Norse Mythology

Son of Odin and Frigg, so fair that light shines from him. A sprig of mistletoe, overlooked by his mother's oaths, kills him and tolls the first bell of Ragnarok.

The most beloved of all gods, son of Odin and Frigg. God of light, purity, and beauty. His death, orchestrated by Loki using mistletoe, is one of the great tragedies leading to Ragnarok.

God of poetry and eloquence, husband of Idun. In Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Bragi is the wise, gifted speaker who narrates several of the framing myths to the sea-giant Aegir, and skaldic verse itself takes its name from him.

The necklace of the Brisings, a magnificent piece of jewelry belonging to Freya. It enhances her already irresistible beauty and is one of the most coveted treasures in all the Nine Worlds.

Undead warriors who guard their burial mounds and treasure with supernatural strength. They possess dark magic and can increase their size, bringing death to any who disturb their rest.

Odin's magical gold ring that multiplies itself every ninth night, producing eight identical rings of equal weight and beauty. It represents endless wealth and regeneration.

Loki's monstrous wolf-son, bound by the dwarf-made ribbon Gleipnir at the cost of Tyr's right hand; at Ragnarok he breaks loose and swallows Odin.

Vanir-born goddess of love and fertility who wears the necklace Brisingamen and drives a cat-drawn chariot; half of all battle-slain go to her field, Folkvangr.

One of the Vanir, god of fertility, prosperity, and fair weather. Owner of the magical ship Skidbladnir and the golden boar Gullinbursti.

Queen of the Aesir and wife of Odin. Goddess of marriage, motherhood, and the home. She possesses the power of prophecy but chooses not to reveal what she knows.

The magical fetter that binds the monstrous wolf Fenrir. Though thin as a silk ribbon, it is stronger than any iron chain, forged from impossible ingredients by the dwarves.

Odin's mighty spear that never misses its mark and always kills its target. Oaths sworn upon Gungnir are unbreakable, and it was used to begin the first war in creation.

The white god born of nine mothers, who guards the rainbow bridge Bifrost, hears grass growing, and will sound the Gjallarhorn to warn the gods of Ragnarok.

Daughter of Loki, half living flesh and half corpse-dark. Cast by Odin into Niflheim, she rules all who die of sickness and old age.

A blind son of Odin who, in Snorri Sturluson's telling, unknowingly kills his brother Baldr with a mistletoe dart at Loki's instigation. Saxo Grammaticus preserves a very different, non-mythological account of the same figure as a rival human prince.

The sword of Heimdall, guardian of the Bifrost. This legendary blade will be used in the final battle at Ragnarok, where Heimdall and Loki are fated to slay each other.

Keeper of the apples that preserve the gods' youth. Iðunn's abduction by the giant Thjazi, and Loki's mission to rescue her, form one of the pivotal episodes of Norse myth explaining how the gods nearly lost their immortality.

Loki's serpent child, hurled by Odin into the world sea, where it grew until it circled Midgard and bit its own tail. Thor and the serpent are fated to kill each other.

A colossal sea monster capable of dragging entire ships to the ocean depths. Its body is so vast it was often mistaken for an island by unwary sailors.

Giant-born blood brother of Odin, a shapeshifting schemer who both aids and betrays the gods, engineers Baldr's death, and lies bound beneath a venomous serpent until Ragnarok.

Thor's belt of strength that doubles his already immense godly power. When worn, it allows Thor to lift and wield Mjolnir with even greater devastating force.

The short-hafted hammer forged by dwarf brothers: it never misses, always returns to the hand, slays giants, and hallows weddings and funerals alike.

A dragon that gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. It feeds on the corpses of the dishonorable dead and represents destruction and decay in the cosmic order.

Vanir god of the sea, seafaring wealth, trade, and calm waters. Father of Freyja and Freyr.

Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld dwell by the Well of Urd beneath the world tree, carving laws and allotting lifespans; even the gods cannot escape their decrees.

One-eyed chief of the Aesir who pledged an eye at Mimir's well and hung nine nights on the world tree to win the runes.

The prophesied end: after three winters without summer, wolves devour the sun, giants and the dead march to war, gods and monsters slay each other, and the drowned earth rises green again.

Wife of Thor and goddess associated with earth and harvest. Famous for her beautiful golden hair, which was once cut by Loki as a prank.

Foremost hero of Norse legend: he killed the dragon Fafnir with the reforged sword Gram, tasted its blood and understood birds, won a cursed hoard, and died by treachery.

A giantess who came armed to Asgard to avenge her father Thjazi and was offered a husband in compensation, choosing Njord by his feet alone. She is the huntress of the snowy mountains who travels on snowshoes with her bow.

The greatest ship ever built, capable of sailing on any sea or flying through the air. It always has favorable wind and can fold up small enough to fit in a pocket.

The eight-legged horse of Odin, born from Loki in mare form and the stallion Svadilfari. The fastest horse in existence, capable of traveling between the nine realms.

Red-bearded strongest of the Aesir, wielder of the hammer Mjolnir, who rides a goat-drawn chariot across the sky and wages endless war on the giants.

God of war, justice, and law. Bravest of the gods. Sacrificed his right hand to bind the wolf Fenrir, demonstrating his courage and willingness to uphold cosmic order.

Odin's hall in Asgard, raftered with spears and roofed with golden shields, with five hundred and forty doors. The chosen slain fight all day and feast all night, training for Ragnarok.

Odin's warrior maidens, literally 'choosers of the slain', who ride over battlefields deciding who falls, then lead the chosen to Valhalla and serve them mead.

The evergreen ash at the centre of the Norse cosmos, its three roots reaching toward the gods, the giants, and the mists of Niflheim; the gods hold council daily beneath it.

The first living being, formed when the fire of Muspelheim met the ice of Niflheim in the void of Ginnungagap. Ymir is the ancestor of all frost giants and, after being slain by Odin and his brothers, his body became the physical material of the world.