Norse mythology

Norse mythology may be described as the beliefs and tales of the Scandinavian branch of Teutonic religion, together with tales of heroes in whose lives gods and mythical beings play a part. Owing to the literary material available, there are more such tales than those of related tribes, though little is known about the cult. The religion sprang from a world-view dominated by the idea of Fate.

Sources

The oldest known sources of the myythology, as preserved in the Codex Regius or Elder Edda, do not give a coherent or consistent account of the gods. They are highly allusive poems which give only fragmentary information. The more connected accounts given by Snorri Sturluson in his Prose Edda, and by later writers, were only put together long after the conversion to Christianity, and were written by authors for whom the material was interesting, not a matter of belief.

The gods

The gods were not all-powerful. The myths gave them beginnings and predicted their ends. They were as subject to fate as anyone. There were three principal gods and one main goddess: Odin, the many-named and many-natured lore-master; Thor, the gods' champion, Tyr the war-god; and Frig the goddess of love. These, together with Baldr and Vidar, sons of Odin, were known as the Æsir. Another family of gods constituted the Vanir: Njord, possibly a sea-god; Frey; and Freya, a fertility goddess. Among them was Loki, sometimes an ingenious ally, sometimes the villain of the tales. Other gods are also mentioned, suggesting that there could be no definitive version of the religion/mythology.

Parallels with other Teutonic deities

The main gods appear with variations on their names in other branches of the teutonic peoples. Odin was Wotan in Germany and Woden to the Anglo-Saxons. Thor was Donner or Thunor. Tyr was Ziu or Tiw.

Mythical beings

The gods had a mostly hostile relationship with the giants, who in many ways seem to be on a par with them. Dragons, dwarfs, and other mythical beings also feature prominently in the stories.

Ragnarök

Ragnarök, the doom of the gods, is the destruction of the gods and of the earth. Some versions of the tale indicate that it is followed by a rebirth.