"god Heimdallr and the two will slay each other. Loki is referred to in the ""Poetic Edda"", compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the ""Prose Edda"" and ""Heimskringla"", written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; the Norwegian Rune Poems, in the poetry of skalds, and in Scandinavian folklore. Loki may be depicted on the Snaptun Stone, the Kirkby Stephen Stone, and the Gosforth Cross. Loki's origins and role in Norse mythology, which some scholars have described as that of a trickster god, have been much debated by scholars. Loki has been depicted in or is referenced"
"Mjölnir In Norse mythology, Mjölnir (; , ) is the hammer of Thor, the Norse god associated with thunder. Mjölnir is depicted in Norse mythology as one of the most fearsome and powerful weapons in existence, capable of leveling mountains. In its account of Norse mythology, the ""Prose Edda"" relates how the hammers characteristically short handle was due to a mistake during its manufacture. Similar hammers (Ukonvasara) were a common symbol of the god of thunder in other North European mythologies. Modern depictions of Mjolnir are most prevalent amongst practitioners of Heathenry (a modern Pagan religious movement) and white supremacist"
"Lýtir Lytir (Old Norse ""Lýtir"") is considered a god in Norse mythology and Norse paganism. His name is either related to the Old Norse word ""hlutr"", meaning ""lot, share, foretell"" or ""lýti"" meaning ""blemish"". If the former meaning is assumed, then priests of Lytir would probably have been spámaðr or fortune-tellers. Supporting this etymology is a story about Lytir in ""Hauks þáttr hábrókar"" (in the ""Flateyjarbók"") during which a Swedish king consults the god. Lytir's ceremonial wagon was taken to a sacred place where the god entered it and then taken back to the king's hall, where it was used"
"Norse mythology Norse mythology is the body of myths of the North Germanic peoples, stemming from Norse paganism and continuing after the Christianization of Scandinavia, and into the Scandinavian folklore of the modern period. The northernmost extension of Germanic mythology, Norse mythology consists of tales of various deities, beings, and heroes derived from numerous sources from both before and after the pagan period, including medieval manuscripts, archaeological representations, and folk tradition. Numerous gods are mentioned in the source texts such as the hammer-wielding, humanity-protecting thunder-god Thor, who relentlessly fights his foes; the one-eyed, raven-flanked god Odin, who craftily pursues knowledge"
"Gylfi In Norse mythology, Gylfi, ""Gylfe"", ""Gylvi"", or ""Gylve"" was the earliest recorded king in Scandinavia. He often uses the name Gangleri when appearing in disguise. The traditions on Gylfi deal with how he was tricked by the gods and his relations with the goddess Gefjon. The ""Ynglinga saga"" section of Snorri's ""Heimskringla"" and the Eddic poem ""Ragnarsdrápa"" tell a legend of how Gylfi was seduced by the goddess Gefjon to give her as much land as she could plow in one night. Gefjon transformed her four sons into oxen and took enough land to create the Danish island of"
"Draupnir In Norse mythology, Draupnir (Old Norse ""the dripper"") is a gold ring possessed by the god Odin with the ability to multiply itself: Every ninth night, eight new rings 'drip' from Draupnir, each one of the same size and weight as the original. Draupnir was forged by the dwarven brothers Brokkr and Eitri (or Sindri). Brokkr and Eitri made this ring as one of a set of three gifts which included Mjöllnir and Gullinbursti. They made these gifts in accordance with a wager Loki made saying that Brokkr and Eitri could not make better gifts than the three made"
"Lóðurr Lóðurr (also Lodurr) is a god in Norse mythology. In the ""Poetic Edda"" poem ""Völuspá"" he is assigned a role in animating the first humans, but apart from that he is hardly ever mentioned, and remains obscure. Scholars have variously identified him with Loki, Vé, Vili and Freyr, but consensus has not been reached on any one theory. The name's meaning is unknown. It has been speculatively linked to various Old Norse words, such as ""lóð"", ""fruit, land"", ""ljóðar"", ""people"" and ""laða"", ""to attract"". The Gothic words ""liudan"", ""to grow"" and ""laudi"", ""shape"", as well as the German word"
"the source texts. As evidenced by records of personal names and place names, the most popular god among the Scandinavians during the Viking Age was Thor, who is portrayed as unrelentingly pursuing his foes, his mountain-crushing, thunderous hammer Mjölnir in hand. In the mythology, Thor lays waste to numerous jötnar who are foes to the gods or humanity, and is wed to the beautiful, golden-haired goddess Sif. The god Odin is also frequently mentioned in surviving texts. One-eyed, wolf and raven-flanked, and spear in hand, Odin pursues knowledge throughout the worlds. In an act of self-sacrifice, Odin is described as"
"Ekwensu Ekwensu is a Trickster God (an evil Alusi) of the Igbo people who serve as the Alusi or God of Bargains and the tortoise. Crafty at trade and negotiations, he is often invoked for guidance in difficult mercantile situations. The deity was a force of Chaos and Change, thus in his more violent aspects, Ekwensu was also revered as a God of War and Victory who ruled over the wicked spirits and the chaotic forces of nature. He is perceived as a spirit of violence that incites people to perform violent acts. Ekwensu is said to be interested only"
"the possible fertility-related meanings of Lóðurr's name but otherwise has little direct evidence to support it. Lóðurr Lóðurr (also Lodurr) is a god in Norse mythology. In the ""Poetic Edda"" poem ""Völuspá"" he is assigned a role in animating the first humans, but apart from that he is hardly ever mentioned, and remains obscure. Scholars have variously identified him with Loki, Vé, Vili and Freyr, but consensus has not been reached on any one theory. The name's meaning is unknown. It has been speculatively linked to various Old Norse words, such as ""lóð"", ""fruit, land"", ""ljóðar"", ""people"" and ""laða"", ""to"
"religion. Old Norse religion was polytheistic, entailing a belief in various gods and goddesses. Norse mythology divided these deities into two groups, the Æsir and the Vanir, who engaged in an ancient war until realising that they were equally powerful. Among the most widespread deities were the gods Odin and Thor. This world was inhabited also by various other mythological races, including giants, dwarfs, elves, and land-spirits. Norse cosmology revolved around a world tree known as Yggdrasil, with various realms existing alongside that of humans, named Midgard. These include multiple afterlife realms, several of which are controlled by a particular"
"to answer questions. Aside from this passage, Lytir is otherwise unattested except in several Swedish place names that might contain elements of his name, such as Lytisberg and Lytislunda. He may be identical to Lóðurr, one of the three gods creating the two first humans Ask and Embla. Lýtir Lytir (Old Norse ""Lýtir"") is considered a god in Norse mythology and Norse paganism. His name is either related to the Old Norse word ""hlutr"", meaning ""lot, share, foretell"" or ""lýti"" meaning ""blemish"". If the former meaning is assumed, then priests of Lytir would probably have been spámaðr or fortune-tellers. Supporting"
"character Thor, based on the Norse god, a magical hammer similarly based on the original Mjölnir plays a major role. The Marvel adaptation endowed the hammer with additional powers not attested in the original myth - especially, that when holding it Thor can fly through air at great speed. Mjölnir In Norse mythology, Mjölnir (; , ) is the hammer of Thor, the Norse god associated with thunder. Mjölnir is depicted in Norse mythology as one of the most fearsome and powerful weapons in existence, capable of leveling mountains. In its account of Norse mythology, the ""Prose Edda"" relates how"
"Edda"", the dragon Níðhöggr is described as gnawing on the roots of Yggdrasil, the world tree. In Norse mythology, Jörmungandr is a giant serpent that encircles the entire realm of Miðgarð in the sea around it. According to the ""Gylfaginning"" from the ""Prose Edda"", written by the thirteenth-century Icelandic mythographer Snorri Sturluson, Thor, the Norse god of thunder, once went out on a boat with the giant Hymnir to the outer sea and fished for Jörmungandr using an ox-head as bait. Thor caught the serpent and, after pulling its head out of the water, smashed it with his hammer Mjölnir."
"of equal power was once owned by Loki before it was destroyed by Freya. Draupnir In Norse mythology, Draupnir (Old Norse ""the dripper"") is a gold ring possessed by the god Odin with the ability to multiply itself: Every ninth night, eight new rings 'drip' from Draupnir, each one of the same size and weight as the original. Draupnir was forged by the dwarven brothers Brokkr and Eitri (or Sindri). Brokkr and Eitri made this ring as one of a set of three gifts which included Mjöllnir and Gullinbursti. They made these gifts in accordance with a wager Loki made"
"these also have the power to hamper enemies in Norse mythology."" Herfjötur In Norse mythology, Herfjötur (Old Norse ""host-fetter"" or ""fetter of the army"") is a valkyrie. Herfjötur is attested as among the 13 valkyries listed in the ""Poetic Edda"" poem ""Grímnismál"", and in the longer of the two ""Nafnaþulur"" lists found in the ""Prose Edda"". Rudolf Simek says the name is kenning-like and that the name likely refers to the ""fortune determining function of the valkyries especially in battle."" Simek points to a connection between the name and the idisi mentioned in one of the two Merseburg Incantations and"
"with the story and show Hymir: the Ardre VIII image stone, the Hørdum stone, and the Gosforth Cross. A stone slab that may be a portion of a second cross at Gosforth also shows a fishing scene using an ox head for bait. The legend is also depicted on the Altuna Runestone, but its image does not show Hymir, possibly due to the narrow shape of that stone. Hymir In Norse mythology, Hymir is a giant, husband of the giantess Hroðr and according to the Eddic poem ""Hymiskviða"" the father of the god Týr (in other sources, Odin is Tyr's"
"Thor, not with Forseti. Forseti Forseti (Old Norse ""the presiding one,"" actually ""president"" in modern Icelandic and Faroese) is the god of justice and reconciliation in Norse mythology. He is generally identified with Fosite, a god of the Frisians. Jacob Grimm noted that if, as Adam of Bremen states, Fosite's sacred island was Heligoland, that would make him an ideal candidate for a deity known to both Frisians and Scandinavians, but that it is surprising he is never mentioned by Saxo Grammaticus. Grimm took ""Forseti"", """"praeses"""", to be the older form of the name, first postulating an unattested Old High"
"(or aesir, as they were called) worth mentioning are the thunder-god Thor and the love-goddess Freya. Most information about Scandinavian mythology is contained in the old Norse literature including Norwegian literature, the Eddas and later sagas. Other information comes from the Danish historian Saxo Grammaticus with fragments of legends preserved in old inscriptions. Unfortunately, we know relatively little about old religious practices in Norway or elsewhere as most of the knowledge was lost in the gradual Christianisation. Due to nationalistic movements in the late 18th century, Norwegian scholars found renewed interest for Norse religion, translating many of the myths to"
"Synnerby, Vg 108 in Tängs gamla, Vg 137 Sörby, and DR 99 in Bjerregrav. The inscription asks the Norse pagan god Thor to hallow the runestone. There are two other runestones that have similar invocations to Thor located in Sweden include Ög 136 in Rök and Sö 140 in Korpbron. Other runestones in Denmark that include invocations of or dedications to Thor in their inscriptions include DR 110 from Virring, DR 209 from Glavendrup, and DR 220 from Sønder Kirkeby. It has been noted that Thor is the only Norse god who is invoked on any Viking Age runestones. This"
"Dáinn (Norse dwarf) Dáinn (""Dead"") or Dain is a character in Norse mythology. Mostly the tales relate to him being a dwarf and in others as king of elves. However, in other stories the dwarf god is referred to as Dvalin. His name is found on king Högni's sword Dáinsleif (""Dáinn's legacy""). It is laid with a curse which says it must always kill a man when it is drawn. In the ""Hyndluljóð"" he is said to have made Freyja's boar Hildisvíni, along with another dwarf, his brother Nabbi. Dáinn is referred to as a dwarf in the dwarf-þula of"
"the ringleader. Gullinkambi In Norse mythology, Gullinkambi (Old Norse ""golden comb"") is a rooster who lives in Valhalla. In the ""Poetic Edda"" poem ""Völuspá"", Gullinkambi is one of the three roosters whose crowing is foretold to signify the beginning of the events of Ragnarök. The other two roosters are Fjalar in the wood Gálgviðr, and an unnamed soot-red rooster in Hel: It has been suggested that the central tree depicted in the Överhogdal tapestries is the world tree Yggdrasil and that the bird at the top is Gullinkambi. Gullinkambi is referenced in the song ""Gullinkambi's Return"" by The Venetia Fair."
"their mining and smithing. Together they forge a magical restraint Gleipnir for the purpose of binding the wolf. Such undertakings mark Skirnir as a crafty servant. Skírnir In Norse mythology, Skírnir (Old Norse ""bright one"") is the god Freyr's messenger and vassal. In the ""Poetic Edda"" poem ""Skírnismál"", Skírnir is sent as a messenger to Jötunheimr to conduct lovesick Freyr's wooing of the fair goddess Gerðr on condition of being given Freyr's powerful sword as a reward. The coy goddess refuses the advances until Skírnir threatens Gerðr with his ""gambantein"", a magic wand. In chapter 34 of the ""Prose Edda"""
"Níðhöggr In Norse mythology, Níðhöggr (""Malice Striker"", traditionally also spelled Níðhǫggr, often anglicized Nidhogg) is a dragon/serpent who gnaws at a root of the world tree, Yggdrasil. In historical Viking society, níð was a term for a social stigma implying the loss of honor and the status of a villain. Thus, its name might refer to its role as a horrific monster or in its action of chewing the corpses of the inhabitants of Náströnd: those guilty of murder, adultery, and oath-breaking, which Norse society considered among the worst possible crimes. In the standardized Old Norse orthography, the name is"
"Thor (comics) Thor, the god of Norse mythology, has appeared as a character in various comics over the years, appearing in series from a range of publishers. Thor Odinson (often called The Mighty Thor) is a Marvel Comics superhero, based on the thunder god of Norse mythology. The superhero was created by editor Stan Lee and penciller Jack Kirby, who co-plotted, and scripter Larry Lieber, and first appeared in ""Journey into Mystery"" #83 (Aug. 1962). On a mission from his father, Odin, Thor acts as a superhero while maintaining the secret identity of Dr. Donald Blake, an American physician with"
"Forseti Forseti (Old Norse ""the presiding one,"" actually ""president"" in modern Icelandic and Faroese) is the god of justice and reconciliation in Norse mythology. He is generally identified with Fosite, a god of the Frisians. Jacob Grimm noted that if, as Adam of Bremen states, Fosite's sacred island was Heligoland, that would make him an ideal candidate for a deity known to both Frisians and Scandinavians, but that it is surprising he is never mentioned by Saxo Grammaticus. Grimm took ""Forseti"", """"praeses"""", to be the older form of the name, first postulating an unattested Old High German equivalent *""forasizo"" (cf."
"(or stars or sun) and is more of a trickster than a culture hero. Natives from the Southeastern United States typically saw a rabbit trickster/culture hero, and Pacific Northwest native stories often feature a raven in this role: in some stories, Raven steals fire from his uncle Beaver and eventually gives it to humans. The Western African trickster spider Ananse is also widely disseminated. In Norse mythology, Odin (yet another trickster deity) is said to have stolen the mead of poetry from Jotunheim and is credited as the discoverer of the runes. Culture hero A culture hero is a mythological"
"be called Thorin Oakenshield). Gandalf (mythology) Gandalf (""Gandálfr"") is a Dvergr (Norse dwarf) in Norse mythology, appearing in the so-called 'Tally of the Dwarves' within the poem Völuspá from the Poetic Edda, as well as in the Prose Edda. The name derives from the Old Norse words ""gandr"" (magic staff) and ""álfr"" (elf), thus a protective spirit who wields a magical wand. The name was also used for a Norse king in the ""Heimskringla"". In his fictional writings, J. R. R. Tolkien eventually named his wizard Gandalf after the Dvergr, but initially used the name for the head of the"
"Gandalf (mythology) Gandalf (""Gandálfr"") is a Dvergr (Norse dwarf) in Norse mythology, appearing in the so-called 'Tally of the Dwarves' within the poem Völuspá from the Poetic Edda, as well as in the Prose Edda. The name derives from the Old Norse words ""gandr"" (magic staff) and ""álfr"" (elf), thus a protective spirit who wields a magical wand. The name was also used for a Norse king in the ""Heimskringla"". In his fictional writings, J. R. R. Tolkien eventually named his wizard Gandalf after the Dvergr, but initially used the name for the head of the dwarf party (ultimately to"
"Þrúðvangr In Norse mythology, Þrúðvangr (Old Norse ""power-field"", sometimes anglicized as Thrudvang or Thruthvang) or Þrúðvangar (plural form) is/are a field/fields where the god Thor resides. The field is attested in the ""Prose Edda"" and in ""Heimskringla"", both written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. In the ""Prose Edda"" book ""Gylfaginning"", the enthroned figure of High tells Gangleri (King Gylfi in disguise) about the god Thor. Among other details, High mentions that Thor's realm is Þrúðvangr and that Thor owns the hall Bilskírnir, the largest of all buildings ever erected. Further in ""Gylfaginning"", High mentions that Thor returned to"
"Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr Tanngrisnir (Old Norse ""teeth-barer, snarler"") and Tanngnjóstr (Old Norse ""teeth grinder"") are the goats who pull the god Thor's chariot in Norse mythology. They are attested in the ""Poetic Edda"", compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the ""Prose Edda"", written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. The ""Prose Edda"" relates that when Thor cooks the goats, their flesh provides sustenance for the god, and, after Thor resurrects them with his hammer, Mjölnir, they are brought back to life the next day. According to the same source, Thor once stayed a night at"
"Þrúðr Þrúðr (Old Norse for ""strength""), sometimes anglicized as Thrúd or Thrud, is a daughter of the major god Thor and the goddess Sif in Norse mythology. Þrúðr is also the name of one of the valkyries who serve ale to the einherjar in Valhalla (""Grímnismál"", stanza 36). The two may or may not be the same figure. Þrúðr is attested in the following sources: The ""Poetic Edda"" poem ""Alvíssmál"", in which a dwarf, Alvíss, claims to be engaged to Thor's daughter, may be about Þrúðr, but the daughter is not named. The ""Prose Edda"" book ""Skáldskaparmál"" tells that Thor"
"inscription found on the hilt Sæbø sword. Individual swastika carvings of Germanic origin, however, can be traced back as early as the Bronze Age and are commonly found alongside sunwheels and sky gods. Though the swastika's exact meaning has eluded definition, its association with luck, prosperity, power, protection, as well as the sun and sky are factual. Mjolnir is also linked to luck, prosperity, power, and protection in Nordic rituals. Also, Thor was the dominant sky god of Norse religion and runestone depictions of the swastika are commonly found beside, or in connection with, his image. One example, found in"