List of Norse gods and goddesses
Encyclopedia
Germanic paganism
Germanic paganism refers to the theology and religious practices of the Germanic peoples of north-western Europe from the Iron Age until their Christianization during the Medieval period...
, the indigenous religion of the ancient Germanic peoples
Germanic peoples
The Germanic peoples are an Indo-European ethno-linguistic group of Northern European origin, identified by their use of the Indo-European Germanic languages which diversified out of Proto-Germanic during the Pre-Roman Iron Age.Originating about 1800 BCE from the Corded Ware Culture on the North...
that inhabited Germanic Europe
Germanic Europe
Germanic Europe may refer to:*Historically,**The parts of Europe settled by Germanic peoples during the Migration period*In a modern context,**Germanic-speaking Europe...
, there were a number of different gods and goddesses
Polytheism
Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals....
. Germanic deities are attested from numerous sources, including works of literature, various chronicles, runic inscriptions
Runic alphabet
The runic alphabets are a set of related alphabets using letters known as runes to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialized purposes thereafter...
, personal names, place names, and other sources. This article presents a comprehensive list of these deities.
Gods
| Name | Name meaning | Attested consorts and sexual partners | Attested children | Attestations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baldr (Old Norse), Bældæg (Old English) | Old Norse form is contested. Old English form directly translates as "shining day". | Nanna Nanna (Norse deity) In Norse mythology, Nanna Nepsdóttir or simply Nanna is a goddess associated with the god Baldr. Accounts of Nanna vary greatly by source. In the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, Nanna is the wife of Baldr and the couple produced a son, the god Forseti. After Baldr's... |
Forseti Forseti Forseti is an Æsir god of justice and reconciliation in Norse mythology. He is generally identified with Fosite, a god of the Frisians... |
Merseburg Incantation, Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense Chronicon Lethrense Chronicon Lethrense is a small Danish medieval work from the 12th century, written in Latin.-Themes:... , Annales Lundenses, possibly Beowulf Beowulf Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single... |
| Bragi Bragi Bragi is the skaldic god of poetry in Norse mythology.-Etymology:Bragi is generally associated with bragr, the Norse word for poetry. The name of the god may have been derived from bragr, or the term bragr may have been formed to describe 'what Bragi does'... (Old Norse) |
Connected with Bragr ("poetry") | Iðunn Iðunn In Norse mythology, Iðunn is a goddess associated with apples and youth. Iðunn is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... |
None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry |
| Dellingr (Old Norse) | Possibly "the dayspring" or "shining one" | Nótt Nótt In Norse mythology, Nótt is night personified. In both the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, Nótt is listed as the daughter of a figure by the name of Nörvi and is associated with the... |
Dagr Dagr In Norse mythology, Dagr is day personified. This personification appears in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Forseti Forseti Forseti is an Æsir god of justice and reconciliation in Norse mythology. He is generally identified with Fosite, a god of the Frisians... (Old Norse) |
"Chairman" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Freyr Freyr Freyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with farming, weather and, as a phallic fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"... (Old Norse), Frea (Old English), Yngvi Yngvi Yngvi, Yngvin, Ingwine, Inguin are names that relate to an older theonym Ing and which appears to have been the older name for the god Freyr .... (Old Norse), Ing (Old English) |
"Lord" | Gerðr | Fjölnir Fjölnir In Norse mythology, Fjölnir, Fjölner, Fjolner or Fjolne was a Swedish king of the House of Yngling, at Gamla Uppsala. Fjölnir appears in a semi-mythological context as the son of Freyr and his consort Gerðr... (Heimskringla) |
Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum is a historical treatise written between 1075 and 1080 by Adam of Bremen. It covers the period from 788 to the time it was written. The treatise consist of:*Liber I... , Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Ögmundar þáttr dytts Ögmundar þáttr dytts Ögmundar þáttr dytts ok Gunnars helmings is one of the Icelandic þættir. It was written in the 14th century. It relates the story of Ögmundr dyttr, a cousin of Víga-Glúmr from Víga-Glúms saga. He is insulted in Norway and achieves revenge in a clever way... , Gesta Danorum, various others |
| Heimdallr (Old Norse) | "World-brightener" | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda, Poetic Edda |
| Hermóðr Hermóðr Hermóðr the Brave is a figure in Norse mythology, the son of god Odin.-Prose Edda:Hermóðr appears distinctly in section 49 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning. There, it is described that the gods were speechless and devastated at the death of Baldr, unable to react due to their grief... (Old Norse), Heremod (Old English) |
"War-spirit" | None attested | Sceaf Sceaf Sceafa , also spelled Sceaf or Scef , was an ancient Lombardic king in English legend. According to his story, Sceafa appeared mysteriously as a child, coming out of the sea in an empty boat. The name also appears in the corrupt forms Seskef, Stefius, Strephius, and Stresaeus... (Old English only) |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Beowulf, Old English royal genealogies |
| Höðr Höðr Höðr is the brother of Baldr in Norse mythology. Guided by Loki he shot the mistletoe missile which was to slay the otherwise invulnerable Baldr.... (Old Norse) |
"Warrior" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum, Chronicon Lethrense, Annales Lundenses, possibly Beowulf |
| Hœnir Hœnir In Norse mythology, Hœnir is one of the Æsir. He is mentioned as the one who helped Odin to create humans.- Attestations :In Ynglinga saga, along with Mímir, he went to the Vanir as a hostage to seal a truce after the Æsir-Vanir War... (Old Norse) |
Contested | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry |
| Lóðurr Lóðurr Lóðurr is a god in Norse mythology. In the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá he is assigned a role in animating the first humans, but apart from that he is hardly ever mentioned, and remains obscure. Scholars have variously identified him with Loki, Vé, Vili and Freyr, but consensus has not been reached on... (Old Norse) |
Contested | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, skaldic poetry |
| Loki Loki In Norse mythology, Loki or Loke is a god or jötunn . Loki is the son of Fárbauti and Laufey, and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. By the jötunn Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr. By his wife Sigyn, Loki is the father of Nari or Narfi... (Old Norse) |
Contested | Sigyn Sigyn Sigyn is a goddess and wife of Loki in Norse mythology. Sigyn is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... , Angrboda Angrboda In Norse mythology, Angrboða is a female jötunn . In the Poetic Edda, Angrboða is mentioned only in Völuspá hin skamma as the mother of Fenrir by Loki. However, she is also mother of Fenrir's siblings, Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent, and Hel... |
Nari/Narfi Narfi Narfi in Norse mythology may refer to the son of Loki or the father of Nótt, the personified night.-Son of Loki:In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Narfi, also known as Nari or Narvi, is a son of Loki and Sigyn who is killed to punish Loki for his crimes. The gods turned his brother Váli into a... , Váli Váli (son of Loki) In Norse mythology, Váli was a son of Loki. He is mentioned in the Gylfaginning section of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda. After the death of Baldr the Æsir chase down and capture Loki.... , Fenrir, Hel Hel (being) In Norse mythology, Hel is a being who presides over a realm of the same name, where she receives a portion of the dead. Hel is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... , Jormungandr Jörmungandr In Norse mythology, Jörmungandr , mostly known as Jormungand, orJörmungand , or Midgard Serpent , or World Serpent, is a sea serpent, and the middle child of the giantess Angrboða and the god Loki... , and Sleipnir Sleipnir In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is an eight-legged horse. Sleipnir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Loka Táttur Loka Táttur Loka Táttur or Lokka Táttur is a Faroese ballad which is a rare example of the occurrence of Norse gods in folklore.The ballad probably dates back to the late Middle Ages... , Norwegian rune poem Rune poem The Rune Poems are three poems that list the letters of runic alphabets while providing an explanatory poetic stanza for each letter. Three different poems have been preserved: the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem, the Norwegian Rune Poem, and the Icelandic Rune Poem.The Icelandic and Norwegian poems list 16... , Danish folk tales |
| Meili Meili In Norse mythology, Meili is a god, son of the god Odin and brother of the god Thor. Meili is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... (Old Norse) |
"the lovely one" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Njörðr (Old Norse) | Contested | Once unnamed sister, once Skaði Skaði In Norse mythology, Skaði is a jötunn and goddess associated with bowhunting, skiing, winter, and mountains... |
Freyr, Freyja | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla, Egils saga, Hauksbók ring oath, place names |
| Odin Odin Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz".... : Óðinn (North Germanic), Wōden Woden Woden or Wodan is a major deity of Anglo-Saxon and Continental Germanic polytheism. Together with his Norse counterpart Odin, Woden represents a development of the Proto-Germanic god *Wōdanaz.... (West Germanic), *Wōdanaz Wodanaz or is the reconstructed Proto-Germanic name of a god of Germanic paganism, known as in Norse mythology, in Old English, or in Old High German and in Lombardic... (Proto-Germanic) (see List of names of Odin for more) |
"Frenzy" | Frigg Frigg Frigg is a major goddess in Norse paganism, a subset of Germanic paganism. She is said to be the wife of Odin, and is the "foremost among the goddesses" and the queen of Asgard. Frigg appears primarily in Norse mythological stories as a wife and a mother. She is also described as having the power... (consort), Skaði Skaði In Norse mythology, Skaði is a jötunn and goddess associated with bowhunting, skiing, winter, and mountains... (Heimskringla only), Gunnlöð, Jörð Jörð In Norse mythology, Jörð and also called Jarð as in Old East Norse, is a female jötunn. She is the mother of Thor and Meili, and the personification of the Earth. Fjörgyn and Hlôdyn are considered to be other names for Jörð... , Rindr Rindr Rindr or Rinda is a female character in Old Norse mythology, alternatively described as a giantess, a goddess or a human princess from the east... |
See Sons of Odin Sons of Odin Various gods and men appear as Sons of Odin or Sons of Wodan/Wotan or Sons of Woden in old Old Norse and Old High German and Old English texts.-Thor, Baldur, and Váli:... |
Most attestations of Germanic paganism |
| Óðr Óðr In Norse mythology, Óðr or Óð, sometimes angliziced as Odr or Od, is a figure associated with the major goddess Freyja... (Old Norse) |
"The frenzied one" | Freyja | Hnoss Hnoss In Norse mythology, Hnoss is the daughter of Freyja and Óðr, and sister of Gersemi.-References:* Orchard, Andy . Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2... , Gersemi Gersemi In Norse mythology, Gersemi is the daughter of Freyja and Óðr, and sister of Hnoss.-References:* Orchard, Andy . Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Saxnōt (Old Saxon Old Saxon Old Saxon, also known as Old Low German, is the earliest recorded form of Low German, documented from the 8th century until the 12th century, when it evolved into Middle Low German. It was spoken on the north-west coast of Germany and in the Netherlands by Saxon peoples... ), Seaxnet, Seaxnēat, Saxnat (Old English) |
Contested | None attested | None attested | Old Saxon Baptismal Vow, Old English royal genealogies |
| Thor Thor In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility... : Þórr (North Germanic), Þunor (Old English), Thunaer (Old Saxon), Donar (Southern Germanic areas) |
"Thunder Thunder Thunder is the sound made by lightning. Depending on the nature of the lightning and distance of the listener, thunder can range from a sharp, loud crack to a long, low rumble . The sudden increase in pressure and temperature from lightning produces rapid expansion of the air surrounding and within... ", all names stem from Proto-Germanic *ÞunraR |
Sif Sif In Norse mythology, Sif is a goddess associated with earth. Sif is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in the poetry of skalds... (consort), Járnsaxa Jarnsaxa In Norse mythology, Járnsaxa is a jötunn. According to Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, she was Thor's lover. By him she was the mother of Magni. According to the Poetic Edda poem Hyndluljóð, Járnsaxa is the name of one of the Nine Mothers of Heimdallr.-References:*Orchard, Andy . Dictionary of... |
Móði and Magni Móði and Magni In Norse mythology, Móði and Magni are the sons of Thor. Their names mean "Angry" and "Strong," respectively. Rudolf Simek states that, along with Thor's daughter Þrúðr , they embody their father's features.... , Þrúðr |
Most attestations of Germanic paganism |
| Týr (Old Norse), Tīw, Tīg (both Old English), Ziu (Old High German) | "God", derived from Proto-Germanic *Tīwaz Dyeus *Dyēus is the reconstructed chief deity of the Proto-Indo-European pantheon. He was the god of the daylight sky, and his position may have mirrored the position of the patriarch or monarch in society.... |
Unnamed, possibly Zisa Zisa (goddess) Zisa or Cisa is a goddess in Germanic paganism associated with the Suevi in the area of Augsburg, Germany. Zisa is mentioned in manuscripts from the 12th to 14th centuries which reference a victory against the Roman Empire attributed to the goddess... |
None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry, Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain. Begun in AD 122, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was the first of two fortifications built across Great Britain, the second being the Antonine Wall, lesser known of the two because its physical remains are less evident today.The... altar |
| Ullr Ullr In early Germanic paganism, *Wulþuz appears to have been a major god, or an epithet of an important god, in prehistoric times.... (Old Norse) |
Something like "Glory" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry, Gesta Danorum, Thorsberg chape Thorsberg chape The Thorsberg chape , is an archeological find from the Thorsberg moor, Germany, that appears to have been deposited as a votive offering... , toponyms in Norway and Sweden |
| Váli Vali Vali or Wali can refer to:* Váli * Váli* Vali * The Vali tribe, a Sarmatian tribe of Ptolemy* Ferenc A. Váli, Hungarian-born lawyer, author and political analyst* Al-Walee, one of the Names of God in the Qur'an... (Old Norse) |
Something like "battle-slain" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum (as Bous) |
| Viðarr (Old Norse) | Possibly "wide ruler" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Vé Vili and Vé In Norse mythology, Vili and Vé are the brothers of Óðinn , sons of Bestla daughter of Bölþorn and Borr son of Búri:Old Norse Vili means "will"... (Old Norse) |
Vé (shrine) Vé (shrine) In Germanic paganism, a vé or wēoh is a type of shrine or sacred enclosure. The term appears in skaldic poetry and in place names in Scandinavia , often in connection with a Norse deity or a geographic feature. The name of the Norse god Vé, refers to the practice... |
Possibly Frigg | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Vili Vili and Vé In Norse mythology, Vili and Vé are the brothers of Óðinn , sons of Bestla daughter of Bölþorn and Borr son of Búri:Old Norse Vili means "will"... (Old Norse) |
"Will Will (philosophy) Will, in philosophical discussions, consonant with a common English usage, refers to a property of the mind, and an attribute of acts intentionally performed. Actions made according to a person's will are called "willing" or "voluntary" and sometimes pejoratively "willful"... " |
Possibly Frigg | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
Goddesses
| Name | Name meaning | Attested consorts and sexual partners | Attested children | Attestations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baduhenna Baduhenna In Germanic paganism, Baduhenna is a goddess. Baduhenna is solely attested by Tacitus' Annals where Tacitus records that a grove in Frisia was dedicated to her, and that near this grove 900 Roman prisoners were killed in 28 CE.... (Latinized Germanic) |
Badu-, may be cognate to Proto-Germanic *badwa- meaning "battle." The second portion of the name -henna may be related to -henae, which appears commonly in the names of matrons. | None attested | None attested | Tacitus' Annals Annals (Tacitus) The Annals by Tacitus is a history of the reigns of the four Roman Emperors succeeding Caesar Augustus. The surviving parts of the Annals extensively cover most of the reigns of Tiberius and Nero. The title Annals was probably not given by Tacitus, but derives from the fact that he treated this... |
| Bil Hjúki and Bil In Norse mythology, Hjúki and Bil are a brother and sister pair of children who follow the personified moon, Máni, across the heavens. Both Hjúki and Bil are solely attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... (Old Norse) |
Contested | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda |
| Beyla Beyla Beyla is one of Freyr's servants along with her husband, Byggvir, in Norse mythology. Beyla is mentioned in stanzas 55, 66, and the prose introduction to the Poetic Edda poem Lokasenna. Since this is the only mention of Beyla, scholars have turned to the etymology of Beyla's name for additional... (Old Norse) |
Proposed as related to "cow," "bean," or "bee." | Byggvir Byggvir Byggvir is a figure in Norse mythology. The only surviving mention of Byggvir appears in the prose beginning of Lokasenna, and stanzas 55 through 56 of the same poem, where he is referred to as one of Freyr's servants and as the husband of Beyla.... |
None attested | Poetic Edda Poetic Edda The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems primarily preserved in the Icelandic mediaeval manuscript Codex Regius. Along with Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, the Poetic Edda is the most important extant source on Norse mythology and Germanic heroic legends, and from the early 19th century... |
| Eir Eir In Norse mythology, Eir is a goddess and/or valkyrie associated with medical skill. Eir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources; the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and in skaldic poetry, including a runic... (Old Norse) |
"Peace, clemency" or "help, mercy" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Eostre Eostre Old English Ēostre and Old High German Ôstarâ are the names of a Germanic goddess whose Anglo-Saxon month, Ēostur-monath , has given its name to the festival of Easter... (Old English) |
"East" | None attested | None attested | De temporum ratione De temporum ratione The Reckoning of Time is an Anglo-Saxon era treatise written in Latin by the Northumbrian monk Bede in 725. The treatise includes an introduction to the traditional ancient and medieval view of the cosmos, including an explanation of how the spherical earth influenced the changing length of... |
| Freyja (Old Norse) | "Lady" | Óðr Óðr In Norse mythology, Óðr or Óð, sometimes angliziced as Odr or Od, is a figure associated with the major goddess Freyja... |
Hnoss Hnoss In Norse mythology, Hnoss is the daughter of Freyja and Óðr, and sister of Gersemi.-References:* Orchard, Andy . Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2... , Gersemi Gersemi In Norse mythology, Gersemi is the daughter of Freyja and Óðr, and sister of Hnoss.-References:* Orchard, Andy . Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla Heimskringla Heimskringla is the best known of the Old Norse kings' sagas. It was written in Old Norse in Iceland by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson ca. 1230... , Sörla þáttr Sörla þáttr Sörla þáttr is a short narrative from a later and extended version of the Saga of Olaf Tryggvason found in the Flateyjarbók manuscript, which was written and compiled by two Christian priests, Jon Thordson and Magnus Thorhalson, in the late 14th century.The narrative begins 24 years after the death... |
| Frigg Frigg Frigg is a major goddess in Norse paganism, a subset of Germanic paganism. She is said to be the wife of Odin, and is the "foremost among the goddesses" and the queen of Asgard. Frigg appears primarily in Norse mythological stories as a wife and a mother. She is also described as having the power... (Old Norse) |
Derived from Indo-European Indo-European languages The Indo-European languages are a family of several hundred related languages and dialects, including most major current languages of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and South Asia and also historically predominant in Anatolia... root meaning "Love" |
Odin Odin Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz".... |
Baldr, Höðr Höðr Höðr is the brother of Baldr in Norse mythology. Guided by Loki he shot the mistletoe missile which was to slay the otherwise invulnerable Baldr.... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum Gesta Danorum Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history... , Historia Langobardorum |
| Fulla Fulla In Germanic mythology, Fulla or Volla is a goddess. In Norse mythology, Fulla is described as wearing a golden snood and as tending to the ashen box and the footwear owned by the goddess Frigg, and, in addition, Frigg confides in Fulla her secrets... (Old Norse) |
Possibly "bountiful" | None attested | None attested | Merseburg Incantations Merseburg Incantations The Merseburg Incantations are two medieval magic spells, charms or incantations, written in Old High German. They are the only known examples of Germanic pagan belief preserved in this language... , Prose Edda |
| Gefjun (Old Norse) | Related to "giving" | Skjöldr Skjöldr Skjöldr was among the first legendary Danish kings. He is mentioned in the Prose Edda, in Ynglinga saga, in Chronicon Lethrense, in Sven Aggesen's history, in Arngrímur Jónsson's Latin abstract of the lost Skjöldunga saga and in Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum... , unnamed jötunn |
Four ox Ox An ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable... en |
Prose Edda, Ynglinga saga, Völsa þáttr Völsa þáttr Vǫlsa þáttr is a short story which is only extant in the Flatey Book, where it is found in a chapter of Óláfs saga helga. It is probably from the fourteenth century but takes place in 1029 when Scandinavia was still largely pagan, and it appears to preserve traditions of a pagan phallos cult, the... , |
| Gersemi Gersemi In Norse mythology, Gersemi is the daughter of Freyja and Óðr, and sister of Hnoss.-References:* Orchard, Andy . Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2... (Old Norse) |
"Treasure, precious object" | None attested | None attested | Heimskringla |
| Gerðr (Old Norse) | "Fenced in" | Freyr Freyr Freyr is one of the most important gods of Norse paganism. Freyr was highly associated with farming, weather and, as a phallic fertility god, Freyr "bestows peace and pleasure on mortals"... |
Fjölnir Fjölnir In Norse mythology, Fjölnir, Fjölner, Fjolner or Fjolne was a Swedish king of the House of Yngling, at Gamla Uppsala. Fjölnir appears in a semi-mythological context as the son of Freyr and his consort Gerðr... (Heimskringla) |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Heimskringla |
| Gná Gná In Norse mythology, Gná is a goddess who runs errands in other worlds for the goddess Frigg and rides the flying, sea-treading horse Hófvarpnir . Gná and Hófvarpnir are attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... (Old Norse) |
Possibly related to Old Norse Gnæfa meaning "to project" | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda |
| Gullveig Gullveig In Norse mythology, Gullveig is a being who was speared by the Æsir, burnt three times, and yet thrice reborn. Upon her third rebirth, Gullveig's name becomes Heiðr and she is described as a knowledgeable and skillful völva. Gullveig/Heiðr is solely attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th... (Old Norse) |
Possibly "gold drink" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda |
| Hariasa Hariasa Hariasa is a Germanic goddess. Hariasa is attested on a stone bearing a Latin dedication to her. The stone was found in Cologne, Germany and dated to 187 CE .-Etymology:... |
Possibly related to the valkyrie name Herja Herja In Norse mythology, Herja is a valkyrie attested in the longer of the two Nafnaþulur lists found in the Prose Edda.Rudolf Simek says the name is etymologically related to the Old Norse herja and Old High German herjón , and derives from Proto-Germanic word *Herjaza... or meaning "goddess with lots of hair" |
None attested | None attested | Stone from Cologne Cologne Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... (CIL Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum The Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum is a comprehensive collection of ancient Latin inscriptions. It forms an authoritative source for documenting the surviving epigraphy of classical antiquity. Public and personal inscriptions throw light on all aspects of Roman life and history... XIII 8185) |
| Hel Hel (being) In Norse mythology, Hel is a being who presides over a realm of the same name, where she receives a portion of the dead. Hel is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... (Old Norse) |
Ultimately "one who covers up or hides something" | Dyggvi (Ynglingatal) | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Ynglingatal Ynglingatal Ynglingatal is a skaldic poem listing the kings of the House of Ynglings, dated by most scholars to the late 9th century.The original version is attributed to Þjóðólfr af Hvini who was the skald of a Norwegian petty king named Ragnvald the Mountain-High and who was a cousin of Harald Fairhair... |
| Hlín Hlín In Norse mythology, Hlín is a goddess associated with the goddess Frigg. Hlín appears in a poem in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in kennings found in skaldic poetry... (Old Norse) |
Possibly related to the Old Norse term hleinir, itself possibly meaning "protects" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Hretha Hretha Hrêðe is a goddess in Anglo-Saxon paganism connected with the month Hrēdmōnath. Hrêðe is attested solely by Bede in his 8th century work De temporum ratione... (Old English) |
Possibly "the famous" or "the victorious" | None attested | None attested | De temporum ratione |
| Hnoss Hnoss In Norse mythology, Hnoss is the daughter of Freyja and Óðr, and sister of Gersemi.-References:* Orchard, Andy . Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 0-304-34520-2... (Old Norse) |
"Treasure" | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda |
| Ilmr Ilmr In Norse mythology, Ilmr is a goddess. Ilmr is attested within a list of ásynjur contained within the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál. No further information outside of her name is provided there... |
Possibly connected to pleasant scents | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda, skaldic poetry |
| Iðunn Iðunn In Norse mythology, Iðunn is a goddess associated with apples and youth. Iðunn is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... (Old Norse) |
Possibly "ever young" | Bragi Bragi Bragi is the skaldic god of poetry in Norse mythology.-Etymology:Bragi is generally associated with bragr, the Norse word for poetry. The name of the god may have been derived from bragr, or the term bragr may have been formed to describe 'what Bragi does'... |
None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Irpa Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr and Irpa In Norse mythology, Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr and Irpa are goddesses. Þorgerðr and Irpa appear together in Jómsvíkinga saga, Njáls saga, and Þorleifs þáttr jarlsskálds... (Old Norse) |
Possibly relating to "dark brown" | None attested | None attested | Jómsvíkinga saga Jómsvíkinga saga The Jómsvíkinga saga relates of the founding of Jomsborg by Palnatoke, and of the famous Viking brotherhood of the Jomsvikings.... , Njáls saga |
| Lofn Lofn In Norse mythology, Lofn is a goddess. Lofn is attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson and in kennings found in skaldic poetry. In the Prose Edda, Lofn is described as gentle in manner and as an arranger of marriages, even when they have been forbidden... (Old Norse) |
Potentially related to "Praise" | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda |
| Nanna Nanna (Norse deity) In Norse mythology, Nanna Nepsdóttir or simply Nanna is a goddess associated with the god Baldr. Accounts of Nanna vary greatly by source. In the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, Nanna is the wife of Baldr and the couple produced a son, the god Forseti. After Baldr's... (Old Norse) |
Possibly "mother" from nanna, or potentially related to nanþ-, meaning "the daring one" | Baldr | Forseti Forseti Forseti is an Æsir god of justice and reconciliation in Norse mythology. He is generally identified with Fosite, a god of the Frisians... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum Gesta Danorum Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history... , Chronicon Lethrense Chronicon Lethrense Chronicon Lethrense is a small Danish medieval work from the 12th century, written in Latin.-Themes:... , Setre Comb Setre Comb The Setre Comb is a comb which has been dated from the 650 to 700 C.E. that has been the subject of an amount of Runological study due to its runic inscription.-Description:... |
| Nerthus Nerthus In Germanic paganism, Nerthus is a goddess associated with fertility. Nerthus is attested by Tacitus, the first century AD Roman historian, in his Germania. Various theories exist regarding the goddess and her potential later traces amongst the Germanic tribes... (Latinized Germanic) |
Feminine, Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and... ized form of what Njörðr would have looked like around 1 CE. |
None attested | None attested | Germania Germania Germania was the Greek and Roman geographical term for the geographical regions inhabited by mainly by peoples considered to be Germani. It was most often used to refer especially to the east of the Rhine and north of the Danube... |
| Njörun Njörun In Norse mythology, Njörun is a goddess attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and various kennings . Scholarly theories have proposed that Njörun may represent the earth... (Old Norse) |
Possibly related to the Norse god Njörðr and the Roman goddess Nerio Nerio In ancient Roman religion and myth, Nerio was an ancient war goddess and the personification of valor. She was the partner of Mars in ancient cult practices, and was sometimes identified with the goddess Bellona, and occasionally with the goddess Minerva. Spoils taken from enemies were sometimes... Finnur Jónsson (1913:110) suggests a Njörðr connection, Magnússon (1989:671) suggests Njörðr and Nerio. |
None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry |
| Nótt Nótt In Norse mythology, Nótt is night personified. In both the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, Nótt is listed as the daughter of a figure by the name of Nörvi and is associated with the... (Old Norse) |
"Night" | Naglfari Naglfari In Norse mythology, Naglfari is the father of Auðr by the personified night, Nótt. Naglfar is attested in a single mention in the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, where he is described as one of a series of three husbands of Nótt, and that the couple produced a son, Auðr... , once Annar Annar In Norse mythology, according to the Gylfaginning, Annar is the father of Jörð 'Earth' by Nótt 'Night'. The form Ónar is found as a variant. Annar/Ónar is also the name of a dwarf in the catalogue of dwarfs in the Völuspá that is repeated in the Gylfaginning... , Delling Delling Dellingr is a god in Norse mythology. Dellingr is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In both sources, Dellingr is described as the father of Dagr, the personified day... |
Auðr Auðr In Norse mythology, Auðr is the son of the personified night, Nótt, fathered by Naglfari. Auðr is attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in the poetry of skalds.-Attestations:... , Jörð Jörð In Norse mythology, Jörð and also called Jarð as in Old East Norse, is a female jötunn. She is the mother of Thor and Meili, and the personification of the Earth. Fjörgyn and Hlôdyn are considered to be other names for Jörð... , Dagr Dagr In Norse mythology, Dagr is day personified. This personification appears in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... |
Prose Edda |
| Rán Rán In Norse mythology, Rán is a sea goddess. According to Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, in his retelling of the Poetic Edda poem Lokasenna, she is married to Ægir and they have nine daughters together... (Old Norse) |
"Theft, robbery" | Ægir Ægir Ægir is a sea giant, god of the ocean and king of the sea creatures in Norse mythology. He is also known for hosting elaborate parties for the gods.Ægir's servants are Fimafeng and Eldir.- Description :... |
Nine daughters Daughters of Ægir The Daughters of Ægir are the nine daughters of Ægir and Rán, a giant and goddess who both represent the sea in Norse mythology. Their names are poetic terms for different characteristics of ocean waves.... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Friðþjófs saga hins frœkna |
| Rindr Rindr Rindr or Rinda is a female character in Old Norse mythology, alternatively described as a giantess, a goddess or a human princess from the east... (Old Norse) |
Possibly related to *Vrindr | Odin | Váli Váli (son of Odin) In Norse mythology, Váli is a son of the god Odin and the giantess Rindr. He was birthed for the sole purpose of killing Höðr as revenge for Höðr's accidental murder of his half-brother, Baldr. He grew to full adulthood within one day of his birth, and slew Höðr... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Gesta Danorum Gesta Danorum Gesta Danorum is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th century author Saxo Grammaticus . It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark and is an essential source for the nation's early history... |
| Sága (Old Norse) | Possibly "to see" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, skaldic poetry |
| Sandraudiga Sandraudiga Sandraudiga is a Germanic goddess, attested on a stone with a Latin inscription, found in North Brabant, the Netherlands. Today the stone is housed in the National Museum of Antiquities, Leiden, the Netherlands. The meaning of her name is still subject of discussion, but it has been suggested that... (Latinized Germanic) |
"She who dyes the sand red." | None attested | None attested | North Brabant stone |
| Sif Sif In Norse mythology, Sif is a goddess associated with earth. Sif is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson, and in the poetry of skalds... (Old Norse) |
"In-law-relationship" | Thor Thor In Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility... |
Þrúðr, Ullr Ullr In early Germanic paganism, *Wulþuz appears to have been a major god, or an epithet of an important god, in prehistoric times.... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Sigyn Sigyn Sigyn is a goddess and wife of Loki in Norse mythology. Sigyn is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson... (Old Norse) |
"Victorious girl-friend" | Loki Loki In Norse mythology, Loki or Loke is a god or jötunn . Loki is the son of Fárbauti and Laufey, and the brother of Helblindi and Býleistr. By the jötunn Angrboða, Loki is the father of Hel, the wolf Fenrir, and the world serpent Jörmungandr. By his wife Sigyn, Loki is the father of Nari or Narfi... |
Nari, Narfi Narfi Narfi in Norse mythology may refer to the son of Loki or the father of Nótt, the personified night.-Son of Loki:In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Narfi, also known as Nari or Narvi, is a son of Loki and Sigyn who is killed to punish Loki for his crimes. The gods turned his brother Váli into a... and/or Váli Váli (son of Loki) In Norse mythology, Váli was a son of Loki. He is mentioned in the Gylfaginning section of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda. After the death of Baldr the Æsir chase down and capture Loki.... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Sinthgunt Sinthgunt Sinthgunt is a figure in Germanic mythology, attested solely in the Old High German 9th or 10th century "horse cure" Merseburg Incantation. In the incantation, Sinthgunt is referred to as the sister of the personified sun, Sunna , and the two sisters are cited as both producing charms to heal... (Old High German) |
Contested | None attested | None attested | Merseburg Incantations |
| Sjöfn Sjöfn In Norse mythology, Sjöfn a goddess associated with love. Sjöfn is attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and in three kennings employed in skaldic poetry... (Old Norse) |
"Love" | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda |
| Skaði Skaði In Norse mythology, Skaði is a jötunn and goddess associated with bowhunting, skiing, winter, and mountains... (Old Norse) |
Possibly related to Scandia Scandia Scandia was a name used for various uncharted islands in Northern Europe by the first Greek and Roman geographers. The name originated in Greek sources, where it had been used for a long time for different islands in the Mediterranean region... . |
Ullr Ullr In early Germanic paganism, *Wulþuz appears to have been a major god, or an epithet of an important god, in prehistoric times.... , Odin Odin Odin is a major god in Norse mythology and the ruler of Asgard. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxon "Wōden" and the Old High German "Wotan", the name is descended from Proto-Germanic "*Wodanaz" or "*Wōđanaz".... , once Njörðr. |
Sæmingr Sæmingr Sæmingr was a king of Norway according to Snorri Sturluson's euhemerized accounts. He was said to be the son of Odin or Yngvi-Freyr.According to the prologue of the Prose Edda, Sæmingr was one of the sons of Odin and the ancestor of the kings of Norway and of the jarls of Hlaðir. Snorri relates... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Ynglinga saga |
| Snotra Snotra In Norse mythology, Snotra is a goddess associated with wisdom. Snotra is solely attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. Scholars have proposed theories about the implications of the goddess.... (Old Norse) |
"The clever one" | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda |
| Sól (Old Norse), Sunna (Old High German) | "Sun" | Glen Glen (Norse mythology) In Norse mythology, Glenr is the husband of the goddess Sól, who drives the horses of the sun across the sky.... |
Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Merseburg Incantations | |
| Syn Syn (goddess) In Norse mythology, Syn is a goddess associated with defensive refusal. Syn is attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and in kennings employed in skaldic poetry... (Old Norse) |
"Refusal" | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda |
| Tanfana Tanfana Tanfana or Tamfana was a goddess of the Istvaeones in ancient Germanic paganism, the destruction of whose temple in the territory of the Marsi is mentioned in Tacitus' Annals.-Literary mentions:... (Latinized Gemanic) |
Unknown | None attested | None attested | Germania, Tamfanae sacrum inscription |
| Þrúðr (Old Norse) | "Power" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, Karlevi Runestone Karlevi Runestone The Karlevi Runestone, designated as Öl 1 by Rundata, is commonly dated to the late 10th century and located near the Kalmarsund straight in Karlevi on the island of Öland, Sweden... |
| Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr and Irpa In Norse mythology, Þorgerðr Hölgabrúðr and Irpa are goddesses. Þorgerðr and Irpa appear together in Jómsvíkinga saga, Njáls saga, and Þorleifs þáttr jarlsskálds... (Old Norse) |
Literally "Þorgerðr Hölgi's Bride" | None attested | Hölgi, possibly others | Jómsvíkinga saga, Njáls saga, Skáldskaparmál, Færeyinga Saga Færeyinga Saga The Færeyinga Saga , the Norse saga of Faroemen, is the story of how the Faroes were converted to Christianity and became a part of the Kingdom of Norway.-Summary:It was written in Iceland shortly after 1200... |
| Vár Var Var, VAR, VAr, VaR or var can mean:VAR* Varna Airport IATA airport code* Vacuum arc remelting, a process for production of steel and special alloys... (Old Norse) |
"Beloved" | None attested | None attested | Poetic Edda, Prose Edda |
| Vör Vör In Norse mythology, Vör is a goddess associated with wisdom. Vör is attested in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson; and twice in kennings employed in skaldic poetry... (Old Norse) |
Possibly "the careful one" | None attested | None attested | Prose Edda |
| Zisa Zisa (goddess) Zisa or Cisa is a goddess in Germanic paganism associated with the Suevi in the area of Augsburg, Germany. Zisa is mentioned in manuscripts from the 12th to 14th centuries which reference a victory against the Roman Empire attributed to the goddess... |
Related to *Tiwaz | None attested | Possibly Tyr | |
Pseudo-Norse gods and goddesses
Some figures sometimes presented as Norse deities do not occur in the ancient sources:- AstrildAstrildAstrild is an old Nordic name for Amor or Cupid. Astrild probably originated in the writings of the 17th century Swedish poet Georg Stiernhielm, and has since been used in Nordic poetry, mainly during the Baroque and Rococo eras...
(Actually a synonym for AmorAmorAmor may refer to:*Cupid, the Roman god of love also known by his Latin name Amor*Eros, the Greek god of love also known as Amor*The land of the ancient Amorites, also known as Amurru*1221 Amor, an asteroid...
and CupidCupidIn Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of desire, affection and erotic love. He is the son of the goddess Venus and the god Mars. His Greek counterpart is Eros...
invented and used by Nordic Baroque and Rococo authors. Might be confused with Freyja.) - JofurJofurJofur is a name used in Nordic literature for the thunder god, mainly as a synonym for Jupiter. Jofur probably originated in the writings of the 17th century Swedish scientist and writer Olaus Rudbeckius, and has since been used in Nordic poetry, mainly during the Baroque and Rococo eras...
(Actually a synonym for JupiterJupiter (mythology)In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
invented and used by Nordic Baroque and Rococo authors. Might be confused with ThorThorIn Norse mythology, Thor is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, the protection of mankind, and also hallowing, healing, and fertility...
.)
The following pseudo-deities are presented in Encyclopedia Mythica
Encyclopedia Mythica
Encyclopedia Mythica is an internet encyclopedia of folklore, mythology, and religion. It covers the mythology of most of the world, with sections spanning Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, both North and South America, and Oceania. This encyclopedia was founded in June 1995 as a small site...
as Norse:
- Brono (Claimed to be the god of daylight and the son of Baldr. Original source unknown. Might be confused with DagrDagrIn Norse mythology, Dagr is day personified. This personification appears in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson...
or ForsetiForsetiForseti is an Æsir god of justice and reconciliation in Norse mythology. He is generally identified with Fosite, a god of the Frisians...
.) - Glaur (Claimed to be the wife of MundilfariMundilfariIn Norse mythology Mundilfari or Mundilfäri is the father of Sól, associated with the Sun, and Máni, associated with the Moon. Mundilfari is attested in the Poetic Edda poem Vafþrúðnismál stanza 23, and in chapter 11 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning...
. Original source unknown.) - Glúm (Claimed to be an attendant of FriggFriggFrigg is a major goddess in Norse paganism, a subset of Germanic paganism. She is said to be the wife of Odin, and is the "foremost among the goddesses" and the queen of Asgard. Frigg appears primarily in Norse mythological stories as a wife and a mother. She is also described as having the power...
. Source unknown.) - Laga (Claimed to be the goddess of wells and springs. May be the same as Laha, a Celtic goddess of wells and springs.)