alvissmal | 56 | |
| Andhrimnir (Sooty-in-front) | 58 | |
| Andlang | 58 | |
| Andvari (Careful) | 58 | |
| Angrboda (She-who-offers-sorrow) | 59 | |
| Arvak and Alsvin (Early-awake and Very-swift) | 59 | |
| Asa-Thor (Thor-of-the-aesir) | 61 | |
| As-Bru (AEsir-bridge) | 61 | |
| Asgard (Enclosure-of-the-aesir) | 61 | |
| Ask (Ash-tree) and Embla | 62 | |
| Atla | 63 | |
| Audhumla | 63 | |
| Aurboda (Gravel-offerer) | 64 | |
| Aurgelmir (Mud-yeller) | 64 | |
| Aurvandil | 65 | |
| Baldr | 65 | |
| Baldrs Draumar (Baldr's Dreams) | 70 | |
| Baleyg (Flame-eye) | 71 | |
| Barri | 71 | |
| Baugi (Ring-shaped) | 72 | |
| Beli | 73 | |
| Bergbua thattr (The Tale of the Mountain-dweller) | 73 | |
| Bergelmir (Bear-yeller, Mountain-yeller, or Bare-yeller) | 74 | |
| Berserks | 75 | |
| Bestla | 77 | |
| Beyla | 78 | |
| Bil and Hjuki | 78 | |
| Bileyg (Wavering-eye) | 79 | |
| Billing's Girl | 79 | |
| Bilrost | 80 | |
| Bilskirnir | 81 | |
| Blain | 82 | |
| Bolthor(n) | 82 | |
| Bound Monster | 82 | |
| Bous | 84 | |
| Bracteates | 84 | |
| Bragi | 86 | |
| Breidablik | 88 | |
| Brimir | 88 | |
| Brisinga men | 88 | |
| Brokk | 89 | |
| Bur, Bor (Son) | 90 | |
| Buri | 90 | |
| Byggvir | 90 | |
| Byleist (Byleipt, Byleift) | 91 | |
| Dag (Day) | 91 | |
| Dain (Dead) | 92 | |
| Delling | 92 | |
| Disablot | 93 | |
| Disir | 95 | |
| Draupnir (Dripper) | 97 | |
| Duneyr | 98 | |
| Durathror | 98 | |
| Dvalin (Delayed) | 98 | |
| Dwarfs | 99 | |
| Eggther | 102 | |
| Egil | 102 | |
| Eikinskjaldi (With-an-oaken-shield) | 103 | |
| Eikthyrnir (Oak-encircler) | 103 | |
| Ein(d)ridi (Lone-rider) | 103 | |
| Einherjar (Lone-fighters) | 104 | |
| Eir | 105 | |
| Eiriksmal | 105 | |
| Eistla | 106 | |
| Eitri | 106 | |
| Eldhrimnir (Fire-sooty) | 107 | |
| Eldir | 107 | |
| Elivagar (Hailstorm-waves) | 108 | |
| Elli (Old-age) | 109 | |
| Elves | 109 | |
| Eyrgjafa | 111 | |
| Falhofnir (Pale-hoofed) | 111 | |
| Farbauti (Anger-striker) | 111 | |
| Fenrir | 111 | |
| Fensalir (Bog-halls) | 114 | |
| Fimafeng | 115 | |
| Fimbul- | 115 | |
| Fjalar (Deceiver) | 115 | |
| Fjolnir | 116 | |
| Fjolvar | 117 | |
| Fjorgyn | 117 | |
| Folkvang (People-field or Army-field) | 118 | |
| Fornjot | 118 | |
| Forseti (Chairman) | 119 | |
| Freki (Ravenous-one) | 120 | |
| Frey | 121 | |
| Freyja (Lady) | 126 | |
| Frigg | 128 | |
| Frodi | 130 | |
| Fulla | 132 | |
| Galdrar | 132 | |
| Game of the Gods | 133 | |
| Garm | 134 | |
| Gefjon | 135 | |
| Gefn | 137 | |
| Geirrod | 137 | |
| Gerd | 138 | |
| Geri (Ravenous-one) | 139 | |
| Gestumblindi (One-blind-to-guests?) | 139 | |
| Gimle | 140 | |
| Ginnunga Gap | 141 | |
| Gisl | 142 | |
| Gjallarbru | 142 | |
| Gjallarhorn (Screaming-horn) | 143 | |
| Gjalp | 144 | |
| Glad (Glad) | 144 | |
| Gladsheim | 144 | |
| Glaer (Glassy) | 145 | |
| Gleipnir | 145 | |
| Glen | 146 | |
| Glitnir | 146 | |
| Gna | 146 | |
| Gnipahellir (Gnipa-cave) | 147 | |
| Gods, Words for | 147 | |
| Greip (Grip) | 149 | |
| Grid | 149 | |
| Grimnismal | 150 | |
| Grottasong | 151 | |
| Gullinborsti (Gold-bristle) | 153 | |
| Gullintanni (Gilded-tooth) | 154 | |
| Gulltopp (Gold-top) | 154 | |
| Gullveig | 154 | |
| Gungnir | 155 | |
| Gunnlod | 156 | |
| Gyllir | 156 | |
| Gymir | 156 | |
| Habrok (High-pants) | 157 | |
| Haddingjar | 157 | |
| Hadingus | 157 | |
| Hakonarmal | 158 | |
| Haleygjatal | 160 | |
| Hallinskidi | 161 | |
| Harbardsljod | 161 | |
| Harthgrepa (Hard-grip) | 163 | |
| Hati Hrodvitnisson | 163 | |
| Havamal | 164 | |
| Heid | 165 | |
| Heidrun | 166 | |
| Heimdall | 167 | |
| Hel | 172 | |
| Hermod | 173 | |
| Hildisvini (Battle-pig) | 173 | |
| Himinbjorg (Heaven-mountain) | 174 | |
| Hjadningavig (Battle-of-the-followers-of-Hedin) | 174 | |
| Hlidskjalf | 176 | |
| Hlin | 176 | |
| Hlora | 177 | |
| Hlorridi | 177 | |
| Hnoss (Treasure) | 177 | |
| Hod | 177 | |
| Hoddmimir's Forest | 179 | |
| Hoenir | 179 | |
| Horn | 181 | |
| Hraesvelg | 181 | |
| Hraudung | 182 | |
| Hrimfaxi | 182 | |
| Hrimgrimnir (Frost-masked) | 183 | |
| Hringhorni (Ring-horn) | 183 | |
| Hrodvitnir | 184 | |
| Hropt | 185 | |
| Hrungnir | 185 | |
| Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Mind) | 186 | |
| Hvedrung | 188 | |
| Hvergelmir (Hot-spring-boiler) | 188 | |
| Hymir | 189 | |
| Hymiskvida | 191 | |
| Hyndluljod | 194 | |
| Hyrrokkin (Fire-smoked) | 196 | |
| Idavoll | 197 | |
| Idun | 198 | |
| Ifing | 200 | |
| Ing | 200 | |
| Ingunar-Frey | 201 | |
| Interpretatio Germanica | 202 | |
| Interpretatio Romana | 203 | |
| Jarnsaxa (Armed-with-an-iron-sword) | 204 | |
| Jarnvid (Iron-woods) | 204 | |
| Jord (Earth) | 205 | |
| Jotunheimar (Giant-worlds) | 206 | |
| Kvasir | 206 | |
| Laerad | 207 | |
| Laufey | 207 | |
| Lettfeti (Light-foot) | 208 | |
| Lif and Lifthrasir | 209 | |
| Lit (Color, Countenance) | 209 | |
| Ljodatal | 210 | |
| Loddfafnismal | 211 | |
| Lodur | 212 | |
| Lofn | 213 | |
| Logi (Fire) | 213 | |
| Lokasenna | 214 | |
| Loki | 216 | |
| Lopt | 220 | |
| Magni (The Strong) | 220 | |
| Managarm (Moon-dog) | 221 | |
| Mani (Moon) | 222 | |
| Mannus (Man) | 223 | |
| Mardoll | 224 | |
| Matres and Matrones | 224 | |
| Mead of Poetry | 224 | |
| Meili | 227 | |
| Merseburg Charms | 227 | |
| Midgard (Central-enclosure) | 228 | |
| Midgard Serpent | 229 | |
| Mimir (Mim, Mimi) | 230 | |
| Modgud (Battle-weary) | 232 | |
| Modi (Angry-one) | 233 | |
| Mundilfoeri | 233 | |
| Muspell | 234 | |
| Naglfar | 235 | |
| Naglfari | 235 | |
| Nal (Needle) | 235 | |
| Nanna | 236 | |
| Nari and/or Narfi | 236 | |
| Nerthus | 237 | |
| Nidafjoll | 238 | |
| Nidavellir | 238 | |
| Nidhogg (Evil-blow) | 239 | |
| Niflheim (Fog-world) and Niflhel (Fog-Hel) | 240 | |
| Njord | 241 | |
| Norns | 243 | |
| Nott (Night) | 246 | |
| Od | 246 | |
| Odin (Old Norse O[characters not reproducible]inn) | 247 | |
| Odrerir | 252 | |
| Ogmundar thattr dytts ok Gunnars Helmings (The Tale of Ogmund Dint and Gunnar Half) | 253 | |
| Ragnarok (Judgment-of-the-powers) | 254 | |
| Ran | 258 | |
| Ratatosk (Bore-tooth) | 259 | |
| Regnator Omnium Deus | 259 | |
| Rigsthula | 260 | |
| Rind | 262 | |
| Roskva (Ripe?) | 263 | |
| Saehrimnir | 263 | |
| Saeming | 264 | |
| Saga | 264 | |
| Seid | 265 | |
| Sif (In-law-relationship) | 266 | |
| Sigyn | 267 | |
| Sindri (Slag) | 267 | |
| Sjofn | 268 | |
| Skadi | 268 | |
| Skidbladnir | 270 | |
| Skinfaxi (Shining-mane) | 272 | |
| Skoll | 273 | |
| Skrymir (Big-looking) | 273 | |
| Sleipnir | 274 | |
| Slidrugtanni (Dangerous-tooth) | 277 | |
| Snotra | 278 | |
| Sol (Sun) | 278 | |
| Sorla thattr | 280 | |
| Starkad | 281 | |
| Surt | 282 | |
| Suttung | 284 | |
| Syn | 284 | |
| Syr (Sow) | 284 | |
| Thjalfi | 285 | |
| Thjazi | 287 | |
| Thor | 287 | |
| Thrud (Strength) | 291 | |
| Thrudgelmir (Strength-yeller) | 292 | |
| Thrudheim (Strength-world) | 292 | |
| Thrudvangar (Strength-fields) | 293 | |
| Thrymheim (Din-world) | 293 | |
| Thrymskvida (The Poem of Thrym) | 293 | |
| Tuisto | 296 | |
| Tyr | 297 | |
| Ull | 299 | |
| Urdarbrunn (Well-of-Urd) | 301 | |
| Utgard (Outer-enclosure) | 302 | |
| Utgarda-Loki (Loki-of-the-Utgards) | 302 | |
| Vafthrudnismal | 304 | |
| Valaskjalf | 307 | |
| Valholl (Carrion-hall) | 308 | |
| Vali, Son of Loki | 309 | |
| Vali, Son of Odin | 310 | |
| Vanir | 311 | |
| Var | 312 | |
| Vedrfolnir (Storm-pale) | 312 | |
| Vidar | 312 | |
| Vidblain (Wide-blued) | 315 | |
| Vidblindi (Wide-blind) | 315 | |
| Vidfinn (Wood-Finn) | 315 | |
| Vili and Ve | 316 | |
| Vingolf (Friend-hall) | 316 |
Overview
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 ...