Shownotes Transcript
Every Norse GodHey everyone, welcome to Mythology Explained. In today's video, we're going to take a look at every god in Norse mythology, covering all of the essentials.Let's get into it.Number 1:BuriBuri was Thawed from a block of salty ice by the incessant licking of the cosmic cow, Audhumbla. He was the first god to exist in Norse mythology. All other gods were descended from him. He was described as being large, fair, and powerful. Number 2:BorVery little is known of Bor. He was the only son of Buri, and by the giantess Bestla, he sired three sons, Odin, vili, and VeNumber 3:OdinKnown as the All-father, Odin was the highest and the oldest of the gods. He was the god of the dead, poetry, wisdom, and war. Most of the myths that centered on him revolved around his pursuit of knowledge, wisdom, and magic, often involving extreme self-sacrifice, like when he impaled himself with his spear and hung himself from the world tree for nine days, or when he sacrificed his eye to gain mystic visions from Mimirsbrun. With his two brothers, he tore apart the proto-giant Ymir and created the world, and he helped to create the first man and the first woman. He's fated to be devoured by the monstrous wolf Fenrir during Ragnarok. Numbers 4 and 5:Vili and VeVili and Ve were Odin's two younger brothers. With Odin they tore apart the proto-giant Ymir and created the world, helping to create the first man and the first woman. Once, when Odin was away on a long journey, they divided their absent older brother's inheritance between them, even Frigg, whom they each bedded. Number 6 :FreyjaFreyja was an incredibly powerful sorceress, only Odin could rival her in mastery of the magic arts. Along with her brother and father, she was originally one of the Vanir, a tribe of gods at war with the Aesir gods in the mythic past. She rode in a chariot pulled by huge cats. She loved gold and fine jewelry, and she was lascivious, having reportedly shared the bed of every god and elf. Many myths involved giants wanting to bed her or win her as a wife. She presided over Folkvang, where half of those slain in battle were sent. Her husband was Od, another name for Odin, which makes her a version of the goddess Frigg, who also married Odin.Number 7:FriggAside from having different names, Frigg and Freya were nearly duplicates of each other. Frigg was married to Odin. She enjoyed the company of men, loved gold and jewelry, and was a powerful magic wielder; she could even foretell the future. Both Frigg and Freya owned Falcon feathers that allowed them to transform into birds and soar through the skyNumber 8:FreyFrey was a fertility god, and he was strongly associated with peace; for fertility thrives where war is absent. However, Norse culture was so warlike that even gods like Frey were said to be formidable warriors. As Freyja's brother, Frey is also of the vanir. He is fated to be cut down by Surtur, the chief of the fire giants, during Ragnarok. Number 9:NjordNjord was Freyja and Frey's father. He could control the winds, soothe the seas, and quench fire. He was also extraordinarily wealthy. Those whose livelihoods depended on the bounty of the sea were wise to invoke him, and he could bestow people with abundance.