Top 10 famous Norse God

According to Norse Mythology, the Norse gods and goddesses are divided into two significant groups: Vanir and Aesir, based on their earliest existence.

To elaborate, the Norse gods are divided into two primary clans: Æsir and Vanir. The primary gods are Odin, Frigg, Thor, Loki, Balder, Hod, Heimdall, and Tyr.

They are the most elevated manifestations of Æsir. Likewise, the fertility gods are represented by the second clan, Vanir. The most noteworthy members of Vanir are Njord, Freyr, and Freyja. 

Likewise, the majority of contemporary Norse mythology focuses on the gods’ predicament and interactions with many other entities.

Some of them include humanity and the jötnar, beings who may be allies, companions, rivals, or family members of the gods. 

Additionally, in Norse mythology, the universe comprises Nine Worlds that surround a pivotal sacred tree, Yggdrasil.

Time cycles and cosmological aspects are anthropomorphic as deities or entities. The world is formed from the entrails of the primordial entity Ymir. 

Furthermore, according to the Nordic myth of creation, the first two humans are Ask and Embla. These nine worlds are said to be recreated after the events of Ragnarök.

The cataclysmic event manifests a massive fight between the gods and their adversaries. 

Ragnarök leads to the world being set ablaze, only to be resurrected anew. The surviving gods meet again, and the Earth becomes fertile and verdant once more.

The two humans then repopulate the Earth, and the cycle continues. 

Here are ten Norse deities that each represent different aspects of natural phenomenons, human ardor, war, and other such notions.

10. Heimdall (The Watchman of the Gods) 

Heimdallr brings forth the gift of the gods to humanity
Heimdallr brings forth the gift of the gods to humanity

Heimdall (from Old Norse Heimdallr) is a Norse deity who watches for invaders and the arrival of Ragnarök. His home Himinbjörg is where the flaming rainbow bridge Bifröst joins the sky. 

He is said to have clairvoyance and acute senses, notably eyesight and hearing. Moreover, the God and his treasures are described somewhat ambiguously.

Heimdall, for example, has gold teeth, and he is “the whitest of the gods.” Heimdall also owns the echoing horn Gjallarhorn and the golden-maned horse Gulltoppr. 

Likewise, he is the offspring of the Nine Mothers and is credited with inventing social classes in humanity.

In foresight, the name Heimdall appears in the Poetic Edda assembled in the 13th century from older traditional materials. The God is also mentioned in the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, both composed in the 13th century. 

Similarly, Heimdall is also present in skaldic poetry, as well as the Old Norse runic inscription discovered in England.

Two lines of forgotten poetry about the God Heimdalargaldr have survived to this day. Scholars have developed different interpretations regarding the nature of the God.

These interpretations comprise his relationship to sheep, borders, and waves as a result of the mysterious character of these attestations.

Furthermore, the name’s derivation is also unknown. However, one origin proposes ‘Heimdall’ translates to ‘the one who brightens the world.’ 

Heimdallr is also possibly related to Mardöll, another of Freyja’s names. Moreover, Heimdall also has three other names that have been recorded: Hallinskii, Gullintanni, and Vindlér or Vindhlér. 

The name Hallinskii is enigmatic, but it has prompted a number of attempts to interpret it. Similarly, Gullintanni translates as “the one with the golden teeth.”

Likewise, Vindlér (or Vindhlér) means “the one who protects against the wind” or “wind-sea.” All three have given rise to a slew of god-related notions.

Heimdall, like many other components of Norse mythology, has appeared in numerous modern works.

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Heimdall appears in Marvel Comics and is played by English actor Idris Elba in cinematic adaptations. Heimdall is the name of a crater on Jupiter’s Moon Callisto.

9. Máni (The Moon God)

A depiction of Máni and Sól
A depiction of Máni and Sól

Máni (Old Norse: “Moon”) is the personification of the Moon in Germanic mythology. Personified Máni is attested in the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, authored by Snorri Sturluson.

Both sources indicate that he is the brother of the personified sun, Sól, and the son of Mundilfari.

Unlike Greek and Roman myths where the Sun Gods were male, and the moon goddesses were female, Nordic myth flips this. Sol is female, and Mani is her brother.  

The Prose Edda also adds that he is followed through the sky by the offspring Hjki and Bil. Likewise, Máni appears as a proper noun in Old Norse literature.

Scholars have presented speculations about Máni’s possible relation to the Northern European concept of the Man in the Moon

According to John Lindow, Máni must be slain at Ragnarök as part of the creation of the Æsir. But this is not specifically mentioned, except perhaps by Snorri.

He tells of Mánagarm, who will devour a heavenly body that may be the Moon. In Ragnorok, he is devoured by the giant wolf, Fenrir. 

The Sun and Moon siblings had no idea what their gifts were in the new universe when they first appeared when the universe was being created.

The gods then gathered and created the various parts of the day and year, as well as the phases of the Moon. The Gods then appointed Sol and Mani their place in the grand scheme of things.

They fly through the sky on horse-drawn chariots. The horses who draw Mani’s chariot are unnamed. But Sol’s horses are Árvakr(“Early Riser”) and Alsvir (“Swift”). 

8. Týr (Patron God of Warriors and Hero) 

Týr in an 18th century manuscript
Týr in an 18th century manuscript

Týr (elucidated like the English word “tier”) is a Norse war god, although he is also the God who rules over law and justice.

His position in the existing Viking Age stories is minor, and his standing in the later Viking Age may have been similarly minor. 

However, this was not always the case. Týr was originally one of the most important figures to the Norse and other Germanic peoples.

Týr’s prominence as one of the Norse battle gods, along with Odin and Thor, is clearly documented in Viking Age and earlier sources. 

In the Sigrdrfumál, one of the Poetic Edda’s poems, for example, the valkyrie Sigrdrifa advises the human hero Sigurd to summon Tyr for triumph in battle.

Another Eddic poem, the Lokasenna, supports this notion by having Loki insult Tyr by declaring that he could only stir up strife but never reconcile them.

Several decades previously, the Romans also associated Tyr with Mars, their own primary war deity.

This relationship is preserved in the contemporary English word “Tuesday,” which derives from the Old English “Day of Tiw (Tyr)” (Tiwesdg). This was based on the Latin Dies Martis, “Day of Mars.” 

Not to mention, the Romans’ affiliation of Tyr with Mars also adds to the impression that he was a significant god. Tyr, though, is more than just a war deity.

In fact, his principal job appears to be that of a defender of the rule of law and justice. Those Roman inscriptions that refer to him as “Mars” sometimes refer to him as Mars Thincsus.

This indicates that Mars is of the Þing, the old Germanic legal assembly. 

7. Ullr (The God of Winter)

Illustration from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript showing Ullr
Illustration from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript showing Ullr

Ullr (pronounced “ULL-er,” frequently Anglicized as “Ull,” and also referred to as “Ullinn”) is a mysterious Norse god. His mentions in Old Norse literature are few.

They tell us little about his personality or significance in pre-Christian religion and mythology. Nonetheless, these brief references show that he was once a significant deity, even if we don’t know why.

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Ullr is the stepson of the thunder god Thor and the son of the grain goddess Sif. Kennings established that Ullr was an adept archer, hunter, skater, and skier.

He was also a gorgeous, warlike deity to summon before a duel. “Ullr’s ship” is a kenning for “shield.” This implies that there was a story about him sailing across the ocean on a shield, but if so, it has been forgotten. 

One of the poetic verses in the Poetic Edda, the Grmnismál, mentions his abode as dalir, or “Yew Dales.” For creating bows, yew wood was favored over all other woods, which likely explains this link.

The ubiquity of place names derived from “Ullr” throughout Sweden and eastern Norway attests to Ullr’s former status as a significant character among the Scandinavian gods. 

Many of these names contain features like hof, which means “temple,” indicating active devotion of Ullr during the early Viking Age and possibly afterward as well.

His name’s origin and etymology are unknown. However, some speculate that it may be originated from a Germanic root found in Gothic wulus, “glory,” and Old English wuldor (“glory, brilliance, honor”). 

6. Viðarr (God of Vengeance, Space, Silence, and Footwear)

A depiction of Víðarr on horseback by Lorenz Frølich
A depiction of Víðarr on horseback by Lorenz Frølich

Vidar (pronounced “VIH-dar”; from Old Norse Varr, which may mean “The Broad-Ruling One”) is one of the gods who endure Ragnarok.

That is, according to certain stories of the event; according to others, the universe simply ends, and no one escapes. 

Almost all of the bibliography related to him in Old Norse literature is about his role in Ragnarok. We know very little about his demeanor or configuration outside of that one occurrence.

All through Ragnarok, the gods battled the giants – the divine powers of mayhem and violence. The majority of those on both sides were killed. The wolf Fenrir swallowed the God Odin.

Vidar, Odin’s son by the giant Gríðr, attacked the wolf right away to revenge his father’s death. He was wearing a shoe that had been specially designed for this occasion. 

It was the toughest and sturdiest of all shoes, and it was undoubtedly endowed with magical qualities. Vidar used it to kick and pick apart the wolf’s lower jaw.

Then, while keeping the beast’s upper jaw open, he slashed Fenrir’s mouth to shreds with his sword. He eventually kills the creature and brings an end to his destructive rampage. 

Vidar is also referred to as the “silent deity” in other places, although no reason is offered for this title. After Thor, he is said to be the fiercest of the gods.

His domain is portrayed as a location of brushwood and thick grass. But the relevance of this relationship between this terrain and this God is unknown.

5. Odin (God of Chief Divinity, Father of all Gods)

Odin Father of all Gods
Odin Father of all Gods

Odin, the father of all gods, was considered as the God of Chief Divinity and War.

He was the husband of Frigg and together had three sons Balder, Hodr, and Hermod and another son, Thor, from a mistress.

Despite being taken as the God of War and Death initially, he took a keen interest in poetry and wisdom which led to him learning a few songs and runes and became the God of poetry and knowledge as well.

He had the most varied characteristics amongst all the Norse Gods.

Sitting on his throne, Hlidskjalf, located in Asgard, he observed everything that was happening in the nine worlds.

With his efficient attributes – Gungnir(spear), Draupnir(ring), Sleipnir(steed), he managed to control his targets, and with his one eye which blazed like the Sun, he would observe all without a miss.

Odin was killed by the wolf – Fenrir in the Ragnarok, the final destiny of the gods.

4. Balder: God of Light, Purity, Joy and the Summer Sun

Balder
Balder

Balder, son of Odin and Frigg, was considered as the God of Light, Purity, Joy, and Summer Sun. 

With a physique built naturally, he was gracious, cheerful, handsome and was loved by all the gods and goddesses. 

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As one of the wisest, most gracious, and fairest-spoken gods, he was considered the only god loved by all.

When he dreamt about his death, his mother, Frigg, took an oath from every creature that they could never harm him.

With their agreement on the pledge, Balder was then safe, and all practised knife throwing on him as he would never be hurt by any means.

With hearing about the oath, Loki – the trickster planned on disguising and killing Balder, so he went to Frigg and asked about the depth of the oath.

Frigg, without suspecting told the disguised Loki, Balder could be killed by a small tree – Mistletoe.

Ultimately, Balder was killed by his blind brother, Hod as he threw the Mistletoe at him, which was the plan of Loki.

3. Njord: God of Fertility, Wealth, and Seafaring

Njord God of Fertility Wealth and Seafaring
Njord God of Fertility Wealth and Seafaring

Njord, a most significant member of the Vanir gods, was the father of Freya and Freyr and was considered as the God of Wealth, Seafaring, and Fertility.

During the war between the Aesir gods and Vanir gods, Njord along with two others was sent to Asgard considering the token of truce. He was kept in the house of seashore, Naotun and become an honorary member of the Aesir gods.

Married to Skadi, a giantess, their marriage did not last long, as both of them did not like shifting from their home to stay in one place together.

Njord could not tolerate Skadi’s home place, the snowy mountains and the same was true with Skadi as she did not like the beach, home place of Njord.

Njord was considerably the wealthiest gods of all time, and all the Norse people longed to be as wealthy as him.

2. Loki: God of Tricks

Loki God of Tricks
Loki God of Tricks

Loki, father of Hel – the wolf Fenrir, was considered as the god of Tricks and was also famously known as the Trickster.

As one of the most vigorous and unpredictable gods of all, his activities were mostly mischievous and cleverly executed, also created various situations where everyone got into complicated problems and some even losing their lives.

Though he was a good looking god, his deeds did not match his appearances. There are many incidents of him creating a disguise of himself and fooling others.

It is considered that he had a considerable role in the killing of Balder, through the hands of his brother – Hod.

The chain of events which led to the destruction of many gods, including Balder, began by Loki.

When he was finally imprisoned, he was chained with three massive boulders placed under his shoulders, under his loins, and under his knees, a poisonous along with the blocks was also placed above his head.

At the end in a disastrous battle, every gods and goddess including Loki are killed. With this comes the end of this mythological period and starting of a fresh cycle of life.

1. Thor: God of Thunder

Thor God of Thunder
Thor God of Thunder

Thor, son of Odin, was considered as the God of Thunder and the pivotal enemy of the giants. He was the source of trust for the common man, who would always call upon him during the times of crisis.

A god mostly portrayed as bearded and red-headed persona is the most powerful gods of all. Always believing in protecting commoners and gods from evil, he was able to surpass his father, Odin, in popularity and that too without giving any human sacrifices.

Despite his strength and ability to help every kind, he is teased and fooled by the contemporaries because of him not being the smartest and the wisest. It also gets him ill-tempered and furious, which leads to throwing his hammer, Mjolnir, towards them.

Thor is married to Sif, the goddess of fertility, and has three children – Magni, Modi, and Thrud. He is associated with the day, Thursday.

Conclusion:

The deities mentioned above are of the mythological period, where the stories were mostly based on the rumours and myths.

With the end of all the Norse deities, came a new and fresh life cycle which gives a lesson that nothing can remain still or unchanged forever, even the mightiest gods or goddess.

Other significant Norse deities other than those mentioned above include  Sif, Heimdall, Skadi, and Forseti.

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