The overwhelming majority of tales in regards to the gods in Norse mythology concentrate on the likes of king Odin, invincible Thor and trickster Loki. There are additionally tales about Balder, Freyr and Heimdall. However similar to the world of males, the realm of the gods was populated by each women and men.

Whereas the Norse goddesses is perhaps minor gamers within the Norse sagas, it’s clear that they have been an integral a part of Norse mythology. Let’s meet a number of the superb Norse goddesses that the Vikings revered.

Freya

Freya (‘girl’) was the Norse goddess of affection, fertility, sorcery, gold, warfare and demise. She was not an Aesir god, however one of many secondary Vanir gods. The 2 races fought prior to now and Freya was despatched to dwell in Asgard the phrase of Aesir gods as a hostage.

Goddess of affection, she used her magnificence to get her needs. For instance, she spent an evening with every of the 4 dwarvesthat made the attractive necklace Brisingamen to be able to possess it. Goddess of Struggle, like Odin, she collected fallen warriors from the battlefield to dwell in her corridor, Folkvangr.

In keeping with Norse mythology, she received first alternative. Goddess of sorcery, she practiced a type of magic referred to as Seidr, which concerned discerning and influencing destiny.

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Frigg

Frigg (‘beloved one’) was the consort of Odin and the goddess of affection, marriage and motherhood. She was additionally a prophetess, however by no means revealed the secrets and techniques she noticed. She will need to have been very understanding, as Odin had many further marital affairs, and plenty of youngsters by different beings, together with Thor.

Frigg and Odin did have not less than two youngsters collectively, Balder and Hodr. In a single story from Norse mythology, to guard her son Balder, Frigg went to each residing factor that existed and requested them to agree by no means to hurt her son. This made Balder invincible, which amused the opposite gods who entertained themselves by throwing weapons at him.

Sadly, Frigg forgot the common-or-garden mistletoe plant, a secret that Loki found. The mischief maker made a mistletoe dart and tricked Balder’s blind brother Hodr into throwing it at Balder, killing him. Hodr was executed for his half in Balder’s demise, and Frigg misplaced each of her sons.

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Gefion

Gefion was a goddess of fertility and agriculture related to the plough. In keeping with her saga within the canon of Norse Mythology, she disguised herself as a beggar lady and requested the Swedish King to present her some land.

He mentioned that she might have all of the land that she might plough in someday and one night time. Gefion ploughed so deeply by way of the western a part of Sweden that it was reduce off from the mainland and shaped a brand new island, Zealand.

Idun

Idun was the goddess of spring and youth in Norse mythology. She was the guardian of the apples of youth that grew in Asgard and equipped them to the gods to keep up their youth. In a single story, Loki, to be able to save his personal pores and skin, agrees to assist the giantess Thjasse kidnap Idun to obtain her apples.

Whereas Idun is being held prisoner, the Aesir, with out entry to the apples, begin to age. They demand that Loki return Idun to Asgard, which he manages to do.

Sif

Yet one more fertility goddess, Sif was related to grain and her lengthy golden hair most likely represented the golden fields. She was the spouse of Thor, and in some sources was additionally equated with the oracle Sibyl.

Sif is greatest identified for having her golden hair shorn by Loki as a joke. This enrages Thor, who calls for that Loki exchange the hair. Loki procures a headpiece made out of the best golden strands from the dwarves.

It’s on this similar story from Norse mythology that Loki procures the spear Gungnir and the ring Draupnir for Odin, the ship Skidbladnir and the golden boar Gullinbursti for Freyr, and the mighty hammer Mjolnir for Thor.

Sigyn

Sigyn is the spouse of Loki in Norse mythology. For his position within the demise of Balder, Loki was chained to a rock with a toxic snake suspended over his head to painfully drip venom onto his face for all eternity.

Dedicated to her husband, Sigyn chooses to remain by his aspect all through, defending him from the poison by catching it in a bowl. Nevertheless, when she should go away to empty the bowl, Loki should undergo.

Eir

The Norse goddess Eir (‘assist’ or ‘mercy’) was linked with medical talent and is described as an excellent doctor. Some sources for Norse mythology counsel that she was a Valkyrie slightly than a goddess.

Valkyrie carried males who died on the battlefield to Valhalla. Maybe Eir was thought to additionally heal a number of the wounded.

Fulla, Gna & Hlin

These three Norse goddesses have been the handmaidens of Frigg, queen of the Aesir gods, in Norse mythology. The virgin Fulla attended Frigg’s ashen field and footwear, and was the queen’s favorite and knew all her secrets and techniques. Gna was Frigg’s most trusted messenger and ran errands for her throughout the 9 worlds.

She rides a horse Hofvarpnir, that may gallop by way of the air and over water. Hlin (‘protector’) was despatched by Frigg to guard folks on her behalf. Frigg could have requested her to guard Odin, as his demise is described as Hlin’s second sorrow.

Ilmr

Little is thought in regards to the goddess Ilmr as solely her identify is recorded in surviving Norse mythology. Her identify would possibly imply ‘nice smelling one’ in Previous Norse, which might counsel an affiliation with scents.

Whereas one of these affiliation can be distinctive in Norse mythology, goddesses of smells are identified in different polytheistic religions. Maybe her scent was an aphrodisiac.

Hel

Daughter of Loki, based on Norse mythology Hel dominated over the Norse underworld. This was a spot not only for the depraved, however any Viking that didn’t die in battle.

Usually family members would place a sword or spear within the hand of a dying man to attempt to trick Hel into pondering that that they had died in battle. She is usually portrayed as partly decomposed, having the face and physique of a residing lady, however the legs of a corpse.

In keeping with Norse mythology, she’s going to combat alongside her father towards the Aesir gods throughout Ragnarok, main a military of the useless.

Different Norse Goddesses

The names of 17 different Norse goddesses are recorded in a metrical checklist preserved within the Prose Edda, and much more are talked about in passing. The opposite goddesses listed within the Prose Edda are:

• Snotra – goddess of knowledge and courtesy.
• Gerdr – giantess goddess related to the Earth; spouse of Freyr.
• Lofn – ‘the comforter’, she arranges marriages once they have been forbidden.
• Skadi – giantess goddess related to bow looking, snowboarding, winter and mountains; spouse of Njordr and has two youngsters with Odin.
• Jord –  giantess goddess personifying the Earth; mom of Thor.
• Bil – alongside together with her brother Hjuki, she follows the personified moon throughout the skies.
• Njorun – her associations are by no means attested, however etymology means that she was associated to the Earth.
• Nanna – the spouse of Balder who both died of grief after he died, or threw herself on his funeral pyre in grief.
• Hnoss – daughter of Freya, she was the goddess of sensuality and infatuation.
• Rindr – a giantess goddess impregnated by Odin after the demise of Balder to provide the god Vali, who would avenge the demise of Balder, and his father throughout Ragnarok.
• Sjofn – turns the minds of women and men to like making.
• Sol – the personified solar, sister to the personified moon. She shall be killed throughout Ragnarok, however will give beginning to a daughter to take her place.
• Saga – seeress that lives in Sokkvakkr in Asgard, the place she will be able to usually be discovered consuming with Odin.
• Vor – goddess of windfall and getting ready effectively for the long run, her identify means ‘cautious one’.
• Var – goddess of oaths between women and men who punishes those that break their vows. She was invoked by the large Thrym throughout his marriage ceremony to his bride, who was Thor in disguise.
• Syn – goddess of defensive refusal, who guards the doorways of halls and shuts them towards those that can not enter.
• Thrud – daughter of Thor and his spouse Sif, her identify means ‘energy’ in Previous Norse.
• Ran – personification of the ocean, she was ceaselessly described with a web, which she used to seize sea-goers.

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