Family tree of the Scandinavian gods. Who are the Vikings

Alves. In German-Scandinavian mythology, the lower nature spirits. Essentially the same word "elves", only in the pronunciation of some Germanic-Scandinavian languages. Initially, the alves personified the souls of the dead, but gradually their role in the hierarchy of divine beings underwent changes. In early Scandinavian-Germanic mythology, the alves are an ageless, magical, beautiful race that lives like people, either on Earth or in the world of alves (elves), which was also described as existing quite realistically. This idea of \u200b\u200bthe alves, partially preserved, reached the Middle Ages, remaining forever in the languages, names, culture and genealogy of European countries. In later myths, alves, on the eve of Christianity, are represented as spirits of the earth and fertility. There was a special ritual for honoring these spirits. The word "alv" (elf) during this period began to generalize in essence completely different creatures - in fact, alves and dwarves. Alves began to have some similarities with both miniature dwarfs and vanes. In the "Elder Edda" there is a mention of the wonderful blacksmith Velund, who was called the prince of the Alves. In the "Elder Edda" they are opposed to the highest gods - the ases. The "Younger Edda" mentions the division into the dark (living underground) and light alves (elves) (living in the heavenly palace). In the late Germanic-Scandinavian sagas about the creation of the world, it is said that the alves were created by the first aesir (Odin, Vili and Ve) from the worms that appeared in the meat of Ymir. The dark (or underground) alves were given the kingdom of Svartalfheim, and the light alves (elves) - Liesalfheim. The "lower" alves are the prototype of another mythological people, the gnomes. Celtic Sids

Andhrimnir. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Einherian chef, preparing the meat of Sehrimnir's boar.

Asy. (Nor.; Sir) - in Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the highest gods. Asses, in Scandinavian mythology, the main group of gods led by Odin, the father of most of the Aesir, who loved, fought and died, because, like people, they did not possess immortality. These gods are opposed to the van (gods of fertility), giants (etuns), dwarfs (miniatures), as well as female deities - dis, norns and valkyries. They lived in the heavenly fortress of Asgard, which was connected to the land of people, Midgard, the Bivrest rainbow bridge. Asams - the warrior gods were worshiped by heroes and kings. Asami, besides Odin, were twenty-seven warrior gods and twenty-two goddesses. In myths the most famous are Balder, Borr, Bragi, Buri, Vidar, Vali, Ve, Vili, Dagr, Dellin, Loki, Magni, Njord, Thor, Tyr, Forseti, Freyr, Head, Heimdall, as well as the goddesses Eir, Idunn, Nanna , Nott, Saga, Siv, Sighinn, Salt, Frigg, Freya. Actually, in Scandinavian mythology, there are two groups of gods - ases and vans. The Ases were constantly at odds with the Yotuns (giants). At one time the Ases were at enmity with the Vani (gods of fertility). Runa Ansuz is associated with the aces. Wikipedia mentions 41 divine as.

Balder. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Son of Odin and Frigga, god of spring; with his death, Ragnarok will begin - the end of the world. Maybe Boldyr.

Belobog. Heimdal. Germanic-Slavic mythology. One of the few reliable references to Belobog is the Mater Verborum information. What can be asserted with a high degree of confidence for the White God is his eternal opposition to Chernobog and his connection with benefits. Obviously, most of Belobog's properties are directly opposite to those of his opponent - Chernobog. The opponent of Chernobog is Bel-god. Since Heimdall is Loki's main adversary, Heimdall can be called Bel-god. The White God is the rival of the Black God, possessing the attributes of whiteness or Light. The White God, like the Black God, belongs to the gods of the older generation. The white god opposes the world of the dead and death. The White God, to the same extent as the Black God, is associated with the birth of a new life and destiny. The White God participates in the creation of the World, or prevents the corruption of the world. Benefits in the world from Belobog. The White God is an enlightener, he obtains and gives knowledge to people and other gods. The white god comes to our world from his own world to perfect it. In rivalry with the Black God, the White God gains integrity and removes his own inferiority. Sometimes the White God is associated with youth, and the Black God with old age, but these are images of the same antiquity. Sometimes the White God has an emphatically bright (keen-sighted) gaze, and the Black God is completely or partially "blind".

Bur. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Son of the Storm, father of Odin and his brothers. Maybe Bor, Borey.

Bor. In German-Scandinavian mythology, his sons, according to the Younger Edda, created the First Triglav - the sons of Bor. The system of nine worlds was created by the sons of Bor - Odin, Vili, Ve.

Bragi. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. God of poetry and eloquence, skald, husband of the goddess Idun. Bragi, in Scandinavian mythology, the skald god, the son of Odin and the giantess Gunnhold, the husband of Idunn, the keeper of the rejuvenating apples. Bragi was born in a stalactite cave where his mother Gunnhold kept the honey of poetry. The dwarfs-zwergs presented the divine child with a magic harp and sent sailing on one of their wonderful ships. On the way, Braga sang the touching "Song of Life", which was heard in heaven and the gods invited him to their abode of Asgard. When Loki, with his usual dexterity, orchestrated the assassination of Balder and returned to Asgard, Bragi demanded that the vile instigator leave, since the gods did not want his presence. Loki called Bragi a braggart, and he threatened to turn Loki's head away. Despite Odin's attempts to calm the audience, Braga's words infuriated Loki. Having predicted the death of the gods in parting, he left Asgard. Perhaps Bragi, the god of poetry and eloquence, is a god of later origin, which is associated with the deification of poetic inspiration, because Skalds were revered at the Scandinavian royal courts in almost the same way as rulers. Braga was usually portrayed as a bearded old man with a harp, and solemn oaths pronounced over the so-called Braga Cup were sealed by his name. According to some scholars, a connection between the skald god and the historical Braga Boddason (IX century) is possible here. Maybe Braga, Kvasura.

Storms. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Aesir ancestor, Odin's grandfather. Maybe Bor, Borey.

Vali. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. The son of Odin, who grew up and turned into a hero in a day. According to the myth, he avenged the murder of Baldr at the age of one day old. He is destined to outlive Ragnarok.

Vana. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, a small group of gods associated with fertility at one time feuded with the Aesir. They lived in Vanaheim, far from Asgard, the abode of the Aesir gods. The Vanir possessed the gift of foresight, prophecy, and also mastered the art of witchcraft. In addition, they were credited with incestuous relationships between siblings. The Vanam included Njord and his offspring - Freyer and Freil. Ancient legends told of a war that ended a golden age. The reason for the first war was the act of the evil sorceress Heida, who came to the settlement of the Aesir, who beat the sorceress with spears and tried to burn her three times at the stake, but the villainess again rose from the ashes. The beginning of the war was laid by the leader of the Aesir, Odin, who threw his spear in the direction of the Vans. The gods of fertility went on the offensive against the heavenly village of the ases, but the ases turned out to be stronger, and the struggle ended with the exchange of hostages. According to legend, the Vans were considered the keepers of the sacred honey. The Vans sent to Asgard the god of the sea Njord and his children, the twins Freyr and Freyja, and with them Kvasir, a wise man created from the saliva of the gods, who spat into a jug as a sign of reconciliation between the Aesir and Vans. The Ases also sent hostages to Vanaheim: Hoenir, the brother of the god Odin, who gave the first people feelings, and the wise Mimir. At first, Hoenir and Mimir were warmly received by the Vanir, but soon they came to the conclusion that they had lost on the exchange with the Aesir. The indecisive Hoenir could not say a word if Mimir was not around. The Vans decided that Mimir was not only the voice of Hoenir, but also his mind. Enraged, they cut off Mimir's head and sent it to the Aesir. One embalmed the head of the unfortunate man, then cast a spell over it, restoring the gift of speech. Subsequently, Odin instructed the head of Mimir to guard the magical source under the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. Wanting to gain some of Mimir's knowledge, Odin gave him one eye for permission to drink from the source of wisdom. Before the last battle of the gods and monsters, Ragnarok, Odin must go to the source and there seek advice from the head of Mimir.

Var. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. The goddess of truth, hears and writes down the oaths of people, takes revenge on those who break oaths and promises. Var assures vows and private contracts - "varar", especially those between men and women, and punishes those who break them. Her name may also have something to do with the term "varda", it is a legal term meaning a guarantee, guarantee or liability, akin to the English "ward", and more extended - "vardlokkur", "ward-song" is a protective song. Its functions are similar to those of the Greek Hestia, who lived in the fireplace and heard all the oaths. The protection of Var is morality that preserves the integrity of the spirit. Its authority lies in the words we use to make oaths or to articulate our intentions precisely. With the help of Var, the word-desire acquires an independent life. Her radiance sparkles in the fire of the hearth, which is the heart of the house, and she especially cares about those agreements that are not advertised in society, the unwritten obligations made by relatives to family members. Her symbol, therefore, can be a hearth or oathring, and she can be presented with a ring made of herbs and ribbons on which oaths are written, which can then be burned, or passed to a place with a horn in a circle. Maybe Barbara Krasa Long braid.

Ve. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Beur's son, Odin's brother or his hypostasis. "Ve" is the holiness of a place or a spiritual center, and "Vili" is a desire that rules, remaining with the goddess in Asgard, while the ecstatic "Waters" wanders the worlds.

Völva. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the Prophetess from Hel.

Bel. Thief. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Goddess of omniscience. She is very wise and nothing can hide from her insight and intuition. Maybe Faithfulness, Vera. Truth.

Vidar. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. The son of Odin, the god of silence, during Ragnarok he has to kill the wolf Fenrir. Maybe Vedun. That is why he is silent because he knows everything.

Wili. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. Beur's son, Odin's brother or his name. "Ve" is the holiness of a place or a spiritual center, and "Vili" is a desire that rules, remaining with the goddess in Asgard, while the ecstatic "Waters" wanders the worlds. Maybe Vil, Pitchfork, Samovily

Water. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Son of Beur, brother of Odin or his hypostasis. "Ve" is the holiness of a place or spiritual center, and "Vili" is a desire that rules, remaining with the goddess in Asgard, while the ecstatic "Waters" wanders the worlds.

Thief. Bel. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, she is "a wise and perceptive Goddess, therefore nothing can be hidden from her. There is a saying that a woman begins to understand something (vor) when she finds something." Her name means awareness, the ability to learn and understand. A thief is thus the power of intuition, the power of knowledge and silence. In the outside world, she acts as the famous "female intuition", the ability to interpret subtle, subtle thoughts in order to understand what will happen next, especially those things that men would like to hide or do not know how to express in words. On the inner plane, she expands discernment, she is our guide into the realm of the unconscious, where we keep everything that we have forgotten, or suppressed, or are afraid to see. It reveals what is hidden and teaches us how to interpret the symbolic language of our dreams. She appears in dark long robes and her symbol is a dark veil. Thief's work is the development of intuition through the interpretation of dreams, seid, or reflections.

Second Triglav. In German-Scandinavian mythology, according to the Younger Edda, people were created by the First Triglav - the sons of Bohr, according to the Elder Edda, the Second Triglav did it. (Song of Riga).

Gevjun. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, she is a virgin, and who welcomes all who die unmarried. Her name means "giver", it is also an epithet of Freya. In Heimskringla, she appears as an independent Danish goddess. In the Yngling story, Snorri tells us that Odin "... sent Gevion to the northeast to seek land; she then came to Gyulvi, who gave her fertile lands. Then she went to the giant's house and bore four sons from him. She formed from them a team of oxen, harnessed them to a plow and plowed the land in the west of the sea opposite Odense, the land was called Zeeland, and there she later lived.Scyld Sceafing ... took her as a wife. So she gives us land by raising her from the bottom of the sea, working with the elements (with elementals of the elements). With her help, an empty field becomes a tribal homeland, and the god of sheaves gives a bountiful harvest. Like Freya, she trades her charms for a sacred necklace. Some say that her lover was Heimdal, who saved Brisingamen's necklace from Loki. In Old English, "geofon" is used in poetry as an epithet for the sea. But Odin attributes to her the same profound knowledge as Frigg. Gefion is the path where Freya and Frigga meet. But in Hall F. rigg Gevjon bestows as a mother does. Through its power, you achieve unlimited wealth and never feel need. We appeal to her to fulfill at least part of our needs. Its symbol is a basket or cornucopia. The ritual dedicated to Gevion includes the exchange of gifts: may each participant bless her gift, put all gifts in a cornucopia and place them on the altar.

Gefyon. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Goddess of Virtue. Known as "supportive" or "giver". As a gift from her, you can receive a bodily or spiritual talent. Having received as a reward from Gulfi an allotment of land that could be plowed by four bulls in a day, she, with the help of her four sons-bulls, dug the Öresund Strait, forming the island of Zealand.

Clay. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. The goddess who protects people from physical danger. Frigga's companion. Maybe Glossy.

Gna. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. Goddess of Transformation. Raises awareness to dizzying heights. Frigg's companion or messenger. The gna travels across the sky and sea on a horse named Hoof-flourisher / Hofvarpnir, carrying Frigga's words throughout all the worlds. Snorri says her name means take-off or tower, but it can also be associated with a word representing a horse whinnying. Gna - Frigga's ability to soar over the worlds and overcome the limits; Hofvarpnir carries her, just as Sleipnir carries Odin. She is freedom, the ability to take off without restrictions. She transfers the thought of the goddess to other worlds and returns with information. Through Gna, we contact the goddess and hear her answers. She could also be seen as the power of astral travel. She appears radiant and energetic, and her symbol is a statuette of a horse. Since Gna is Frigga's link with the world, honor her, we must also take the goddess with us from home to street to the workplace. Actually, Frigga may remain in her secret place, but through Gna she goes with us when we go out into the world. In Russian there are many endings with Gna. Maybe it's oppressive.

Yord. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Goddess of the earth, mother of Thor, the Russian God. Can be Solid, Smerd, Dirt.

Yotuny. In German-Scandinavian mythology, giants are most often humanoid. Descendants of Bergelmir are residents of Jotunheim. Jotuns, turs, in the later Scandinavian tradition - trolls, in Scandinavian mythology - giants. They are presented in two ways. On the one hand, these are the ancient giants - the original inhabitants of the world, preceding in time to gods and people. This is Ymir and his direct descendants (the so-called frost giants - Khrimturs), including Bergelmir, according to the "Younger Edda", who escaped in the ark when the gods killed Ymir, and all the frost giants drowned in his blood. The concept of frost giants includes their great wisdom. Such are Bölthorn - the father of Odin's mother, who gives him magical runes, and Vafthrudnir - Odin competes with him in wisdom ("Speeches of Vaftrudnir" in the "Elder Edda"). Apparently, the owner of the honey source of wisdom Mimir is also a giant, with the head of which Odin consults. The giant, the builder of the heavenly village of the gods, Asgard, also belongs to the same category. The Egyptians are opposed to the gods - asses not only in time, but also in space - as inhabitants of a cold rocky country on the northern and eastern outskirts of the earth (Etunheim, Utgard), as representatives of elemental, demonic natural forces. They are the enemies of the Aesir, eager to take away from their last wives - the goddesses Freya, Idunn and wonderful treasures - the attributes of the gods, for example, Thor's hammer, Idunn's rejuvenating apples. With Y. Thor is always fighting, protecting Asgard and the world of people - Midgard from them. Such are the giants: Hold, from which Thor and Loki cunningly take away the hammer of Thor that he had stolen; Humir, from whom Thor, after fabulous trials, obtains a boiler for beer; Tiazzi, who kidnaps Idunn and her apples, but is eventually defeated by the Aesir; Geirrod, who sought to have Thor appear unarmed in Etunheim, but was still defeated by him; Hrungnir, defeated by Thor and his companions, despite his stone heart; finally, Skryumir, who tried to create the illusion of failure in the trials to which the giants subject Thor and his companions (Tyalvi and Loki) in Utgard (for more details see the articles Thor and Loki). Loki, willingly or unwillingly, acts as an intermediary in relations between the aces and giants (the builder of Asgard, Thrym, Tiazzi, Geirröd). One, outwitting the giants of Suttung and Bauga, extracts the honey of poetry, guarded by the daughter of Suttung - Gunnled. Along with the ugly giantess old women (like Tryum's sister or Angrboda - the mother of the chthonic monsters Ermungand and Fenrir), Scandinavian mythology knows the beautiful daughters of giants; love affairs and even marriages with them are not uncommon among the Aesir. Such is, for example, Skadi, the daughter of Tiazzi, whom Njord marries, or Gerd, the daughter of Gymir, to whom Frey is wooing.

Idun. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Goddess of eternal youth, keeper of "rejuvenating apples", wife of the god Braga. Idunn (renewing), in Scandinavian mythology, the goddess-keeper of wonderful rejuvenating apples. Her husband was the son of Odin, the god of eloquence of Braga. The magic apple tree was cherished and guarded by three wise norns. Only the goddess of spring Idunn allowed them to harvest the wonderful fruits. From her inexhaustible chest, Idunn distributed golden apples, thanks to which the gods retained eternal youth. These precious gifts wanted to steal giants who wanted to deprive the gods of their strength and youth. Once the fire god Loki was captured by the giant Tiazzi, and in exchange for his freedom, he promised to steal golden apples from Idunn. Returning to Asgard, Loki told Idunn about apples, supposedly having even more miraculous properties, and found by him nearby; the trusting goddess went with him into the forest, where Tiazzi was waiting for her in the guise of an eagle. With clawed paws, he grabbed Idunn along with her apples and carried them to Etunheim, the land of giants. The loss of apples immediately made the gods old, their eyes became clouded, their skin became flabby, their minds weakened. The threat of death looms over Asgard. In the end, Odin gathered the remnants of his strength and found Loki. Threatening him with death, he ordered the traitor to immediately return Idunn and the wonderful apples. Loki, turning into a falcon, flew into the domain of Thiazzi, turned Idunn into a nut and returned home with her. The giant in the guise of an eagle set off after them and tried to overtake the fugitives, but, flying over the high walls of Asgard, burned in the flames of bonfires made on the walls and turned into a handful of ash. Loki returned Idunn to her true form, and she distributed apples to the sick gods. Legends about golden apples, a symbol of youth and fertility, are known in Greek mythology (apples of the Hesperides). Maybe the Witch.

Kwa; sir. Kva; zir (Old Norse. Kvasir) - in Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, a creature that arose from the saliva of the Aesir and Vanir, who performed ritual mixing of saliva in a bowl at the conclusion of peace. Perhaps he originally personified an intoxicated drink (mash or beer). Kvasir was so wise that he could answer any question. Having reconciled the Ases and the Vanans, he went to teach the people of wisdom, but they little heeded the words of the little sage. Then Kvasir went to Svartalfheim. There he met two brothers-zwergs - Fjalar and Galar. They killed Kvasir and made a drink from his blood. Everyone who tasted it at least once became a skillful poet, for which the drink was nicknamed "poetry honey". The Aesov brothers convinced that Kvasir died of his own wisdom, which no questions could diminish in him.

Lefn. Lofn. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Sanctifies marriages between people. Maybe Glorious, Alaf (Nart epic)

Logs. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the Spirit of the flame. Loki competes with him during the famous trip to Utgard-Loki.

Lodur. Loki. Loki's other names are Lodur, Loft. Maybe Crafty, Quitter, Dodgy (Loft-Backlash).

Lodur. In German-Slavic mythology, the insidious Loki could be a light Lodur and a dark Loft at the same time.

Loki. Loki, Loke. The god of fire in Germanic-Scandinavian mythology. Agni in Vedic myths. Fire is in Russian-Slavic mythology. Not an ace, but lives in Asgard. Mentioned as giving people "warmth and blush to faces." He comes from the Jötun clan, but the Aesir allowed him to live with them in Asgard for his extraordinary intelligence and cunning. Loki's other names are Lodur, Loft. The son of the giant Farbauti and the giantess Lauvey. Before the giants started a war with the Asami, Loki lived for three years in Yotunheim with the giantess Angrboda. During this time, she bore him three children: a daughter - half red, half blue Hel (goddess of the kingdom of the dead), the giant snake Jormungand and the wolf cub Fenrir. In addition, he existed for about a year in the form of a mare and gave birth to Sleipnir, an eight-legged foal, which Odin later rode. He also has two children from Sigyn: Nari and Vali (in other versions: Nari and Narvi, Vali and Tsarvi). Loki's traits are characteristic of tricksters: duplicity, resourcefulness, cunning, deceit. Loki is often considered deceitful, but this is not entirely true: the concepts of "lie" and "truth" are simply absent for Loki. He caused many troubles to other Aesir, in particular, led to the death of the god Balder. On the other hand, the Aesir often resorted to his services in cases where it was necessary to show cunning. Loki had the ability to change his appearance. So, in the form of a mare, he lured a horse (Svadilfari) from a jotun-mason who built Asgard, thereby saving the Ases from the need to give the latter one of the goddesses to wife. Enraged by the intrigues of Loki, the aces caught him and his two children, Nari turned into a wolf and he tore his brother apart. Vali Loki's guts and chained to a rock, to three stones. Skadi, avenging her father, hung a snake over his head, the poison of which continuously drips onto Loki's face. But the faithful wife of the god Sigyn holds a cup over him, into which the poison is collected. When the bowl is full, Sigyn goes to empty it, while poison drips onto Loki's face, and he fights in agony. According to myths, this is what causes earthquakes. Maybe Crafty, Quitter, Dodgy (Loft-Backlash). Loki - The Black God is a chthonic character, but besides blackness under the ground, blackness on earth and blackness in heaven are subordinate to him. Loki is chained underground as punishment for his antics. Loki's face drips poison from the mouth of a snake, and his convulsive movements cause earthquakes. Loki's daughter, Hel, belongs to the Lower World. If Midgard is considered the land, Loki is represented there in the hypostasis of the World (Midgard) Serpent. If Asgard is counted as heaven, then he, of course, is a black man among the aces, as Loft is a "sower of strife." Loki is one of the oldest gods from the older generation. His Vedic predecessor is Agni. Under the name of Lodur, Loki enters one of the Eddic Triglavs. Loki is associated with death and the world of the dead. The death goddess Hel is the daughter of Loki. Like Lodur, Loki participates in the creation of the first humans. He is "the culprit of strife. Loki influences the fate of the world, acting as the initiator and executor (distributor) of various affairs. His connection with fate, as a trickster, is justified by A. Platov. For example, Loki is the initiator of the creation of magical things, the construction of a wall around Asgard and the culprit of the violation of this The aces of the oath. He is the inspirer of the murder of Balder. The Ases have often got into trouble because of him, but often he helped them out with his resourcefulness. Loki Chernobog is associated with underground fire. There is a hint that Loki is generally a relative of Surt ( It is Loki who successfully competes with Logi - the spirit of flame (their names are not accidentally consonant, remember Agni) during the famous campaign to Utgard-Loki.The wolf Fenrir is the son of Loki.After the capture of Loki, one of his sons Narvi was turned into a wolf Loki is the vodchik of the Ship of the Dead - Naglfar according to the Elder Edda "Loki is followed by the companions of Hel" during the battle on the field of Vigrid according to the Younger Edda. Finally, Loki is the progenitor of all witches. Serpent Jormungand (Midga rdsky Serpent) - the son of Loki. The system of nine worlds was created by the sons of Bor - Odin, Vili, Ve. Loki according to "Loki's Bickering" is Odin's blood brother. In addition, "his brothers Buleist and Helblindi", and Helbdindi (Slepo-Hel) is Odin's heiti from the famous enumeration in the "Speeches of Grimnir". This is suggestive of the comparability of the triads Odin-Lodur-Henir and Helblindi-Loki-Bulleist. Loki, as A. Platov writes, is a crooked reflection of Odin. (The latter, by the way, does not prevent the wicked Loki from being a light Lodur and a dark Loft at the same time). Loki, in turn, spoils the world created by Odin, Vili and Ve (and acts here as a dark hypostasis of Odin). Loki - "evil ace", "sower of strife", "enemy of the gods", "slander and deceiver of the gods", "blacksmith of troubles". "He has a wicked disposition and is very changeable, he surpassed all people in that wisdom that is called deceit." Loki is the Black God. The opponent of Chernobog is Bel-god. Since Heimdall is Loki's main adversary, Heimdall can be called Bel-god.

Lofn. Sjofn accompanies Lofn, who "... is so kind that she begs the Allfather or Frigga to create a union between a woman and a man, even if they were previously denied this. Therefore, the meaning of the word" lof, "(permission / permission ) as well as lofat - strong praise of something by people. " Lofn can now be contacted by gays and lesbians. But the concept of "allowing" is no less important outside the realm of love. Lofn can help us to allow ourselves all those things that prevent us from fulfilling our complexes or public opinion. She is the door to freedom and access to joy. Its symbol is a golden key. Maybe Glorious, Alaf (Nart epic)

Loft. In German-Slavic mythology, God is a sower of strife. The evil Loki could be a light Lodur and a dark Loft at the same time.

Magni. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. The son of Thor and the giantess Yarnsaxa, grew up in three days and saved his father, who was crushed by the defeated enemy. Maybe Mighty.

Mimir. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology. Uncle Odin. As a sign of reconciliation with the Vani, the Aesir sent hostages to Vanaheim: Hoenir, the brother of the god Odin, who gave the first people feelings, and the wise Mimir. At first, Hoenir and Mimir were warmly received by the Vanir, but soon they came to the conclusion that they had lost on the exchange with the Aesir. The indecisive Hoenir could not say a word if Mimir was not around. The Vans decided that Mimir was not only the voice of Hoenir, but also his mind. Enraged, they cut off Mimir's head and sent it to the Aesir. One embalmed the head of the unfortunate man, then cast a spell over it, restoring the gift of speech. Subsequently, Odin instructed the head of Mimir to guard the magical source under the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. Wanting to gain some of Mimir's knowledge, Odin gave him one eye for permission to drink from the source of wisdom. Before the last battle of the gods and monsters, Ragnarok, Odin must go to the source and there seek advice from the head of Mimir.

Nanna. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Balder's wife. The Hyperboreans had the God of Heavens Anu, they also had the goddess Inanna, the foremother of the good land and steppe, the Hyperboreans also had the seven-headed goddess Nan-from the abyss, the wife of Anu.

Norns. Norns, in the Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the goddess of fate. The first burrow was the wise old Urd ("destiny"), reading a scroll of the past. The second was called Verdandi ("becoming"); she symbolized the present. The third, Skuld ("duty"), kept the scroll of the future. The Norns lived at the source of Urd at the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil, which they sprayed daily with moisture from the source. It was believed that the norns only determined the fate of the gods, giants, dwarfs and people, but could not dispose of it, although, it happened, they portended misfortune. For example, Urd told the supreme god Odin that he was destined to die in the mouth of the dire wolf Fenrir on the day of the battle of Ragnarok. There is a clear parallel between the norns, the Greek moirae and the Roman parks. The norn were probably also spinners originally. However, if the Greeks and Romans believed that goddesses spin threads of fate of a certain length for each mortal, then in German-Scandinavian mythology, such an idea of \u200b\u200bfate is absent.

One. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. Wotan (Godan) is his Germanic name. His name was also Svafnir. Father of the Aesir and the wisest of them, the inventor of poetry and magic, the god of thunder and lightning, the supreme god, the king of the Aesir, the master of Valhalla.

Auditorium. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Odr. The Slavs and Russians have a God named Oderyshek (his day is March 22, when he gets close to the back). Odradek - The creature resembles a flat toothed spool of thread. It lives in the attic or on stairs, in corridors in the hallway. The Odris-Rus tribes are well known among the Thracians who settled from the Danube to Central Anatolia in Turkey. The region of Troas and the city of Troy are known during the decline of Ararat in the 3rd millennium BC. Bed - bed - foot - pard. Obviously, the word "Rus" meant the totem of the leo-parda-lynx, the image of which accompanied the "trotters" from the bas-reliefs of Chattal-Guyuk and to the temple frescoes of Kievan Rus. The king of the Balkan Rus (Odris) Teres in the 5th century. BC. creates an independent state on the territory of modern Bulgaria, which existed until the beginning of a new era. (G. Klimov)

Ollerus. Ull. Saxon Grammaticus in the "Acts of the Danes" mentions Ollerus, who allegedly reigned in Byzantium after the expulsion of Odin from there. Maybe Oleg, Volga.

First Triglav. In German-Scandinavian mythology, the sons of Bohr. According to the Younger Edda, people were created by the First Triglav - the sons of Bor, according to the Elder Edda, the Second Triglav did it. "Song of Riga".

Riga. Scand. Rig. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. The father of people. Maybe Rzhitsa. Rzhanitsa. Rigach. Rizhnik. The Slavs have a Spirit living on strips of rye. “The Song of Riga” tells about him as an enlightener (“Rig knew how to teach them advice;”) and the founder of the three castes in the literal and figurative sense. Since then, according to the "Song of Riga", people are already being born as thralls, karls and jarls, i.e. the direction of their fate is determined by this caste (and the corresponding physiology, which is most perfect among the Jarls). At the same time, Rig-Heimdall teaches his third son, Jarl, that one cannot simply pass on through heredity, as happens with the usual occupation.

Saga. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Serves Frigga and carries out her orders. Saga (Old Norse Saga) is a goddess of Scandinavian mythology about whom there is little data. According to the Icelandic Dictionary, the name Saga is akin to "segja" (to say), and "saga", which means story, tale, legend, history. The word itself owes its origin to the fact that the first historical writings were based only on tradition, stories were passed down as sagas or legends for writing. The recorded stories were not new, they were already familiar to many generations. Storytelling was one of the entertainments at public meetings in Iceland, at feasts, weddings, etc., traces of such entertainments are even mentioned in the meetings of the Icelandic Althingi. The narrator of the sagas is called s; gu-madhr ("husband of the saga") or s; gu-kona ("woman of the saga"). (Cleasby and Vigfusson, Icelandic Dictionary). Competitions were held: who will drink more beer and tell stories. The saga, which is also synonymous with history, knows the names of ancestors and all family histories. She is probably the one who gives advice to disams and speaks through every old grandmother who keeps a box of family photos and remembers old stories. A manuscript or a golden bowl seems to me to be its symbol. A saga can be called upon to help tell or write stories, legends, etc. It helps us remember and understand the past. She is interested in personalities, families, cultural history and oral tradition. To get in touch with her, collect your family history and write them down. The ritual in honor of the Saga could be the storytelling in a circle. Light a fire in the fireplace and pass the bowl or horn around. According to the Grimnism; l of the Edda, Saga dwells on Sokkvabekk and drinks there daily with Odin from a golden vessel. Apparently, Saga is just another name for Frigga, Odin's wife. Müllengoff sees in Cage the personification of the sun's reflection in the water. In Tibet and the Mongols, there is a mythological Character Tsagan Gertu Khan, the “white-ertiated khan”. Among Genghis Khan's most revered banners was Tsagan Sulde - a white banner.

Sib (Sif). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, As from the Supreme Gods. Goddess of fertility, wife of Thor. Siv in Scandinavian mythology is a goddess, wife of Thor. From her first marriage, she had a son, Uu, the god of archers and skiers. Siv was famous for her wonderful golden hair (apparently a symbol of fertility). There is a myth about how Loki cut her hair, and then, at the request of Thor, forced the miniatures to forge a magic wig of golden threads for Siv, which looked wonderful: even the weakest breeze waving thick golden strands, and, in addition, the hair itself grew on the head ... Deciding to please the gods and leave them in their debt, the dwarfs used the heat remaining in the forge to make the folding ship Skidbladnir for the god of fertility Freyr and the magic spear Gungnir for Odin. Returning from the forge to the abode of the gods Asgard with a wig, a ship and a spear, Loki met the dwarf brothers Brokk and Eitri. They appreciated the craftsmanship with which these wonderful things were made. Loki invited them to forge something better and even bet on his own head that they would not be able to surpass the miniatures. Hurt, the brothers made for Thor the magic hammer Mjöllnir, a storm of giants. The sufferings of the beautiful Siv, who lost her thick hair at the evil whim of Loki, were identified by the Scandinavians with winter, when stubble remains in the fields instead of a golden cornfield. Sofiy, Sofia, Sif, North, North, Savir, Sybir, Siberia.

Syn. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Protects their human homes from thieves. Sin is the one who guards our borders. In Fesalir, she guards the doors of the hall and locks the entrance to those who are not going to enter there. In meetings, she prepares to rebuff those issues that she wishes to refute. "Syn" equals denial by saying no. Xing is the one who guards the doors we want to keep locked, whether they are physical doors or gates to our inner world. She is the power that allows us to understand what is true and what is not, and gives us the power to "say no" to what can humiliate or hurt us. She can be summoned to protect a home or sacred site, or to create a shield that can withstand physical or mental attack. In our meditations, she appears at the door of Frigga Hall, dressed in gray and holding a shield. Its symbol is a birch broom, which is hung on the door to ward off evil. In the ritual of worshiping her, we made our own sacred broom by imposing straw on a birch stick. Each woman, tying her bundle of straw, named the qualities that she wanted to give to this item.

Seth. Siv. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Goddess of fertility, wife of Thor. Sofiy, Sofia, Sif, North, North, Savir, Sybir, Siberia.

Snotra. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Goddess of reason, wisdom and courtesy. She is smart and reserved, and wise women and reserved men are named after her. Snotra is given in the collection "The Vision of Gulvi" "The Younger Edda". At first glance, Snotra to some extent duplicates the functions of the wise Braga, but a close look reveals a rather important function in the characteristic of "restraint": mental balance, equanimity, which is one of the characteristic features of the "Nordic, firm character" and represents in the personality assessment system, inherent in Asatru, high value. Diana Paxton, in connection with the goddess Frigga, has a capacious characteristic of Snotra: "Snotra is wise, courteous, with gentle manners." In Old Norman "Snot" is a word meaning a bride or mistress. Snotra helps to acquire those qualities, social skills and morale that are necessary for a group of people to endure the long northern winter in each other's company. Snotra's lore goes beyond simple etiquette. She is the Great Lady, in her we find qualities that allow us to overcome physical and social adversity. She always knows how to do the right thing and has a deep understanding of human character and social relationships. She not only knows the rules of behavior, but also the reasons that give rise to them. In her character we find courage without bravado, nobility - a specific kind of courage that allows people of strong character and excellent upbringing to set a good example. Its symbol is a linen handkerchief.

Surt. Surtur. In German-Scandinavian mythology, the fire giant, the lord of Muspelheim. Surt rules the fire giants. His name means Black (Swarthy). In the "Divination of the Volva" ("Elder Edda"), it is said that before the end of the world (Ragnarok). Surt comes from the south and its chthonic hordes, like the south wind, moving to the north, in the last battle they will fight the Asami Gods. In this battle, Surt, he kills the god Freyr, and then burns the world. According to legend, his sword will cut down the world tree Yggdrasil and this will be the beginning of the death of the whole world. Only the Hoddmimir Forest will remain, as this is the only place where his fiery sword loses its power. Loki is probably a relative of Loki. Apparently, Surt sat on the edge of the Earth, Muspell, where he sat on the edge of this land of fire back in the days when there was neither Asgard nor Midgard (only Muspelheim and Niflheim). Chernobog (Loki Surt, Head). In the mythology of the Chuvash, the spirit is the patron saint of the house and family Khert-Surt. This is a character of non-Turkic origin of the Finnish-speaking population of Eastern Europe.

Bohr's sons. In German-Scandinavian mythology, according to the Younger Edda, people were created by the First Triglav - the sons of Bor, according to the Elder Edda, the Second Triglav (Song of Riga) did it. The system of nine worlds was created by the sons of Bor - Odin, Vili, Ve.

Sjofn. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Goddess of love and friendship. The one that inclines hearts to love, both women and men. It is to her name that the meaning of the word "siafni", meaning affection, goes back. They call upon her when they want to attract the attention of a loved one or beloved. Her power extends far beyond passion or romantic love. Reflecting on her functions, it becomes clear that she manages a complex of affectionate relationships that women maintain family unity, including love for siblings, parents and children, and affection that grows between those who work together. Her symbol is a pink stone heart on a gold chain. Sjofn collects and mixes hearts.

Tivaz. Tyr.

Shooting gallery. Tyr.

Tiu. Tyr.

Thor. (;; rr, Thor, Thunar, Donar). Thunderman. Donar is a Germanic name. God of thunder, with his hammer plunging giants - enemies of the ases and other monsters, patron of blacksmiths, protector of Midgard. Maybe Khor-Tor, Don from the Russians. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, one of the aces, the god of thunder, lightning, storms and fertility. The eldest son of Odin and the goddess of the earth, Yord or Fjörgun. The name of the god's war hammer, Mjollnir, could once mean the word "lightning", forged for God by the dwarf brothers (zwergs), a symbol of creative and destructive forces, a source of fertility and good luck, had a massive firing pin, a short handle and always hit the target. Thor, the giants' worst enemy, had a lot in common with them. The red-bearded hero was very energetic and had an incredible appetite - he ate a bull in one sitting. Thor loved to measure his strength against everyone. His huge bronze chariot was dragged across the sky by two goats called Tangniostr ("grinding teeth") and Tangrisnir ("grinding teeth"). With a red-hot hammer and a belt of power, Thor was invincible. True, he was unable to prevent Ragnarok, the day of general doom, but he was able to rid the world of the serpent Jormungand. Thor was constantly accompanied by the fire god Loki, who usually held on to the thunderbolt's belt. In some cases, Loki's resourcefulness and agility kept the giants on their guard. Thor's war hammer, Mjöllnir, served the gods as protection from giants and possessed many magical properties: it influenced fertility and death, could bring animals back to life, and bless marriages. On the day of Ragnarok, Thor died at the hands of Loki's offspring, the Jormungand snake. The thunderer took off the ugly head of the monster and, moving only nine steps away from it, drowned in a stream of poison spewing from the open mouth of the dead creature.

Triglav II. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the Second Triglav.

Triglav One. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, the First Triglav.

Tridy (Third). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. One of the three Ases who talked to King Gulfi. Maybe one of the Triglavs.

Tours. (thurs). In German-Scandinavian mythology, giants are most often humanoid. Runa Turisaz is associated with turs. Scandinavian trolls. Corresponds to the titans in ancient mythology. Tours (giants) are divided into several genera, according to places of residence. Rime giants are the first living creatures (Ymir and his children) who appeared in the world even before the gods and people. Their direct continuation - the ice giants - the inhabitants of Niflheim. Jotuns, turs, in the later Scandinavian tradition - trolls, in Scandinavian mythology - giants. They are presented in two ways. On the one hand, these are the ancient giants - the original inhabitants of the world, preceding in time to gods and people. This is Ymir and his direct descendants (the so-called frost giants - Khrimturs), including Bergelmir, according to the "Younger Edda", who escaped in the ark when the gods killed Ymir, and all the frost giants drowned in his blood. The concept of frost giants includes their great wisdom. Such are Bölthorn - the father of Odin's mother, who gives him magical runes, and Vafthrudnir - Odin competes with him in wisdom ("Speeches of Vafthrudnir" in the "Elder Edda"). Apparently, the owner of the honey source of wisdom Mimir is also a giant, with the head of which Odin consults. The giant, the builder of the heavenly village of the gods, Asgard, also belongs to the same category. The Egyptians are opposed to the gods - asses not only in time but also in space - as inhabitants of a cold rocky country on the northern and eastern outskirts of the earth (Etunheim, Utgard), as representatives of elemental, demonic natural forces. They are the enemies of the Aesir, eager to take away from their last wives - the goddesses Freya, Idunn and wonderful treasures - the attributes of the gods, for example, Thor's hammer, Idunn's rejuvenating apples. With Y. Thor is always fighting, protecting from them Asgard and the world of people - Midgard. Such are the giants: Hold, from which Thor and Loki cunningly take away the hammer of Thor that he had stolen; Humir, from whom Thor, after fabulous trials, obtains a boiler for beer; Tiazzi, who kidnaps Idunn and her apples, but is eventually defeated by the Aesir; Geirrod, who sought to have Thor appear unarmed in Etunheim, but was still defeated by him; Hrungnir, defeated by Thor and his companions, despite his stone heart; finally, Skryumir, who tried to create the illusion of failure in the trials to which the giants subject Thor and his companions (Tyalvi and Loki) in Utgard (for more details see the articles Thor and Loki). Loki, willingly or unwillingly, acts as an intermediary in relations between the aces and giants (the builder of Asgard, Thrym, Tiazzi, Geirröd). One, outwitting the giants of Suttung and Baugi, extracts the honey of poetry, guarded by Suttung's daughter Gunnled. Along with the ugly giantess old women (like Tryum's sister or Angrboda - the mother of the chthonic monsters Ermungand and Fenrir), Scandinavian mythology knows the beautiful daughters of giants; love affairs and even marriages with them are not uncommon among the Aesir. Such is, for example, Skadi, the daughter of Tiazzi, whom Njord marries, or Gerd, the daughter of Gymir, to whom Frey is wooing.

Tyr. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. God of war, keeper of military traditions, patron of military meetings and duels, son of Odin; he has only his left hand, for he sacrificed his right to bind the wolf Fenrir. Tyr, Tyr, Tiu, Tiwaz, in German-Scandinavian mythology "the god of battle", the son of Odin and his wife Frigg. His cult was closely associated with the cult of Odin, and both were sacrificed by the hanged. Probably, originally Tyr was the god of the sky, whose powers later passed to Odin and Thor. Odin's magic spear Gungnir, always hitting the target, may have once belonged to Tyr, as evidenced by the custom of the Vikings to throw spears behind the backs of opponents before hand-to-hand combat, as well as the latest archaeological finds of magnificently ornamented spears dedicated to the "wise and bravest god" Tyr. One of the myths about Thur is associated with Fenrir. This monstrous wolf grew so strong that the gods decided to put him on a chain. Ordinary chains did not hold the beast, and in order for Fenrir to agree to put on magic chains, Tyur had to put his right hand in his mouth as a sign of trust. When the wolf realized that he could not break the bond, he bit off his hand, and the gods laughed for a long time at the suffering of Tyr. The demotion of Tyr in the hierarchy of the gods may be due precisely to the mutilation. A similar incident happened to the Celtic god Nuadu, who lost his hand in the first battle of Moyura and therefore ceased to lead the Tribes of the goddess Danu. In the last battle before the end of the world, Tyr fought the demon dog Garm, and they killed each other. In Roman mythology, the early image of Tyr corresponds to Mars. Maybe Khor-Tor, Tur.

Ull. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Not much is known about this ancient deity, but adherents of the Asatru religion find many attractive features in him. In kennings (poetic allegories), he appears as "as-archer", "as-skier", "as shield" (the shield is called "ash" or "Ull's ship"). As a skier god, Ull was repeatedly compared and approached Skadi. Ull has no myth of his own, but traces of the Ull cult have been found in Sweden and Norway. Ull, the god of winter, was the son of Sib and the stepson of Thor (son of Sib from his first marriage to the star hero Orvandil). Thus, Ull belongs to the Vanir class. Ull, Like Orvandil, Ull appears to be much older than the Aesir and even the Vanir. Some researchers identify him with the archaic god of death, revered in Norway, where many settlements are named after him. The name "Ull" means "sparkling". In Scandinavia, it is associated with the northern lights. Ull appears to have played an equally important role at some time as Odin, and it was believed that he ruled Asgard during the winter months. Ull is a skier god, patron of winter. His weapon is a bow. His consort Skadi, whose name means “shadow,” was also once the local archaic goddess of death. According to other sources, Ull had a twin sister named Ullin. In all likelihood, Ullin is the Scandinavian counterpart of Holda, the goddess of snow. This hypothesis fits well into the general system of twin deities that stands out within the framework of northern mythology. When calling to Ull, one should turn to face north. His main rune is Eyvaz, additional is Vuno. Both of them will help to gain the favor of this deity, but it is best to invoke Ullu using a linked rune consisting of these two runes. Ull was asked to grant victory in a duel, and he was also called to witness the oath. Therefore, one of Ull's attributes is the oath ring that was placed on his altar. The Anglo-Saxons honored him under the name "Vuldor", meaning "sparkle" or "glory." Saxon Grammaticus in the "Acts of the Danes" mentions Ollerus, who allegedly reigned in Byzantium after the expulsion of Odin from there. Maybe Oleg, Volga.

Undines. Undines ("waves"), in the mythology of the peoples of Western Europe, the female spirits of water, inhabitants of streams, rivers and lakes. People believed that these beautiful girls, sometimes with fish tails, come out of the water and comb their loose hair on the shore. With sweet-sounding singing and beauty, they lured travelers to their kingdom, ruined them or made them beloved. It was believed that the undines could acquire a human soul by loving and giving birth to a child on earth. In medieval alchemists, undines are the spirits that control the water element, just as salamanders are the spirits of fire, sylphs are the spirits of the air, gnomes are the spirits of the underworld. In Greek mythology, nymphs correspond to them, in Slavic - mermaids.

Forseti. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. Chairman. Son of Balder and Nanna. Forseti is the god of justice and justice, arbitration and reconciliation. resolving disputes and returning consent to disputes. Forseti is the chairman of the aces dispute. Forseti was one of the wisest and most eloquent aces. Forseti ruled in Glitnir (Old Norse Glitnir - shining, so named because of the brightest shine of silver and gold from which it was made). Sitting in front of everyone. Court.

Fjergun. Germanic Goddess. This name is often compared with the name Perkun, which to some extent is preserved in the name of the mother deity of Germanic-Scandinian mythology - the mother of the Thunderer Thor is called Fjergun. At first glance, it is far from the original "Perk-un", but, according to scientists, descended from it.

Frigga (she is often confused with Freya). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Odin's wife, intercessor of people. The image of Frigga, whose name can be translated as "love" (frigu - love in Old English), which has come down to us from ancient times, is rather complex and versatile. Not only does she seem to take no offense at Odin's relationship with other women, she herself is said to live with his brothers while he wanders, and without objection from him. Indeed, the relationship between them is mutually respectful and their only known quarrels are political. In fact, the accusations made by Loki against most of the goddesses at Aegir's banquet suggest sexual freedom. So Njord says about Freya: "It is not a crime if a woman has a husband and a lover ..."

Fulla. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Faithful Servant of Frigg. She always helps the goddesses to cope with difficult work. Fulla is a virgin, with flowing hair intercepted by a golden ribbon. She wears Frigga's casket, takes care of her shoes and shares her secrets. Nanna sent her a ring from Hel. She may be the same Volla, named Frigg's sister, Grimm assumes her as a female counterpart of Foul, which may be the hypostasis of Balder (in this case, she was the daughter, not the sister of Frigg). Frigga sends her to mislead Geirrod. Fulla is the keeper of the Northern Feminine Mysteries. She is the threshold figure that holds the visible symbol of secrets. She is the one who can open Frigga's casket and give women access to treasures, keeping it in a place where no man can see it. Her symbols are a gold ribbon and a box that she wears. She presented herself as ice-cold as the moon, with long blond hair. To understand Fulla's powers, we must consider the treasures she guards. One way is to draw a box and write the names of our own resources and abilities inside it. Or you can take a real box and gradually fill it with items that symbolize the things we value.

Har (High). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace is one of the highest Gods. One of the three Ases who talked with King Gulfi. Presumably One. Maybe Khor, Khor-Tor.

Head. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, Ace from the Supreme Gods. Odin's son, blind ace, god of winter. Son of Odin and Frigga. Known for killing Balder with an arrow placed in his hands by the fire god Loki. For which he was killed by the ace Vali before he had time to say about his innocence. On the day of Ragnarok, he will return to the world of the living and will be among the new gods who will survive the last battle. Maybe Thin (sick, blind).

Heimdall. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. The son of Odin, "the most luminous of the Aesir," the guardian god of the rainbow bridge connecting heaven and earth. Heimdall is the guardian of the gods, who lives at the edge of the world and protects the Bivrest rainbow bridge from the giants-jotuns. He sees day and night at a distance of a hundred miles and hears the grass growing in the field and the wool on the sheep. His teeth are of solid gold, and the golden horn of Gjallarhorn hangs from his belt, the sound of which will be heard in every corner of the world. The sound of his horn will herald the beginning of Ragnarok.

Hoenir. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Mentioned as having breathed soul into people. Odin's companion and interlocutor. Together with Odin and Loki, he participates in the revival of the arboreal prototypes of the first people. According to the Divination of the Volva, he will live in the reborn world after Ragnarok along with Balder and Höd. The Hoenir crater on Jupiter's moon Callisto is named after this god.

Hermod. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Son of Odin and brother of Balder, after whom he traveled to the kingdom of the dead on Sleipnir. Hermod ("courageous"), in Scandinavian mythology, the son of Odin and brother of Balder, who acted as a messenger and messenger of the gods. In addition, Hermod, apparently, was related to the underworld, since it was he who was instructed to go to Hel to ask for the release of the deceased Balder. The brave god rode there on Odin's horse, the eight-legged Sleipnir. Arriving in Hel, Hermod learned that his brother had managed to occupy a high position in the kingdom of the dead. The messenger of the gods told Hel about the purpose of his visit, and she agreed to let Balder go if all creatures and things in the world began to mourn him, and also allowed Hermod to return Odin's wonderful ring to Asgard, which he put on his finger in a fit of despair dead son... One day Hermod almost died on the way to Midgard, the land of people. Concerned about the predictions about his future, Odin sent him to a foreign land to the Finnish sage Rosstof for advice. With the help of magic, Hermod was saved and hastened to return to Asgard to calm his father. In Greek mythology, to some extent, the messenger of the gods Hermes corresponds to him.

Hert-Surt. In the mythology of the Chuvash, the spirit is the patron saint of home and family. The image of Khert-Surt is of non-Türkic origin and is apparently connected with the mythology of the Finnish-speaking population of Eastern Europe. (The spirits identical in functions to Hert-Surt with similar names were revered by the Finno-speaking peoples of the Volga region, for example, the patroness of the Kardaz-ava court among the Mordovians.) The word “surt” in the name of Hert-Surt is possibly related to the Russian “devil”. It was believed that Hert-Surt is usually invisible, and when shown to people, it takes the form of a woman or a girl in white. Hert-Surt lives on the stove (according to some myths, her mother Hert-Surt, Hert-surt amache lives on the stove, and Hert-Surt herself lives in a stable). At night, Hert-Surt spins yarn and sifts flour (the presence of mind can be detected by the noise that occurs during this process), braids pigtails in the manes of his favorite horses at the stable, and looks after cattle. Sensing trouble, Hurt-Surt groans or knocks. Hert-Surt does not like quarrels and abuse in the family; if Hert-Surt leaves his unloved owner, there will be no more happiness in his house. Moving into a new house, the owners invited Hert-Surt with them. Once a year or in several years, a holiday was celebrated in honor of Hert Surt, where small sacrifices were made to her: after the prayer and dinner, the hostess of the house put Hert Surt on the oven with a dish of porridge and cakes. In the morning the porridge was warmed up and eaten by the whole family. Young women, visiting their parents' house soon after the wedding, brought Hert-Surt gifts so that they would be accompanied by happiness in married life. Hert-Surt in the mythologies of other Turkic-speaking peoples correspond to the Tatars. iyase, yort iyase, head. yort eyyape, karachaevsk, yu iyesi. Wed also brownies in the mythologies of the Finno-speaking peoples of the Volga region and the Eastern Slavs.

Hlin. In Norse-Germanic mythology, she protects those whom Frigg wants to save, she is a refuge for those in danger. "From this comes the saying that he who escapes takes refuge (hleinir)." She appears in the place of Frigga in the following passage "Another grief Hlin experiences: when Odin goes forward to fight the Wolf" ("Volusp;": 52). Researchers generally agree that her first grief was Balder's death. Apparently, Frigga is identified with Hlin here, because in that case she was unable to protect the one she loved, Baldra, nor would she be able to help Odin when Ragnarok happened. Khlin provides personal protection and saves the victim from danger; she is a fugitive's refuge. If Sin's defense is protective, then Khlin's defense is more active, she fights for her charges and hides them from danger. She is the passionate rage of the mother, protecting her cubs. She defends against those who want to take advantage of a woman's vulnerability, as well as physical weakness in general. She is the Shield Thief. Her symbols are a blade or a shield.

Chernobog. In Germanic-Sandinavian mythology, Loki. Loki, as A. Platov writes, is a crooked reflection of Odin. (The latter, by the way, does not prevent the wicked Loki from being a light Lodur and a dark Loft at the same time). When creating a new World, Odin acts as Chernobog, he kills Ymir and violates the Order that was under Ymir, i.e. destroys the world that existed before Odin and consisted only of Muspelheim, Niflheim and the World Abyss. Loki, in turn, spoils the world created by Odin, Vili and Ve (and acts here as a dark hypostasis of Odin). Black Gods are dark characters associated with the lower world, the world of dead matter, they either come from the beyond world, or live outside our world and the hero comes to them; Their opponent turns out to be a hero, correlated with the White Light both literally (Lley - Balor's adversary has solar features) and figuratively; All of them lead by a force that opposes the Light - the world of the hero; Each of the opponents of the "whimsical character" is flawed in something. The meeting with the Dark enemy removes this "inferiority".

Eincheria. In German-Scandinavian mythology, "valiantly fallen" warriors, constantly after their heroic death living in the heavenly Valhalla and making up the squad of the god Odin. Carried away from the battlefield by the Valkyries, they spent their days in battles and nights in feasts, and the wounds they received in the daytime battle were miraculously healed by evening. On the day of the death of the world, Ragnarok Einherii will have to take part in the last battle of the gods with giants and monsters.

Eyre. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. Ac. Goddess of Healing. An extremely good healer. "In" Svipsdagmal "Eir is the wife of Menglot, Living on Luffye, Mountain of Healing, concerning which it is said:" Luffa Mountain is high, the road up is not easy, the Sick halt can help. The healthy one will be able to overcome her, although the one who is subject to her height seems to be helpless. "Her name is also seen among the" handmaidens of Odin ", the Valkyries. Eir is the healer of the gods, her origin is mysterious and is associated with her skills in shaping destinies. Like many traditional healers, she goes where her services are required, acting as a family doctor. Apparently, she practices all the traditional medicine typical of women, based both on herbal knowledge and rules of healthy eating, and on spells. In our work with her, she seems strict but compassionate, its symbols are a stupa and a pestle.The ritual dedicated to Eyr may represent the making of amulets with medicinal herbs (angelica).

Elves. Him. elf - from alb - white. In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology, a magic people in Germanic-Scandinavian and Celtic folklore. They are also known as alves (Swedish), sids (Irl.). In German-Scandinavian mythology, the lower nature spirits. In fact, the same word "flvy", only in the pronunciation of some German-Scandinavian languages. Elves were presented as anthropomorphic creatures of small stature, dexterous and agile, with long arms and short legs. Their occupations were determined primarily by their habitat. Elves living in the mountains were considered excellent gunsmiths and blacksmiths; and the elves who settled by the water were great musicians. In general, all these creatures were very fond of music and dancing. According to legend, the elves were a whole mythical people, divided into rich and poor. They could be good and bad. Like humans, they were heterosexual and could bear children. There are legends about marriages between elves and humans. Like all spirits, elves were considered endowed with considerable supernatural powers. List of Alves in The Younger Edda: Light Alves (elves) are skilled blacksmiths, wizards, and musicians. Völund - Lord of the Alves, a fine blacksmith. Beila, Biggweer, Dökkalfar, Svartalfar. Dark alves (dwarves) are also skilled blacksmiths and sorcerers. Hreidmar is a sorcerer, to whom, as a ransom for the murder of his son, the gods-ases handed over the treasures of the Nibelungen, cursed by the minion Andvari. The sons of Hreidmar are Otr, Regin, Fafnir. Gandalf is a magician and sorcerer. Vidfin is a dwarf who sent his sons to get honey from Mimir's honey source of wisdom. Widfin's sons - Beale, Hewkie. Descriptions of elves in different mythologies differ, but, as a rule, they are beautiful, light creatures, spirits of the forest, friendly to humans. Many myths and writers do not distinguish between elves and fairies. In fantasy literature, elves are, along with gnomes, goblins and trolls, one of the "standard" races. In the Germanic languages \u200b\u200bthere is a group of words like "elf": Danish name "elv", Anglo-Saxon "aelf", Swedish "alv", Norwegian "alv" and Icelandic "alf-ur", which speaks of a single root, and therefore - about the former unity of ideas about elves among the ancestors of all modern Germanic peoples. The very origin of the Germanic word "elf" is much more difficult to understand, and hardly possible at all. Some researchers associate this word with the Romanesque root "alb" - "white", there is also an opinion that it comes from the Welsh or Scottish "ellyl" / "aillil" - "shining", going back to the Sumerian "ellu" - also "shining" (Elves from early legends were distinguished by their radiance, for an example see. the Anglo-Saxon word "shelf-science").

Yafnhar (Equal High). In Germanic-Scandinavian mythology of the highest Gods. One of the three Ases who talked to King Gulfi. Presumably Loki.

Gulfi In German-Scandinavian mythology, the legendary Swedish king, originally a sea giant, who heard the stories of Gytheon about the Aesir and went in search of them; after long wanderings in the city, for his zeal, he got the opportunity to talk with three aces (Tall, Equal-High and the Third), who answered his questions about the origin, structure and fate of the universe.

According to one of the myths, when the old Danish king Harald Bluetooth (10th century) complained about Odin, who givers or takes luck in battle, the god of war mysteriously said: "The gray wolf is watching the abode of the gods." To understand the meaning of his words, one should recall one of the main themes of Scandinavian myths - the threat of death hanging over the gods and the whole world - Ragnarok. One at all costs sought to gather a squad of Einherians, who fell in battle, brave warriors, for the decisive battle of the gods with giants and monsters in the Vigrid valley, where almost all of them were destined to die. Odin himself faced imminent death in the mouth of the giant wolf Fenrir, the disgusting offspring of the fire god Loki and the giantess Angrboda. Whether Harald Bluetooth was satisfied with God's answer is difficult to say, since the myth ends with Odin, who ruled the royal chariot, threw the old man to the ground and pierced the unfortunate with his own sword.

The "Age of the Ax, the Age of the Sword" that ended with the disaster of Ragnarok may have seemed to the harsh sea wolves the ideal of life for real men. But those of them who chose to settle in the colonies and become a peasant or a merchant, still revered the son of Odin, the god of thunder and fertility Thor. Belief in the Torah helped people in solving earthly problems, whether it was attacks by local kings on peasants or overly zealous Christian missionaries on pagan temples. Thor was especially popular with Icelandic colonists, who were forced to flee from southern Norway by cruel rulers like Odin like Eric the Bloody Ax (10th century). The settlers' commitment to the cult of Thor was so great that the surnames Torsten and Thorolf are still considered the most common in Iceland. Therefore, it is quite understandable why by the end of the Viking Age, Thor in the pantheon of gods took a higher position than Odin, and remained the supreme god for a century, after which Scandinavia was converted to Christianity.

Pantheon of Scandinavians and Germans... According to ancient Germanic ideas, at the beginning of the universe lay the interaction of two opposite principles: the first of them - Muspelheim, the absolute top, the source of fire, light, the masculine principle; second - Niflheim, absolute bottom, source of cold, feminine principle. In the beginning there was the black abyss of Ginungagap, to the north of it lay the kingdom of mists of Niflheim, and to the south - the kingdom of fire Muspelheim. In the kingdom of mists, the spring of Hvergelmir gushed out and twelve powerful streams took their origin from it. The water in Niflheim turned into ice, but the spring beat incessantly and the ice blocks moved towards Muspelheim. Finally, the ice came so close that it began to melt. The giant Ymir and the cow Audumla emerged from sparks and melt water. From the sweat of Ymir a couple was born - a man and a woman, and one leg on the other conceived a son.

These were the first frost giants. Audumla licked the salty stones to feed Ymir with milk from her breasts. So she licked Storms. His son Ber took the giantess Bestla as his wife, and she bore him three sons-asses: Odin, Vili and Ve. Ber's sons killed Ymir, and from his body they created the Earth: bones became mountains, veins - rivers, belly - sea, hair - forest, skull - heavenly vault, brain - clouds.

Having created the world, Odin and his brothers decided to populate it. The gods created the first people: from ash - a man named Ask, and from willow - a woman, calling her Ebla. They built a city for people - Midgard, to protect them from the spirits of the wild, from the giants - Jetuns and from dwarfs - zwergs, gnomes, etc. descendants. Over time, the aces became more, then they decided to build a city for themselves - Asgard, for which they entered into an agreement with one giant; it was decided to reward the giant if he builds Asgard in one year; he was promised the Sun, the Moon and Odin's wife Freya. The giant was building the city with extraordinary speed, transporting huge stones on a magic horse. The gods got scared, called a meeting and at it they accused Loki of an unsuccessful agreement. Loki was forced to do everything to prevent the contract from being fulfilled. Loki turned into a mare and led the giant horse away. The giant did not fulfill the terms of the contract, did not finish construction by the end of the year. Loki, meanwhile, became pregnant three times and gave birth to three chthonic creatures: the world wolf Fenrir, the world serpent Ermungand and the eight-legged horse Sleipnir (according to other sources, the monsters Fenrir and Ermungand were born by his wife the giantess Angrboda). The swift horse was taken by Odin, who began to make daily trips across the sky on it. Once a year, December 25, on the day of the winter solstice, Odin, together with Freya, came to Earth on a magic horse, presenting people with gifts, and people, for their part, thanked God with sacrifices hung on evergreen fir trees. From this ancient Germanic tradition, the New Year celebration begins.

The most complete picture of German-Scandinavian mythology can be found in the Edda. Originally, Edda was one of the works of the Icelandic scientist and statesman Snorri Sturluson, which contained a presentation of Scandinavian myths and a description of the techniques of poetic skill. In 1643, Bishop Brignolve Sveinsson discovered an ancient manuscript containing the texts of songs about gods and heroes and found in it coincidences with a number of poetic fragments quoted by Snorri. Sveinsson decided that this work was written by the legendary Icelander Samund the Wise (1056-1133); although this opinion was later refuted, the poetic manuscript began to be called "Edda Samund", "Poetic Edda", "Elder Edda", or simply "Edda", and Snorri's book - "Edda Snorri", "Prose Edda" or "Younger Edda ".

According to ancient Germanic ideas, at the beginning of the universe lay the interaction of two opposite principles: the first of them - Muspelheim, the absolute top, the source of fire, light, the masculine principle; second - Niflheim, absolute bottom, source of cold, feminine principle. In the beginning there was the black abyss of Ginungagap, to the north of it lay the kingdom of mists Niflheim, and to the south - the kingdom of fire Muspelheim. In the kingdom of mists, the spring Hvergelmir gushed out and twelve powerful streams took their origin from it. The water in Niflheim turned into ice, but the spring beat incessantly and the ice blocks moved towards Muspelheim. Finally, the ice came so close that it began to melt. The giant Ymir and the cow Audumla emerged from sparks and melt water. Audumla licked the salted stones to feed Ymir with milk from her breasts. So she licked Storms - the powerful first man. Son of the Storm - Ber took the giantess Bestla as his wife, and she bore him three sons-asses: Odin, Vili and Ve. Ber's sons killed Ymir, and from his body they created the Earth: bones became mountains, veins - rivers, belly - sea, hair - forest, skull - vault of heaven, brain - clouds. Having created the world, Odin and his brothers decided to populate it. The gods created the first people: from ash - a man named Ask, and from willow - a woman, calling her Ebla. They built a city for people - Midgard, in order to protect them from the spirits of the wild, from the giants - Jetuns and from dwarfs - zwergs, gnomes, etc.
It is interesting that the world according to Scandinavian mythology has two projections - horizontal and vertical. The horizontal projection contrasts the central world inhabited by people (Midgard-land) to the outlying lands (Jotunheim in the east, Niflheim in the north, Muspelheim in the south). Around the earth is the Ocean, where the world serpent Jormungand lives. The basis of the vertical component is the Yggdrasil tree, connecting all the worlds with each other (Midgard, Asgard, Muspellsheim, Niflheim, etc.). In the first song Elder Edda The Divination of the Volva describes the nine worlds that are on the World Tree.
Vanaheim is a world where baths live.
Jotunheim is the world of giant jotuns, located east of Midgard (the space behind the fence).
Utgarde is a transcendental world, "external" in relation to the earthly, material world, called Midgard, it is assumed that it is located in Jotunheim.
Liesalfheim - the world of the bright elves.
Midgard - the middle world inhabited by people (Earth)
Muspellheim is a fiery country, at the entrance to which the giant Surt (Black) sits. During Ragnarok, the "sons of Muspell" will ride along Bivrest and from their race it will collapse.
Niflheim is a world of eternal ice and darkness that existed in the abyss even before the beginning of creation.
Svartalfheim is an underground country of zwergs.
Helheim - the underworld, the kingdom of the dead, the domain of Hel.

The divine pantheon of Germanic-Scandinavian mythology is divided into two camps: the ases - the highest gods living in the city of Asgard, located in the sky, and the Vanir - gods associated with fertility, and living in the country - Vanaheim, located west of Midgard and Asgard. Ases and Vans were at enmity for some time, but later.

Ases
Andhrimnir is a kind of cook god who feeds the Einheris (warriors who fell in battle who ascended to Valhalla): he prepares for them the meat of Sehrimnir's boar (which comes to life every time after being eaten by the inhabitants of Valhalla) in the cauldron of Eldhrimnir.
Balder is the son of Odin and Frigga, god of spring, dying and reborn nature, patronizes agriculture and vegetation in general. With his death, Ragnarok will begin - the end of the world.
Ber is the son of the Tempest, the father of Odin and his brothers.
Bragi is the god of poetry and eloquence, skald, the husband of the goddess Idun. According to legend, Odin stole a magic drink - "Poetry Honey" from Guttung (one of the giants), and when he reached Asgard, he poured it into golden vessels, which he then gave to his son Braga. Since then, it is believed that true talent has been bestowed only on a select few.
Storms are the ancestor of the Aesir. In Scandinavian mythology, a mighty first man, Beur's father and Odin's grandfather.
Vali is the son of Odin the giant Rind. God of vengeance.According to the myth, being born, he fully matured in one day.
Var - the goddess of truth listens to and writes down the oaths and promises of people, and also takes revenge on those who break them. She is also the goddess of love vows and marriage unions. Her name is rarely mentioned in scandinavian myths.
Ve - one of the three sons of Ber (Vili, Ve and Odin), who created Midgard, the world of people. We are often viewed as one of the incarnations of Odin. However, Loki's Bickering and the Yngling Saga indicate that Wili and We ruled in Odin's absence and slept with his wife Frigg
Faith is the goddess of omniscience. She is very wise and nothing can hide from her insight and intuition.
Vidar is the son of Odin, the god of silence, during Ragnarok he has to kill the wolf Fenrir, thereby avenging him for the death of his father - Odin
Vili is the son of Beur, brother of Odin and Ve.
Clay is a goddess who protects people from physical danger. Frigga's companion.
Gna is the goddess, companion of Frigga. Used by the latter as a messenger and messenger. Also known as the goddess of transformation, who raises consciousness to unattainable heights.
Gefyon (Gevion) \u200b\u200bis the goddess of virtue. Known as "supportive" or "giver". As a gift from her, you can receive a bodily or spiritual talent. Gevion is associated with farming, virginity and good luck. Girls who died virgins became her entourage in the afterlife. She was also considered the goddess of fertility. In addition, "Gefn" is one of the names of Freya, the goddess of fertility, love, beauty.
Yord is actually a Yotun (giant), but, like other Yotuns in connection with the gods, is considered a goddess. Mother Thor, goddess of the earth.
Idun is the goddess of eternal youth. She is known as the keeper of apples, on the possession of which the eternal youth of the gods depended, the wife of the god Braga.
Lefn - sanctifies marriages between people.
Loki is the god of fire. Not an ace, but lives in Asgard. Mentioned as giving people "warmth and blush to faces." Loki is often considered deceitful, but this is not entirely true: the concepts of "lie" and "truth" are simply absent for Loki. He caused many troubles to other Aesir, in particular, led to the death of the god Balder. On the other hand, the Aesir often resorted to his services in cases where it was necessary to show cunning. Loki had the ability to change his appearance.
Magni is the son of Thor and the giantess Yarnsaxa, grew up in three days and saved his father, who was crushed by the defeated enemy. On the day of Ragnarok, Magni is destined to master Thor's hammer.
Modi is the god of military fury. Son of Thor and Seth.
Nanna is Balder's wife. She lived with her husband in the Breidablik Palace in Asgard. After Loki tricked the blind Hood into killing Balder, she threw herself into Balder's funeral pyre.
Odin (Wotan is a Germanic name, Svafnir) is the father of the Aesir and the wisest of them, the inventor of poetry and magic, an expert in runes and tales, the god of thunder and lightning, the supreme god and king of the Aesir, the master of Valhalla and the lord of the Valkyries. God of war and victory, patron of the military aristocracy.
Saga - serves Frigga and carries out her orders.
Sin - Protects people's homes from thieves, that is, is responsible for the safety of the house and household. Xing does not have a husband and is not anyone's mother. She is a minor goddess in the legends, however she was worshiped in order to obtain her protection.
Seth (Siv) - goddess of fertility, wife of Thor. It was considered the second most beautiful after Freya. Known for her magical golden hair.
Snotra - goddess of reason
Sjofn is the goddess of love and friendship. They call upon her when they want to attract the attention of a loved one or beloved.
Rig is the father of people.
Thor (Donar - Germanic name) - the god of thunder, with his hammer Mjellnir, plunging the giants - the enemies of the Aesir, the patron saint of blacksmiths, the protector of gods and people. Some Vikings (for example, the Danes, was considered the supreme god instead of Odin). The eldest son of Odin and the earth goddess Yord.
Tyr is the god of war, the keeper of military traditions, the patron saint of military meetings and battles, the son of Odin. Notable for the fact that his right hand is missing. Tyr lost his hand when the sir decided to chain the huge wolf Fenrir with a magic chain. According to one version, Tyr put his hand into Fenrir's mouth as a sign of the absence of bad intentions. When the wolf could not free itself, he bit off Tyr's hand.
Ull is Thor's stepson. Wonderful archer. All of his arrows hit the target, no matter how far and small it may be. Ull is also the fastest skier. People also learned this art from him. Patronizes athletes and healthy lifestyles and archers.
Forseti is the son of Balder and Nanna. God of justice and fairness, resolving disputes and restoring consent to disputants.
Frigga (often confused with Freya) is Odin's wife. Supreme Goddess. She patronizes love, marriage, home, childbirth. She is a seer who knows the fate of any person, but who does not share this knowledge with anyone.
Fulla is the goddess, servant of Frigga, who knows her innermost thoughts. She looks like a young maiden with her hair loose and a golden headband.
Hod is the son of Odin, the blind ace, the god of winter. Known for killing Balder with an arrow placed in his hands by the fire god Loki. For this he was killed by the ace Vali before he had time to say about his innocence, and went to Hel. According to legend, on the day of Ragnarok, he will return to the world of the living and will be among the new gods who will survive the last battle.
Heimdall is the son of Odin, "the most luminous of the Aesir", the guardian of the gods, guarding the Bivrest rainbow bridge on the border of Asgard and Midgard from the giants-jotuns. He sees day and night at a distance of a hundred miles and hears the leaves fall, the grass grows in the field and the wool on the sheep. He is a reliable guard, since he does not need sleep at all. From his belt hangs the golden horn of Gjallarhorn, the sound of which will be heard in every corner of the world. The sound of a horn will herald the beginning of Ragnarok.
Hoenir - referred to as breathing souls into people.
Hermod is the son of Odin and the brother of Balder, after whom he traveled to the kingdom of the dead on Sleipnir.
Eir is a healing goddess, so she has no right to inflict physical harm. Eir emerged from the ninth nipple of Audumla and is one of the elder goddesses.

Freya

Van
Compared to the number of Aesir, the baths are a rather small group.
Gullveig is an evil sorceress, sent by the Vani to the Aesir. Represents the power of gold. Ases tried to kill her several times (with spears and fire), but she lives now. Gullveig herself belonged to the van and knew how to use their magic. Her appearance in Asgard provoked a war between the Aesir and the Vanir - the first war in the world.
Njord is the father of Freyr and Freya. Njord represents the wind and the sea, but, like the other Vanir, is primarily the god of fertility. After the war of the Aesir and the Vanir, he remained a hostage of the Aesir. Njord patronizes seafaring, fishing, and hunting marine animals.
Freyr is the god of summer, harvest, wealth and peace. Frey is subject to sunlight, he sends people rich harvests, does not like wars and quarrels and patronizes peace on earth, both between individuals and between entire nations.
Freya is the goddess of love and beauty. Despite the fact that Freya is from the Vanir, she lives in Asgard. There is no equal to her in beauty either among gods or among people. Freya has a magical falcon plumage that can be worn as a falcon. When Freya cries, golden tears fall from her eyes. Besides love, Freya is "responsible" for fertility, harvest and reaping. Harvests vary, and Freyja sometimes has seizures that make it permissible for her to reap a bloody harvest. Thus, Freya can bring victory in battle. In addition, Freya is the leader of the Valkyries.

In the Germanic-Scandinavian epic, in addition to the divine ases and the Vanir, there are other mythological representatives of the world:

Tours - giants, are divided into several genera.

Rime giants- the first living beings (Ymir and his children) that appeared in the world even before the gods and people. During the murder of Ymir by the ases, almost the entire family of frost giants perished. It is believed that only Bergelmir survived with his wife.
Bergelmir, the only giant who survived the murder of Ymir, became the founder of a new kind of giants, the Jotuns. The Ases created a country (Jotunheim) for Bergelmir to the east of Midgard.
Bestla is a giantess, wife of Beur, mother of the Aesir.
Bölthorn is Bestla's father.
Ymir is the first living being.
Skadi is the daughter of Tiazzi. According to Scandinavian myths, when the ases killed her father Tiazzi, Skadi armed herself and went to avenge him in Asgard. However, the aces offered Skadi to choose one of the gods as their husband as a ransom for his father. She agreed, setting a condition: the aces had to make her laugh, which until then no one had succeeded. Loki tied a goat's beard to his scrotum and rode like that in front of Skadi. She burst out laughing, followed by all the other aces. Then Skadi was asked to choose a husband. She had to choose, seeing only the bare feet of the aces. The giantess pointed to one of them, believing that it was Balder, but her chosen one was Njord
Thiazzi - the lord of winter storms, with the help of Loki kidnapped Idun and her golden apples, was killed by Odin, who made stars from the eyes of a defeated enemy.
Trudgelmir is a six-headed giant, the son of Ymir, the father of Bergelmir.

Yotuny - descendants of Bergelmir - residents of Jotunheim.
Angrboda is a giantess who gave birth to three monsters from Loki: the wolf Fenrir, the serpent Jormungand and the blue-white death - Hel.
Baugi - the son of Gilling, the younger brother of Guttung, helped Odin to get the "honey of poetry".
Buleist is Loki's brother.
Billing is Rind's father.
Vafthrudnir is a giant who competed with Odin in wisdom.
Gerd is Frey's wife.
Gilling is a giant who was killed by the minions Fjalar and Galar because of the "honey of poetry".
Gimir is a giant, with whom Thor sailed to "catch" the Jormungand snake and from whom he later took the cauldron for a feast.
Girokkin is a giantess who helped the Aesir launch Balder's burial ship.
Grid is a giantess who gave birth to Odin's son Vidar; helped Thor.
Grungnir is one of the princes of the giants, who has a stone head and heart, killed by Thor in a duel.
Gunnled is the daughter of Guttung, who guarded the "honey of poetry".
Guttung is the son of Gilling, who took the "honey of poetry" from the dwarves.
Lauweya is the mother of Loki, Buleist and Helblindi.
Kati is a giant identified with the wind.
Loki - yotun, accepted by the Aesir in Asgard for his intelligence and resourcefulness; a rogue and a joker, the cause of most of the troubles of the Aesir, Loki will cause Ragnarok and the death of the world, since he retained the malice and cunning inherent in the giants-yotuns. A cultured hero with a negative coloration, a rogue-trickster.
Mani is the moon god who controls the course of the stars.
Mimir is the blind keeper of the Source of Wisdom at the roots of the world ash Yggdrasil, to whom Odin gave one of his eyes for the right to drink from the source.
Modgud is a giantess, Hel's maid.
Mokkurkalfi - a giant, molded from clay by giants to help Grungnir in the battle with Thor, was killed by Thor's assistant Tialfi.
Mundilferi, the father of Mani and Sol, was punished by the aces for his pride.
Narfi is the father of the Night (Nótt).
Ran, the wife of Aegir, helps her husband by collecting the bodies of drowned people.
Rind is Vali's mother.
Skrymir is a giant encountered by Thor during his journey to Utgarde.
Snor is a giant identified with snow.
Suttung is a giant.
Salt (Sul, Sunnah) is the sun, sister of the month of Mani.
Tokk is the giantess that Loki turned into to prevent Balder from returning from the realm of the dead.
Trim is the thief of Thor's hammer.
Utgard-Loki is a giant from Jotunheim (Utgard), possibly one of the incarnations of Loki.
Farbauti is Loki's father.
Fjalar is the giant who will herald the beginning of Ragnarok.
Forgniet is the father of Kari, Logi and Aegir.
Hel is the offspring of Loki, a monster that personifies death, the mistress of the kingdom of the dead.
Helblindi is Loki's brother.
Hrod is Gimir's wife.
Moody is a giant who controls Naglfar, the ship of the dead.
Hraesvelgr is the ruler of the winds.
Egir (Agir) - sea giant, lord of the sea, friend of the Aesir.
Ellie is a giantess who, in a duel with Thor, forced him to drop to one knee.
Jarnsax, beloved Thor, gave birth to his son Magni.
Hrimturs is a giant who built Asgard by order of the Aesir. Loki was deceived and killed by the Aesir.

Fire giants - in German-Scandinavian mythology, giants, inhabitants of Muspelheim. They are practically not mentioned in the legends. All the inhabitants of the Tierra del Fuego (Muspelheim) are considered to be fire giants, and it is believed that no one else can live there. Lord of Fire Giants Surt. Legends say that on the day of Ragnarok, he, along with his army, will oppose the Aesir. He himself will die, but his flaming sword will cut down the world tree Yggdrasil.
Logi is a giant identified with fire. Logi is derisive, cunning and mischievous, but it can be mysterious and majestically mysterious. Logi is blood related to Odin, but they are antipodes. Wotan seeks to bring order to the world, the troublemaker Logi destroys it.
Muspell is the lord of Muspelheim and the ancestor of all fire giants, most likely identical to Surt.
Sinmara is a giantess, a friend of Surt.
Surt is the lord of Muspelheim and the leader of the fire giants. His name means Black (Swarthy). On the day of Ragnarok, his hordes will move north to fight the Aesir gods. In battle, he will die, but his flaming sword will cut down the world tree Yggdrasil, and this will be the beginning of the death of the whole world.

Alves - in Scandinavian mythology, the lower nature spirits. Initially, the alves personified the souls of the dead, but gradually their role in the hierarchy of divine beings underwent changes.
In early Scandinavian-Germanic mythology, the alves are an ageless, magical, beautiful race that lives like humans, either on Earth or in the world of the alves, which was also described as existing quite realistically.
The "Younger Edda" mentions the division into dark (living underground) and light alves (living in the heavenly palace). In the late Germanic-Scandinavian sagas about the creation of the world, it is said that the alves were created by the first aesir (Odin, Vili and Ve) from the worms that appeared in the meat of Ymir. The dark (or underground) alves were given the kingdom of Svartalfheim, and the light ones - Liesalfheim.

Bright alves(elves) are skilled blacksmiths, wizards and musicians.
Völund - Lord of the Alves, fine blacksmith
There are also several little-known ones, about which only the names of the light alves are mentioned - Baila, Biggwir, Dökkalfar, Svartalfar

Dark alves (dwarves) are also skilled blacksmiths and sorcerers.
Alvis is a wise dwarf who wooed Thor's daughter and turned to stone by cunning.
Andvari is a dwarf who owns the treasures of the Nibelungen.
Brock - helped Sindri in his work, without ceasing, fanning the fire with blacksmith bellows.
Bil is the son of Widfin.
Widfin is a dwarf who sent his sons to get honey from the honey fountain.
Galar - referred to as the manufacturer of "poetry honey".
Dwalin - Forged the Gungnir spear, the Brisingamen necklace, the Skidbladnir ship, and the golden hair for Loki, who then gave them to Sif.
Otr is the son of Hreidmar.
Regin is the son of Hreidmar.
Sidri - Forged Mjöllnir's hammer, Gulinn-bursti boar and Draupnir's ring.
Fafnir is the son of Hreidmar.
Fjalar - referred to as the manufacturer of "poetry honey".
Hreidmar is a hero-sorcerer, to whom the Aesir handed over the treasures of the Nibelungs, cursed by Loki, as a ransom for the murder of their son.
Huke is the son of Widfin.
Eitri is the brother of Sidri and Brock.

Valkyries - ("choosing the slain"), in Scandinavian mythology, warlike maidens participating in the distribution of victories and deaths in battles, Odin's assistants. Originally, the Valkyries were ominous battle spirits, angels of death who relished the sight of bloody wounds. In horse ranks, they swept over the battlefield like vultures, and in the name of Odin they decided the fate of the soldiers. The chosen heroes of the Valkyries were taken to Valhalla - "the palace of the slain", the heavenly camp of Odin's warriors, where they improved their martial arts. In later Scandinavian myths, the images of the Valkyries were romanticized, and they turned into the shield-bearers of Odin, virgins with golden hair and snow-white skin, who served food and drinks to the chosen heroes in the banquet hall of Valhalla. They circled over the battlefield in the guise of charming swan-maidens or horsemen, galloping on magnificent pearl cloud horses, whose rain manes irrigated the land with fertile frost and dew.
Brunhild is a Valkyrie deprived of immortality, a maiden warrior, beloved of Sigurd and wife of King Gunnar.
Geirskogul.
Göndul.
Hun.
Lyod is the daughter of the giant Grimnir, wife of Wolsung.
Trud is the daughter of Thor and Seth.
Skogul.
Hild.
Sigrdriva.
Svava.
In German-Scandinavian mythology, there is also a prophecy about the end of the world - Ragnarok. The prophecy about Ragnarok was spoken by a dead seer (velva), whom he had specially summoned from Odin's grave for a while.
The forerunner of Ragnarok was the death of the god Balder, and then the violation of ancestral norms, bloody feuds of relatives ("children of sisters"), moral chaos. The Speeches of Vafthrudnir (The Elder Edda) and the Younger Edda also mention the three-year “giant winter” Fimbulwinter (Fimbulwinter), preceding Ragnarok.
According to the prophecy, on the day of Ragnarok, the monstrous wolf Fenrir will swallow the Sun, plunging the world into darkness, and the sea will overflow its shores when the world serpent Jormungand emerges from the depths. They will be joined by the fiery giant Surt with a flaming sword that will burn the earth, and the ruler of the afterlife Hel, and the insidious fire god Loki, along with frost giants - Khrimtus and Jötuns. From Helheim, the ship of the dead, Naglfar, arrives. All the Aesir, led by Odin, and all the Eincherias, who are summoned by the guardian of the gods Heimdall, will oppose them, trumpeting the Gjallarhorn - "loud horn". Before the battle, Odin goes to Mimir, the owner of the source of wisdom, asking him for advice.
One will fight in the battle with Fenrir and will be killed by him, but Odin's son Vidar will immediately break the wolf's mouth (or pierce it with a sword). Thor will fight the Jormungand snake and kill him, but he himself will fall from his poison. God Freyr will fight with Surt and, having given his sword to the servant Skirnir, will die; Heimdall - from Loki; Tyr - with the dog Garm. Seeing that neither evil nor good can defeat, the giant Surt will gather all the murderous power of the fire subject to him and bring it down to the ground, thus ending the battle of Darkness and Light.
But the death of the world will be followed by its revival: the sons of Odin - Vidar and Vali, and the sons of Thor - Magni and Modi, who will inherit the hammer of Mjolnir, will survive and settle in the place where the Idavoll valley (in the center of Asgard) used to be. Return from the kingdom of the dead and reconcile between themselves Balder and his murderer - the blind god Hod. Survive, hiding in the grove of Hoddmimir, and two people - Liv and Livtrasir, who again give rise to the human race.

Each of us knows the legends about the mighty fair-haired Viking warriors who knew no fear, worship their pagan gods and conquer vast territories of other countries. To the inhabitants of Western Europe, these warriors from the Scandinavian Peninsula were known as the Normans, and it is under this name that the inhabitants of Scandinavia are mentioned in most modern textbooks. The representatives of the indigenous peoples of the Scandinavian Peninsula called themselves Vikings, and several northern peoples lived on the territory of the peninsula - the Germans, Goths, Swedes, etc. Unlike many other ancient peoples who could not divide one territory and regularly fought among themselves, the tribes and the peoples of Scandinavia have repeatedly united into powerful military-political alliances, and it was thanks to this that the Viking troops were able to occupy the territories of France, England, Ireland, Scotland and some Mediterranean islands at different times.

One of the main factors uniting the peoples inhabiting Scandinavia was. All Vikings believed in the same gods and followed similar traditions, so it is not surprising that the Norman tribes could always find a "common language" between themselves. The Norman religion was a complex polytheistic system based on the worship of deities, reverence for the spirits of nature, ancestors and mythical creatures - gnomes, alves, Valkyries, giants, etc. Both the rituals associated with the worship of deities and the myths of the Scandinavian religion are very colorful, and there is little in what religion there are as many traditions, mythical characters and legends as in the belief of the Vikings.

Worlds and deities in the Scandinavian religion

The gods of the Normans, according to belief, like people, had families and belonged to one of two clans: the Aesir or the Van. Apart from these two genera of deities stood the goddesses of fate norns , to which both people and gods obeyed, and also various mythological supernatural beings did not belong to divine families. According to Viking lore, in ancient times aces and vans they were at enmity with each other, but later they made peace, and began to jointly rule over people and some mythical creatures.

The family of the Aesir was more numerous, and most of the gods worshiped by the Normans belonged to it. The ases gods dwelt in Asgard - a fortified city built during the war with the Vani. Asses were considered deities of order, therefore, in their city, each resident was assigned a separate place - a palace, and in each palace a palace of one or another god was erected. In addition to the palaces with the Aesir castles, Asgard was located Valhalla - the place where the Vikings who fell in battle spend. Valkyries the warlike maidens taking away souls of the dead from the battlefield, also resided in Asgard. The most famous and revered Normans gods from the Aesir family are:

• Odin - the supreme god of the Aesir, the god of warriors, the sky and the lord of the dead
• Thor is the god of thunder
• Tyr - god of war and courage
• Frigga - goddess of marriage and procreation
• Yord - goddess of the earth
• Idunn - goddess of eternal youth
• Balder - God of Spring, Intelligence and Wisdom
• Bragi - god of poets
• Var - Goddess of Truth and Keeper of Human Oaths
• Snotra - Goddess of Wisdom, Decency and Politeness

Vanaheim , the city and world of the Vanir, was the opposite of Asgard. The Vans lived in this city - oldest gods nature and fertility, and after the end of the war with the Aesir, deities from the Aesir family were admitted here. This city, according to the Scandinavian religion, was a seaside settlement in the midst of nature; there were many flowering gardens, all plants always bloomed and everything planted bore fruit. The most revered gods from the Van family were:

• Freya - goddess and fertility
• Frey - god of fertility and summer
• Ull - god of fertility, law, sky and sea
• Gullveig - the sorceress goddess
• Aegir - god of the sea
• Ren is the goddess of nature and storms

According to the Viking religion, in addition to Asgard, the world of the Aesir gods, and Vanaheim, the world of the Vanir gods, there were 7 of the following worlds:

1. Jotunheim - the world of the Jotun giants
2. Alfheim - the world of the light alves (elves)
3. Midgard - the world of people
4. Muspelheim - the world of fire giants
5. Niblheim - the world of the ice giants
6. Svartalfheim - the world of the zwegs (gnomes)
7. Helheim is the world of the dead, in which the goddess of dying and rebirth Hel reigns.

Beliefs and practices in the religion of the Normans

The Scandinavian religion claims that the worlds of people and supernatural entities were created by the first gods, and three deities were directly involved in the creation of mankind: Trill who created slaves Charles who created the tillers, and Jarl, progenitor of warriors. Since the main method of extracting resources and new territories for the Vikings was war, it is not surprising that in the Scandinavian peoples the deities and entities associated with war were most honored, and they had privileges and a high status in society.

The worship of the gods among the Normans was accompanied by numerous rituals and rituals, often including sacrifices. Some Viking gods, according to belief, had favorite sacred animals, and they were often sacrificed to them; most of the gods of fertility and the elements donated grain, vegetables and fruits, but the priests sacrificed prisoners of war to the gods of war and patrons of warriors. Sacrifices and rituals associated with the worship of the gods were performed in Uppsala - the then capital of the peoples of the Scandinavian Peninsula (now this ancient city is an administrative-territorial unit of Sweden). In Uppsala, a gilded temple was erected, around which they grew sacred groves , and it was on the branches of the trees of these groves that the priests hung the bodies of animals and people sacrificed to the gods.

Like the Vikings, they believed in the inevitable end of the world - Ragnarok. According to an ancient legend, the prophecy about the end of the world, in which most people and gods will die, and all worlds will be destroyed, was pronounced by the dead seer Velva raised by Odin from the grave. The prophecy says that before Ragnarok, both the gods and people will forget moral standards, and enmity will begin in families. Then a battle will take place between the forces of good and evil, but there will be no winner in it, and the fire giants will burn all the worlds with their flame. However, after Ragnarok, several gods, supernatural beings and two people will survive, who will build a new ideal world.

Viking religion and runes

Modern, extrasensory perception and the ability to predict the future, often turn to runes for help. And the most used for this purpose are runes of the Elder Futhark , which were used to communicate with the gods, conduct various rituals and enchant things by the priests of the Scandinavian gods. According to legend, the Elder Futhark runes were mined by three powerful gods - Freyja, Heimdahl and Tour ... There are 24 runes in Elder Futhark in total, and they are all divided into three atta - families. Each atta has 8 runes associated with the deity that got them.

The Elder Futhark, the oldest rune system used by priests and then by ordinary people exclusively for magical purposes, is still widely used today. It is believed that each rune initially carries a charge of a certain energy, by applying which, you can achieve specific purpose... Therefore, even now, in shops selling souvenirs and products related to esotericism, a wide selection of amulets from the image of the Elder Futhark runes is provided, and people who are engaged in fortune-telling and magic independently make runes for themselves from wood, clay or other materials in order to use them in their work.

Scandinavian pantheon. Gods. Adam of Bremen on the pantheon of Scandinavian gods. - Thor, Odin and Frey. - Odin and Tyr. - Asy and Asinya. - Ases and Vans. - Jotuns. - Descendants of the Jotuns. - Chthonic monsters. - Loki and his dual nature. - Fenrir. - Miniatures. - Ministers and dwarfs. - Goddesses of fate. - Valkyries. - The story of Brunhild.
The medieval German chronicler Adam of Bremen (XI century) in his work mentioned the main sanctuary of the Sveons, that is, the Swedes, in Uppsala, not far from Siktona (Sigtuna). Near the sanctuary, according to Adam, a tree of an unknown species grows, turning green in winter and summer, and nearby is a spring in which the Sveons performed human sacrifices. The temple itself “is all adorned with gold, and in it are the statues of three gods revered by the people. The most powerful of their gods - Top - sits on the throne in the middle of the ceremonial hall, on one side of him is Wodan, on the other is Frikkon. Here is how their powers are distributed: “Thor,” say the Sveons, “reigns over the air, he rules over thunder and rivers, winds and rains, clear weather and harvests. Wodan, which means “rage,” is the god of war, he inspires courage in the warriors who fight the enemy. The third god - Frikkon - bestows peace and pleasure on mortals. They portray the latter with a huge phallus. Wodan Sveons represent armed, as we usually have Mars. And Thor resembles Jupiter with his scepter. " All of their gods have priests in charge of tribal sacrifices. If hunger or pestilence threatens, they sacrifice to the idol of Thor, if there is war, to Wodan, if they have to celebrate weddings, Frikkon. "

The description of Adam is quite interesting. First, it follows that at the head of the Swedish pantheon (and this is confirmed by archaeological finds - amulets in the shape of Thor's hammer), there was not Odin, but Thor: for the population, Sweden is "internal" in relation to "external" Denmark and Norway, and the sincere Thor protector was closer and more understandable than the warlike and two-faced Odin1251. Secondly, the “distribution of functions” between the gods in the description of Adam is quite consistent with the three-term structure of social functions of Indo-European deities deduced by the French researcher J. Dumézil: Thor in this case personifies spiritual and legal power, Odin - a military function, and Frikkon (obviously Freyr) - wealth and fertility.

However, the triad Thor - Odin - Freyr is characteristic of the late period of Scandinavian paganism; initially it was apparently made up of Thor, Freyr (or Njord) and Tyr (Tiwas, or Tiu, whose name etymologically corresponds to Indo-European Dyaus; from the latter, in particular, Zeus "descended"). Moreover, in the "original" version of the triad, Thor as the god of thunder and lightning, identical to the Indian Indra, personified military strength, Freyr - fertility and wealth, and Tyr - power. However, with the development of the cult of Odin and the strengthening of the “Odinic” element in Scandinavian mythology, Tyr was forced to give up his place in the triad to Odin, originally the patron of military alliances and the god-sorcerer. As E.M. wrote Meletinsky, “the transformation of Wodan-Odin into a heavenly and supreme god is associated not only with the strengthening of military alliances and an increase in the proportion of god - the patron saint of military squads., But also with the splitting of the original idea of \u200b\u200bthe afterlife and the transfer to heaven of a special kingdom of the dead for the elite - brave warriors who fell in battle. As the "owner" of such a warrior's paradise, Odin turned out to be the most important heavenly deity and strongly pressed both Tyr and Thor as the gods of heaven and war. The process of transforming Odin into the supreme heavenly god. ended in Scandinavia (starting in the Germanic lands. - Ed.). Here Odin left noticeable traces in toponymy (mainly in the names of reservoirs and mountains) ”.

Odin with Thor and Tyr, in addition to "joint membership" in the triad of supreme deities, is united by the belonging of all these gods to the main deities of the Scandinavian pantheon - the ases. In addition to Odin, Thor and Tyr, according to the Eddam, Heimdall, Bragi, Head, Vidar, Henir, Ull, Forseti, Loki, Vali and Balder also belong to the Aesir. The Younger Edda also lists the goddesses, or asin: these are Frigg, Saga, Eyr, Gevion, Fulla, Sievn, Lovn, Var, Ver, Xiong, Hlin, Snotra, Gna, Sol, Bil, Yord and Rind. According to their "spheres of influence", Ases and Asinys are distributed as follows:
Odin is the supreme god, the deity of the sky, the patron saint of military valor, the god of wisdom and sacred knowledge;

Thor is the son of Odin, the god of thunder and lightning, storm and fertility, the protector of gods and people;
Tyr is the god of the sky, war and military rules;
Heimdall - the guardian of the gods, and also (in the hypostasis of Riga) the founder of three human classes - kings, peasants and slaves;
Bragi is the son of Odin, the god of skaldic art;
Head - the son of Odin, a blind god, the murderer of his brother Balder;
Vidar - the son of Odin, "the silent god", the deity of war;
Khenir is Odin's brother and companion, with whom he revived the first people;
Ull is the god of hunting and archery;
Forseti - son of Balder, god of justice and justice; Loki is the god of cunning and deceit; Vali is the son of Odin, the avenger god;
Balder is the son of Odin, " light god», The deity of fertility, peace and beauty;
Velund - divine blacksmith, patron god of travelers; Frigg is the wife of Odin, the patron goddess of marriage and marital fidelity;
Saga is probably the goddess of divination; Eyr is the goddess of healing; Gevion is the goddess of chastity;
Fulla - the goddess of abundance, the patroness of virginity;
Syevn is the goddess of love;
Lovn is the goddess of love and mercy;
Var is the goddess of fidelity and love vows;
Ver is the goddess of knowledge;
Xiong is the guardian goddess;
Khlin is the patron goddess;
Snotra is the goddess of restraint, prudence;
Gna is the messenger goddess;
Salt is the sun goddess;
Bil is the goddess of the moon;
Yord (Fjergyun) - the goddess of the earth, mother of Thor; Rind is Vali's mother.


In addition, the sea giant Aegir and his wife Ran, the mistress of the seas, are sometimes mentioned among the gods; Skadi - goddess-skier, patroness of hunting; the sons of Thor Magni and Modi; Siv - wife of Thor, a goddess with golden hair; Idunn - wife of Braga, keeper of rejuvenating apples; Nanna is the wife of Balder; Sigyn - Loki's wife; Hermod is the brother of Balder; Vili and Ve are Odin's brothers; Od is the husband of Freya, probably the hypostasis of Odin.

According to the just remark of Ye. M. Meletinsky, “Ases are represented in myths as a patriarchal tribal community headed by Odin, in which, however, important issues are resolved at the Ting (national assembly); ritual feasts of the gods with the drinking of the sacred drink are of great importance. "
In Eddic texts, the names of three gods are often found who do not belong to the Aesir. This is Njord, Freyr and his sister Freyja. They are the gods, representatives of the fertility gods of the Vanir, who at the beginning of time were at war with the Aesir and even fought with them. The war of the Aesir with the Vanir is considered in the Scandinavian tradition the first war in world history. Victory in this war leaned towards the Vanir, and the Aesir hastened to conclude an armistice and, as a sign of the inviolability of the peace agreement, gave the Vanir hostages Khenir, who, in turn, handed over to the Ases Njord and Freyr (as well as, apparently, Freyja). As a result, Khenir, an indispensable participant in Odin's early campaigns around the world, completely "dropped" from the mythological narrative cycle, but the vans, especially Freyr and Freya, became direct participants in many events. According to their functions, these deities are gods of fertility, and Njord also commands the sea element, his son Freyr is the god of vegetation and the husband of the goddess of the earth Gerd, and his daughter Freya is the goddess of love and beauty, an expert on the magic of Seid.

Friedrich von Stassen. Asses and Vans (1914). Odin and Frigga are the first to descend the Bivrest Bridge, followed by Freyr, Freya, Thor and Loki.
Other representatives of the Van tribe are not mentioned in the mythological texts, except for the mysterious Kvasir, "half van", from whose blood, mixed with bee honey, poetry honey was made.

A special position is occupied by Delling (dawn), Nott (night), Dag (day), Kari (air), Hler (sea), Wird (share), mentioned in the Edda; From the surviving texts it is difficult to understand whether they were counted among the gods or among the frost giants - the latter, it should be noted, were not considered gods at all.

Ases and the Vanir assimilated by them live in Asgard, where each god and each goddess has its own palace and its own chambers. In Asgard, the treasures of the gods are kept: the spear Gungnir belonging to Odin, the throw of which marked the beginning of the war between the Aesir and the Vanir, and the golden ring Draupnir, the hammer of Thor Mjellnir; Freyr's wonderful boar Gullinbursty with golden bristles and the ship Skidbladnir, which always has a favorable wind and can accommodate any number of warriors; the Brising necklace, or Brisingamen, owned by Freya and which helps with childbirth; rejuvenating apples of the goddess Idunn. These treasures are the object of desire of the jotun giants, the main enemies of the deities of the Scandinavian pantheon.

Jotuns descend from frost giants, or Khrimturs, the first of which was Ymir. When the gods Odin, Vili and Ve killed Ymir and created the universe out of his body, and the World Ocean out of his blood, all the frost giants drowned in Ymir's blood 1261, except for Bergelmir, the grandson
Ymir, who escaped in a funeral boat. The Elder Edda reads:
Bergelmir lived
over many winters
before the creation of sushi:
how he lay
in the funeral boat -
that's what I remember first.

Bergelmir became the ancestor of a new generation of giants, named Jotuns, or Turses.
Jotuns live in a cold, rocky country somewhere in the east of the world (in its horizontal projection), this country is called Jotunheim, or Utgard. They are ruled by a giant named Utgarda-Loki, or Skryumir. The coincidence of the name of this giant with the name of Asa Loki has not yet received a satisfactory explanation; it is curious that Saxon Grammaticus in his "Acts of the Danes" claims that Utgarda-Loki is actually Loki, exiled by other gods to Utgard.

The Jotuns, on the one hand, are the keepers of the ancient wisdom they inherited from the frost giants. The wisdom of the jotuns is shown, in particular, by the Eddic song "Speech of Vafthrudnir", in which Odin competes in questions and answers with the giant Vafthrudnir. Mimir probably belonged to the Jotuns, with whose head Odin consults and from whose source he draws wisdom from the roots of the Yggdrasil ash tree. The wise and Skryumir, who tests the Torah with their riddles, the mudras Suttung and Baugi are the keepers of the honey of poetry.

On the other hand, Jotuns often display a feeble mind, which later became a hallmark of their descendants, the trolls. Such is the enemy of Thor Trum, such is Hyumir, who, together with Thor, caught the world serpent of Jormungand, such is, finally, the nameless giant builder of Asgard, deceived by Loki (for more details on the battles of the jotuns with the gods, see chapter III of the first part).

Over time, the myth gave way to a fairy tale, and the mythological jotuns "turned" into narrow-minded trolls who inherited only enormous power from their predecessors - and the fear of Thor, the protector of gods and people. Many Scandinavian ballads are dedicated to the confrontation between people and trolls; as a rule, people won victory in these confrontations not by force, but by cunning. For example, the Danish ballad "Saint Oluf and the Trolls" tells about the duel between King Oluf and the trolls that lived on Mount Hornelummer:

He orders to build and push from the shore
A rook of excellent rigging.
“From here we will go to ask
To the unholy power of ostracism! "

The breeder climbed the pile of goods. “The Camp of Bad Fame At Hornelummer: this mountain is Taken in a horde of trolls. For many years they have lived in the land of their Elder, nicknamed Ared. Our rooks with fellows in the rock The villain and stingy closes up. His gazes are bursting with fires. Nails are blacker than tar, Curved like goat horns, Not less than an elbow in length. His beard at the very knees flutters with a horse's mane. It is sickening to look at his claws And to see a mangy tail. "

But the king was not frightened and did not abandon his intention. As soon as the boat approached the mountain, Ared himself came out to meet the king. “Tell me, Red Beard, how did you not die of fear? Big trouble awaits you! You will remember Hornelummer! Nobody moored to our land! Here I will knock you arrogance: I will plant the Rook that dangles here into the rock with one hand! "

Ared tried to fulfill his threat, but only got stuck in a rock up to his knees. He exclaimed:
“I'm stuck in a stone, but the ridge and hands
Has not lost its strength at all.
On your own skin you will try
My valiant vein! "
The king answered:

"Lump of stone, unclean spirit,
In front of the baptized people
You will stand by the judgment day
Making no effort to anyone! "

From the start, the hag came running,
Stretching out your neck disgusting.
She goggled like she could,
Squealing: "Get out back!"
She ordered that Oluf-king
He immediately took his feet,
And he ordered her to stand motionless
And he turned the hag into a cliff.
Little trolls sitting in a hole
Grabbing the iron hooks:
"Since our mother is silent,
Isn't that unfortunate?
And if nobody else is to blame
Like a red-bearded foe,
We'll treat you with iron bars
The destroyer of our breed. "
With a nice joke my squad
Oluf the Saint amused:
With a spell he brought stone to stone
And he brought the wall to the wall.
He closed the mountain tightly
So that did not become a move
From now on from the bowels of the mountain
Neither trolls nor their offspring.
The smaller troll was raging
And he shouted such speeches:
“Lumps are heavier for us than this mountain
Shoulder happened on the shoulders! "
Brothers, propping up his tail with his forehead,

They began to plant each other, But the rock was too heavy for them: The ridges were shattered by the strain 1281.
In addition to the jotuns, chthonic monsters are at war with the gods: these are the world serpent Jormungand, the monstrous wolf Fenrir and the ruler of the underworld Hel, born in the Yarnvid forest by the giantess Angrboda from the asa Loki.
Loki, like Odin, descends from frost giants: his father is Khrimturs Farbauti. In addition, he is Odin's brother or half-brother; in the edical song "Loki's Bickering," he says:
Both of us, One, during it
the brotherhood was sealed with blood.

K. Kvarestrem. Loki and Head (c. 1890).

Monsters of the Scandinavian pantheon

From the myths it follows that Loki constantly rushes between the gods and the jotuns: he either incites the jotuns to steal the treasures of the aes and himself takes part in these abductions, then he helps the gods to return the stolen treasures. So, he cunningly returns the hammer of Thor stolen by the giant Thor, and then cuts off her golden hair from Thor's wife Siv, but out of fear of Thor forces the miniatures to forge new ones for the goddess. He deceived the goddess Idunn, the keeper of the rejuvenating apples, into the forest, and gave her to the power of the giant Tiazzi, however, frightened by the threats of other gods who began to age rapidly, he penetrates into the Tiazzi's dwelling and returns Idunn to Asgard. Together with Odin and Khenir, he takes part in the revival of the first people - and he also contributes a lot to the death of the gods and all living things in the battle before the end of the world.

Many researchers believed that the duality of Loki's image lies in his "fiery nature" (the name Loki was derived from the Logi "fire"); for the first time such a point of view was expressed by Snorri Sturluson in The Younger Edda. However, Loki's tricks and his constant desire to destroy or desecrate what was created by other gods, primarily Odin, show that it would be more correct to characterize this god as a negative version of a cultural hero, as a mythological rogue-trickster with pronounced chthonic and demonic properties. Moreover, it can be said that Loki is the negative counterpart of Odin; in some works it is argued that Loki (the deity of the trickster of the Scandinavian pantheon) is opposed to Odin, as cosmogony, or the creation of the world, is opposed to eschatology, or world destruction.

From the hints contained in the "Divination of the Velva", it can be assumed that Loki, conceiving monsters with Angrboda, was aware of the role they were destined to play in the battle before the end of the world. This circumstance supports the hypothesis of Loki as a negative cultural hero who destroys and “redistributes” what others have created.

The song "Brief Divination of the Velva" tells about the offspring of Loki in more or less detail: From Angrboda to Loki
He gave birth to a wolf, and Sleipnir -
son of Loki by Svadilfari;
another monster
the worst
born
Buleist's brother.
Found at the stake
half burnt women
heart, Loki ate it;
so Loft conceived
from an evil woman;
from here went
all witches in the world.

The monsters born of Angrboda so frightened the gods (the Velva prophetess revealed the future to the deities and predicted death) that the serpent Jormungand Odin cast into the World Ocean, and, as they say in the “Younger Edda,” “the Serpent grew so that in the middle of the sea, lying, all he girded the earth and bites his own tail ”; Hel went to the underworld, and the gods took the wolf Fenrir to Asgard to be under their constant supervision. Only Tyr dared to feed him. The prophecies said that Fenrir was born to the destruction of the gods, so the aces decided to put the wolf on a chain. The first chain was called Leading, and Fenrir broke it at once; the second chain was called Dromie, and it also did not keep the wolf; the strongest was the third chain, Gleipnir, forged at the request of the gods by zwergs from the "six essences" - the noise of cat steps, a woman's beard, mountain roots, bear veins, fish breath and bird saliva. The Asses put this chain on the wolf, and Tyr had to sacrifice his right hand, which he put in Fenrir's mouth as a guarantee that the gods would not deceive the wolf. This chain will hold Fenrir until the end of time: on the eve of Ragnarok, the wolf will break the bonds and break free.

There is an interesting episode in The Younger Edda. King Gulvi, after hearing Odin's story about the pacification of the wolf, asks: "Why did the gods not kill the Wolf, if they expect great evil from him?" Odin's answer was short: "The gods honored their sanctuary and their shelter so that they did not want to desecrate them with the blood of the Wolf, even though the prophecies say that he will be Odin's killer."

The single combats of Odin with Fenrir and Thor with Jormungand in Ragnarok, ending with the death of opponents, simultaneously mark a brief triumph of chaos and the birth of a new cosmos. In modern political and cultural terminology (model of sociomechanics), these fights and Ragnarek himself can be characterized as a metaphorical description of the "phase transition" from one civilizational stage to another.

Zwergs have already been mentioned above, they are dwarfs, skilled craftsmen, creators of many treasures of the gods. According to the Eddic myth, they were created by the gods from the bones and blood of a certain Brimir or Blain (probably an epithet of Ymir):

They met at the court, sat down on the lavas, all the gods above kept the advice: someone should make dwarfs from the blood of Brimir, from the bone of Blain; Motsognir was made and called the first among the people of zwergs, the second was Durin, according to the word of Durin and other humanoid miniatures, they were molded from clay.

True, the "Younger Edda" claims that the miniatures were originally worms in the body of Ymir, but "by the will of the gods they acquired a human mind and took the form of people." The list of the names of the zwergs in the "Divination of the Velva" is interesting for the modern reader in that there are many names familiar to him from the epic of JRR Tolkien "The Lord of the Rings":

Nii da Nidi,
Nordri da Sudri,
Austri da Westri,
Altiov, Dvalin,
Beaver, Beaver,
Bembur, Nori,
An da Anar,
Ay, Miedvitnir,
Weig and Gandalf,
Vindalve and Thrain,
Tekk and Thorin,
Thror, Vit and Lit,
Nar and Nirad

(now all the miniatures), Regin and Radswinn (named at once), Fili, Kili, Fundin, Nali, Hefti, Vili, Hanar, Svior, Frar and Hornbori, Freg and Loni, Aurvang, Jari, Eikinskjaldi; but the genealogy of Lovar's ancestors - Descendants of Dvalin by name, whose family appeared from the stone of the earth, came from the bog to the sandy land: Draupnir, firstly, Dolgtrasir too, Har and Hraugspori, Hlevang, Gloi, Dori, Ori, Duv and Andvari, Skivir , Vivir, Skafinn, Ai, Alv, Yngwie, Eikinskjaldi, Fjalar and Frosty, Fin and Ginnar - This is the ancestry of Lovar's ancestors,

Let people keep it for a century ...
Ministers live in the earth and in stones, they are afraid of the sunlight, which turns them into stone (this feature of the ministers was used, almost the only time by showing cunning, the god Thor, who dragged out an altercation with the dwarf Alvis, who wooed the daughter of God, until dawn ).

The main treasures of the gods are forged by the hands of the zwergs - the Gungnir spear and the golden ring Draupnir, the golden hair of Siv and the boar with golden bristles, the Brisingamen necklace, the Mjellnir hammer and the Skidbladnir ship. Two zwergs, Fjalar and Galar, made the honey of poetry.

In the later folklore tradition, the zwergs "turned" into dwarfs, or gnomes - tiny gray-bearded creatures, distinguished by their powerful constitution and remarkable physical strength; they reach maturity three years of age, and by the age of seven they have gray beards. They mine gems and ore, forge weapons, armor and jewelry, often endowing their products with magical properties. A distinctive feature in the appearance of dwarfs is the feet, either similar to bird paws (goose or crow), or turned upside down. Therefore, they wear raincoats up to the toes. It is believed that you can find out if there is a dwarf in front of you if you pour ash or flour on the road, and then carefully examine the tracks.
Zwergs in mythological texts are sometimes called black or dark alves, thereby opposing them, as living in the earth, to light alves - the spirits of fertility that live in Asgard.
The ruler of the light elves is the divine blacksmith Welund.

* * *
The story about the "characters" of Scandinavian mythology will be incomplete without mentioning a special group of goddesses - dis.
Diss are the lowest female deities, by their functions directly related to fate: they determine the fate of people, especially warriors. Disas include norns and valkyries.

Norns are goddesses of fate, "akin" to the Greek moirae and Roman parks. Their abode is at the roots of the Yggdrasil ash tree, next to a certain mysterious source (in the “Divination of the Velva” it is called “the source of Urd,” after one of the norns). Their names are Urd, that is, "destiny" or "past"; Verdandi - "becoming" or "present"; Skuld - "debt" or "future".

According to the Eddic song "Speech of Fafnir" there are not three norns, but much more, and they descend from both the Aesir and the Elves, and even from the Zwergs:
Sigurd said:
"Fafnir, tell me
you are wise, I heard
and you know a lot:
who are these norns,
what can come
to wives giving birth? "
Fafnir said:
"Different by birth
the norns, I know, are not the same family: some from the Ases, others from the Alves, others from Dvalin ”1311.
One of the heroic songs of The Elder Edda, The First Song of Helga the Hunding Killer, details how the norns acted to shape human destiny:
The night was in the house
the norns came
predict fate
the young ruler;
was judged that he
will be glorified
the best of the kings
will be nicknamed.
So the thread of fate
spun hard,
that shuddered
in Bralund the walls;
thread gold
twisted to the sky -
to the chambers of the moon -
they tied her.
East and west
the ends stretched
king of the earth
thread marked;
to the north threw
Neri sister thread,
in possession
giving the north to him.

As for the Valkyries, these goddesses, companions and assistants of Odin, also determine human destinies - however, if the norns do this at the birth of a person, then the Valkyries decide which of the fallen in the battle is destined to get to Valhalla, and who will go to Hel. There are twelve Valkyries in total, they have dazzlingly bright blue eyes and long blonde hair, they are usually dressed in armor, on their heads - horned helmets, in their hands - swords and spears. In Valhalla, they delight the ears of the Einherians with music and songs. "Elder Edda" calls the Valkyries by their names:

Christi Mglista
let the horn give me
also Sekirnitsa and Protyka,
Sich and Strength,
Suffering and Druzhina,
Sword Bell and Spear Sword;
a Protection and Spare, and
The Counselor is also bringing beer to Einheria.

Above are the norns spinning the thread of fate, below is the mistress of the underworld Hel.
In the heroic songs of The Elder Edda, the Valkyries bear other names, of which the most famous is Brunhild (Sigrdriva "The Sagas of the Welsungs") - the named knight of Sigurd (German Siegfried), who forgot about her, having tasted the drink of oblivion, and married the king's sister Huns Gudrun. Overwhelmed with revenge, Brunhild incites his spouse Gunnar, brother Gudrun, to kill Sigurd, and when he dies, she rises to the funeral pyre herself - and, according to the Eddic song "Brunhild's Trip to Hel", after death, after death, he does not go to Valhalla, but to the underworld.



W.T. Maud. The jump of the Valkyries (c. 1890).

The corpus of Eddic texts also contains the "Song of the Valkyries", which remarkably characterizes these maidens-warriors: A cloth is woven as large as a cloud to announce the death of the soldiers.

Let us sprinkle it with blood, firmly the fabric of steel from the spears with the bloody duck of the battle, we must weave. Let's make a cloth from human intestines; instead of sinkers on the machine - skulls, and the crossbars - spears in blood, comb - iron, arrows - pegs; let us knock the fabric with swords! .. It’s scary now to look back: look! Crimson clouds rush across the sky; warriors' blood colored the air - only the Valkyries can sing this! We sang gloriously about the young king; glory to the singers! He who has heard us will remember the song, he will tell people about what he has heard from the wives of the spearmen! Bare swords

On wild horses that do not know saddles, we will rush away.
This song, incidentally, reflects a real historical event - the battle that took place on Good Friday 1014 at Clontarve (Ireland). In this battle, the Irish ruler Brian, at the cost of his own death, defeated the Vikings - King Sigtrun and Jarl Sigurd. The Saga of Nyal, which preserved this song, tells of a series of signs that preceded this battle. So, a certain man named Derrud saw twelve Valkyries drive up to the house in which the loom stood, and, entering the house, they began to weave fabric from human intestines and sang this ominous song. Having finished weaving, they tore the fabric apart and galloped off in different directions.

In all likelihood, the Velva also belongs to the Disam - a prophetess whom Odin called from the grave to learn from her about the fate of Balder; “The Divination of the Velva” - a song that sets out the cosmogony and eschatology of the Scandinavian mythological universe - begins
The Elder Edda.

The variety of characters in the Scandinavian mythological system only at first glance seems chaotic, devoid of any structure. The central characters of this mythology, its “axis”, are undoubtedly the gods-ases, around whom all mythological plots are built. As E.M. wrote Meletinsky, “the gods confront hostile chthonic monsters and jotuns; tower over the nature spirits alves and over dwarfs (miniatures), over female fateful creatures (Valkyries and norns), over earthly heroes. The highest pantheon of gods in the Scandinavian cosmoteogony is presented as the result of the unification of two groups of gods - the Ases and the Vanir after the war, more precisely, as a result of the assimilation of the Ases of the Vanir - a very limited category of deities associated with agrarian cults, endowed with a magical and prophetic gift, a sacred love of peace ... In many texts, gods and ases are synonyms, since the Vanian agrarian mythology is subordinated to the Odinic, that is, the celestial-chthonic, military and "shamanic" mythology of Odin. "

K. Dilitz. Valkyrie (c. 1890).

As the ash Yggdrasil unites all nine worlds, so the gods-ases, first of all Odin, Thor and Loki, act as a connecting link of various events that fit into a single, expressly eschatological plot due to the "mediation" of the gods.