Of Gods and Monsters

Breathtaking icy landscapes, endless dramatic coastlines, captivating cities and a laid-back lifestyle - there’s an alluring collection of beautiful Scandinavian countries. However, step back in time and discover the terrific, sometimes terrifying, stories and beliefs behind Scandinavia's Old Norse mythology.

Words: Terri dunbar-Curran

Seafaring warriors who voyaged across large parts of Europe in their longships; Vikings have found a permanent place in modern popular culture. Beyond the debates over just how extreme their way of life may have been, there’s a rich mythology that runs through this ancient culture.

Norse mythology dates back to the Viking Age (c. 790 - c.1100CE). This is a collection of myths and stories, belonging to the North Germanic people of Scandinavia, which have their roots in Old Norse religion. They survived the arrival of Christianity and gradually became the folktales we know today.

In the beginning…

Most belief systems have a creation-story and Norse mythology is no different. Legend has it that before time began, the frozen land of Niflheim and the fiery land of Muspelheim clashed and in the confrontation the frost was turned to water. From those drops of water came the giant Ymir who was killed by Odin, God of Wisdom, Poetry and War, and his brothers. His body parts became the building blocks of the universe, all supported by Yggdrasil, the World Tree.

For every beginning, there is an end, and in Norse mythology this end, ragnarök, is brought about by a series of catastrophic events. It will all culminate in an epic battle between the gods and other beings, bringing the deities to an eventual end.

Gods and monsters

The one-eyed Odin is the head of Norse mythology’s polytheistic pantheon, with all the gods and goddesses therein belonging to two major clans: Æsir and Vanir. Numbering more than 66 in total, the main Æsir deities are Odin, Frigg, Thor, Loki, Balder, Hod, Heimdall and Tyr, and the most notable Vanir gods are Njord, Freyr, and Freyja. The ancient Scandinavian people venerated these gods through customs that formed an integral part of daily life.

Odin, who traded his one eye for wisdom, is widely associated with war and death. He gathers fallen warriors in Valhalla and meets his end beneath the wolf Fenrir in ragnarök. Thanks to his popularity across a vast range of sources, some of the mythology around him is complex. For instance, it is believed that his status as the Allfather may have only surfaced later as a result of Christian ideology.

Thor, the hammer-wielding god, was associated with incredible strength and a kindness towards humankind. It’s not unusual to see depictions of his hammer Mjollnir carved on ancient stones and near tombs. Thor and his enemy Jörmungand, the world serpent, are destined to kill each other in ragnarök.

Freyr, god of peace and fertility, was worshipped in Sweden, and also across Norway and Iceland, where it was believed their prosperity depended on his benevolence. Sacrifices were made to Freyr at weddings and harvest celebrations. On land, he travels in a chariot pulled by the boar Gullinbursti and sometimes on the boar itself, and by sea he sails on his ship Skíðblaðnir which can be folded up and stored in a small bag.

The Norse gods reside in Asgard, humans live in Midgard (Earth), and those warriors who die in battle may find their place in Valhalla alongside Odin until ragnarök.

Besides the gods and goddesses, Norse mythology is full of fabled creatures and monsters who interact with, challenge and often defeat the very gods themselves. delve into the stories and you’ll encounter the likes of elves, dwarves and giants. That said, while the word jötnar is often translated as giants, they are thought by many to have actually been human-sized. The gripping tales also tell of valkyries and the enormous Kraken (which you can read more about in our Sea Monsters feature on page 54).

Thor’s enemy Jörmungand, the massive Midgard sea serpent that encircles Earth, is the child of Loki and the jötunn Angrboða. r agnarök begins when it releases its grip on its own tail. Another of Loki’s children is Fenrir, an extremely vicious wolf who, as a result of biting off the hand of the god Tyr, is destined to remain gagged with a sword and bound to a rock until ragnarök. Before swallowing Odin, Fenrir will devour the sun.

Norse mythology today

With the widespread publication of Old Norse texts in the 19th century, many of the lesser-known stories came to the world’s attention, spreading out from Scandinavia to Germany, Britain and beyond. As the 20th century progressed, it quickly became a recurrent theme in science fiction, fantasy literature and even Japanese animation.

The ancient art of storytelling was pivotal to Norse mythology in the early days, and it could be said that even with modern technology and our ever-changing media, it remains so, albeit in a different form.

Apart from its enduring presence in popular culture, Norse mythology still plays an important role in Scandinavia today. There is a group of between 500 to 1000 people in denmark who practise Ásatrú, the worship of the ancient Norse and Germanic gods. It’s interesting to note that the vikings did not have a name for their religion until Christianity was introduced to them. Only then did they start referring to it as ‘the old way’, as opposed to Christianity which was ‘the new way’.

The Ásatrú movement was started in the early 1970s when a group of Icelanders decided to revive public worship of the gods, goddesses and spirits. As such, it’s not a strict continuation of the beliefs of the vikings, but rather a reinterpretation of the old religion.

From historic texts, to big screen blockbusters, epic poetic sagas and time-worn carvings, the world of Norse and Viking mythology is endlessly fascinating and complex. While we may never grasp it in its entirety, one thing is for certain, it will inspire and captivate humanity for many more generations to come.

Step back in time with Jacada

Head out on your own viking-inspired adventure. Our team of expert travel designers can help bring the world of Norse mythology alive for you.

Denmark:

In Copenhagen you can visit Lejre, a beautiful open-air museum where you can wander through a village of reconstructed houses and active workshops from different times through history, including the Viking age.

Head to the Faroe Islands where you can take a walk through the old part of one of the smallest capitals in the world, Tórshavn. You'll get to see Tinganes, the world's oldest parliament. The name Tinganes means "parliament jetty", and it was first used as a meeting place in Viking times. Also in the Faroe Islands you’ll find the small Viking village of Bøur. Here you can meet with a farmer and learn about life in the village both now and in days gone by.

Norway:

The Viking village of Njardarheim is located in Gudvangen, at the end of the Nærøyfjord. Spend some time chatting to the people who live nearby, learn about the past and even take part in some Viking games and activities.

In Tromso, you can ride on a buggy and walk through a forest to find a hidden Viking house. Here your hosts will share stories of Viking times while tucking into a home-made meal. And if you’re up to the challenge you can participate in an axe-throwing competition.

Head to Gimsøy Island in the Lofoten Islands and take a ride on Icelandic horses across white beaches and past a variety of ancient remnants of the Viking age.

Ancient ‘god house’ unearthed

As our interest in and understanding of ancient cultures deepens we’re continually uncovering new information and learning more. In fact, as recently as two years ago, a 1,200-year-old pagan temple was unearthed near the village of Ose in Norway. Believed to have been built centuries before Christianity arrived, the temple was dedicated to gods like Odin and Thor.

Archaeologists say that the remains of the large wooden building, or ‘god house’ dates back to the eighth century and would have been used especially during midsummer and midwinter solstices. Based on the positioning of the round post holes and other artefacts discovered in the area, they were able to get a fairly accurate picture of how the temple would have looked way back then.

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