Odin Thor Odin is the chief god in Norse Thor is the god of thunder, storms, mythology and part of the Æsir strength and fertility. He is part of pantheon. He is the king of Asgard. the Æsir pantheon. He is the son of Odin and married to the goddess Sif. Odin is the god of wisdom, poetry, death and magic. Thor wields a magical hammer called Mjolnir which is so powerful Also known as the All-Father, it is it can destroy mountains. He is able believed that he gave up one of his to summon thunder and lightning eyes in order to gain understanding using his hammer in battle against of the universe. He is also often his enemies. Vikings believed that a accompanied by two ravens who help thunderstorm was a sign that Thor him see everything. was angry. He rides into battle upon an eight- Thor also has incredible strength legged horse called Sleipnir and and is a mighty warrior. There are wields the mighty spear Gungnir, many tales of his battles, including with which he never misses his target. with the giant serpent Jörmungandr He is married to the goddess Frigg during Ragnarök – the final battle and is the father of many gods, of the gods. including Thor and Baldr. twinkl.com twinkl.com
Loki Frigg Loki is the god of mischief and chaos. Frigg, or Frigga, is the goddess of He is known for playing tricks on motherhood and the sky, the wife of the other gods. He is part of the Æsir Odin and mother of Baldr and Hodr. pantheon. She is part of the Æsir pantheon. Loki is shown in the tales to only care Many of the stories surrounding for himself and life’s pleasures though Frigga are about her family role, he is also sometimes shown as playful alongside her husband and children. and as helping the other gods (but She is shown to be strong-willed and only if it helps him by doing so). protective of those she loves. He is able to change his shape to that Frigga is usually depicted as a of other living creatures, such as a beautiful woman in peaceful mare, fly, salmon and a falcon. backgrounds, showing her calm nature. He is married to the goddess Sigyn and is the father of Hel, the giant Her symbols include the full moon, serpent Jörmungandr and the giant the spinning wheel, mistletoe and wolf Fenrir. silver, which are often included in images of her.
twinkl.com twinkl.com Freya Freyr Freya, or Freyja, is the goddess of Freyr, or Frey, is the god of fertility love, war and death. She is the and prosperity. He is the son of the daughter of the god Njord and has a god Njord and twin brother of the twin brother, Freyr. He is part of the goddess Freya. He is part of the Vanir pantheon. Vanir pantheon. Freya is often shown riding in her Freyr rules over the rain and shining chariot which is pulled by two of the sun and therefore is responsible cats and has a cloak made from for the growth of crops in the fields. falcon feathers. Vikings would pray to Freyr in the hope of a strong crop growing Freya rules over the heavenly field, each year. Fólkvangr, where she welcomes those who died in battle but did not go Freyr rides the shining boar to Valhalla. Gullinbursti and owns the magical ship Skidbladnir, which can fold Freya is married to the god Od down and be carried in a pouch when although he is absent a lot of the not being used. time. Because of this, Freya is said to weep tears of red gold as she searches for him.
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Baldr Heimdall Baldr, or Baldr, is the god of light Heimdall is the guardian of the and purity. He is the son of Odin and gods. He watches over the Bifrost – Frigg and the brother of Thor and the rainbow bridge which leads to Hodr. He is part of the Æsir pantheon. Asgard. He lives in a fortress which sits at the top of the Bifrost where he Baldr is said to be so bright that keeps watch. He is the son of Odin light shines from him and he is so and part of the Æsir pantheon. beautiful that flowers bow to him. Heimdall has incredibly strong In Norse tales, Baldr was unable to be hearing and vision. He keeps watch hurt by anything in existence, except for approaching enemies and uses his for mistletoe. The gods would amuse mighty horn, Gjallarhorn, to summon themselves by trying their weapons the other gods from across all nine on Baldr and seeing them fail to worlds to battle if needed. hurt him. In tales, Heimdall is believed to have used his horn to sound an incoming invasion to Asgard at the beginning of Ragnarök.
twinkl.com twinkl.com Týr Njord Týr is the god of single-handed Njord is god of the sea and is part of combat, justice and law. He is the Vanir pantheon. the son of Odin and part of the Æsir pantheon. Njord is also associated with wealth and Vikings would often describe rich Týr is one of the main Norse gods people as being ‘as rich as Njord’. along with Odin and Thor, as people would pray to Týr in the hope of Vikings believed that whenever Njord being victorious in battle. was angry or sad, storms would rage at sea. Vikings would pray to Týr is shown as having one hand Njord in the hope of a safe journey on after the other was bitten off by their voyages. the giant wolf Fenrir while trying to tame it as a pup. This sacrifice Njord is the father of the twins Freya shows Týr as a heroic figure willing and Frey and married to the giant to put himself in danger in order to goddess Skadi. protect others.
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Skadi Sif Skadi is the goddess of winter, Sif is the goddess of the earth, homes mountains and skiing. She is a jötunn and crops. She is the wife of Thor and (giant) and lives in the highest of part of the Æsir pantheon. the mountains where the snow never melts. Sif has long golden hair which represents fields of golden wheat. Skadi is a huntress and is often Vikings believed she would travel shown with her hunting bow, skis around seeking families and farms and occasionally with snow shoes. where she would protect crops from cold winds and winters. She was once married to the god Njord. Odin allowed her to marry In one tale, the trickster god Loki cut one of the gods but only by looking off Sif’s hair as she slept. When she at their feet. Thinking they belonged woke and saw her hair was gone, she to the beautiful god Baldr, Skadi wept and the fields of crops that she chose the shapeliest feet which protected flooded. Thor demanded actually belonged to the sea-ravaged Loki find a way to make amends and god Njord. had the dwarves of Nidavellir make her a cap of floor-length hair.
twinkl.com twinkl.com Bragi Hel Bragi is the god of poetry, music Hel is the goddess of the underworld. and wisdom. He is renowned for She is the daughter of Loki and his wisdom, fluency of speech and regarded as highly dangerous. skill with words. He is part of the Æsir pantheon. Hel is often shown as having half the face of a beautiful woman and half Bragi has a long beard and runes the face of a monster. She is greedy marked on his tongue. He plays music and cruel and unconcerned with the and recites poetry in the halls of problems of others. Valhalla, greeting fallen warriors as they enter the afterlife. He also travels She rules over the underworld realm, between the nine worlds, singing of also called Hel, the ninth of the nine peace and working together. worlds, which lies at the roots of Yggdrasil. Bragi is married to the beautiful goddess Idun. Hel watches over the dead who arrive and dwell in the underworld.
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Idun Vidar Idun is the goddess of the spring, Vidar, or Vitharr, is the god of new life and youth. She is the wife vengeance. He is the son of Odin and of the god Bragi. She is part of the the brother of Thor. He is part of the Æsir pantheon. Æsir pantheon. Idun is often shown as a beautiful Vidar is very powerful and one of the young woman carrying a basket of mightiest of the gods – only Thor is fruit. The fruit she carries grants stronger than him. He wears a pair immortality and her power keeps the of magical shoes that are incredibly gods of Asgard youthful. strong and they helped him defeat the giant wolf Fenrir during Ragnarök. In one tale, the god Loki turns into an eagle and steals Idun away. Her Vidar is sometimes known as ‘Vidar absence causes the gods to turn old the Silent’, which may show that and grey and Loki is ordered to return Vidar took a vow of silence as part of her to Asgard. his role as the god of vengeance.
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