Norse mythology

What Is Norse Mythology?

Norse mythology is a collection of stories told by the North Germanic peoples. These are old stories about gods, creatures, and heroes. Long ago, people in the north told them to explain the world around them.

The stories come from Old Norse religion. They kept being told after Scandinavia changed its beliefs, and they live on as Nordic folklore. This branch of myths is the northernmost part of Germanic mythology, and it grows out of Proto-Germanic folklore.

Gods and Friends

Norse mythology has many gods. The thunder-god Thor is one of the most famous. The god Odin is often shown with ravens. The goddess Freyja is another favorite, and there are numerous other deities too.

The stories also tell about the jötnar. They can be friends of the gods, and sometimes they are family. Most of the myths are about the gods and the problems they face.

The World of the Myths

In Norse mythology, the cosmos has Nine Worlds. They are all connected by a great sacred tree called Yggdrasil. The world was made from the body of a first being named Ymir.

The first two humans were Ask and Embla. The myths say that the world will be made new after Ragnarök. Then the land becomes green and full of life again, and two humans fill the world with people once more.

Why We Still Know About Them

Scholars have studied Norse mythology since the 1600s. They use comparative mythology and historical linguistics to learn more. Some of these stories reach back as far as Proto-Indo-European mythology.

Today, these stories are loved all over the world. People enjoy them through the Viking revival and in popular culture. Some people who follow Germanic Neopaganism still practice these myths today.