Norse mythology comprises the indigenous pre-Christian religion, beliefs and legends of the Scandinavian peoples, including those who settled on Iceland, where most of the written sources for Norse mythology were assembled.
Norse mythology is the best-preserved version of the older common Germanic paganism, which also includes the very closely related Anglo-Saxon mythology.
The Norse Gods are the mythological characters from stories shared by Northern Germanic tribes of the 9th century AD. These stories were passed down in the form of poetry until the 11th – 18th centuries when the Eddas and other medieval texts were written.
The Poetic Edda (also known as the Elder Edda) was committed to writing about 50 years after the Prose Edda. It contains 29 long poems, of which 11 deal with the Germanic deities, the rest with legendary heroes like Sigurd the Volsung (the Siegfried of the German version Nibelungenlied). Although scholars think it was transcribed later than the other Edda, the language and poetic forms involved in the tales appear to have been composed centuries earlier than their transcription.
Besides these sources, there are surviving legends in Scandinavian folklore. Some of these can be corroborated with legends appearing in other Germanic literatures e.g. the tale related in the Anglo-Saxon Battle of Finnsburgh and the many allusions to mythological tales in Deor. When several partial references and tellings survive, scholars can deduce the underlying tale. Additionally, there are hundreds of place names in Scandinavia named after the gods.
A few runic inscriptions, such as the Rök Runestone and the Kvinneby amulet, make references to the mythology. There are also several runestones and image stones that depict scenes from Norse mythology, such as Thor’s fishing trip, scenes depicting Sigurd (Sigfried) the dragon slayer, Odin and Sleipnir, Odin being devoured by Fenrir, and one of the surviving stones from the Hunnestad Monument appears to show Hyrrokkin riding to Baldr’s funeral.
In Denmark, one image stone depicts Loki with curled dandy-like mustaches and lips that are sewn together and the British Gosforth cross shows several mythological images. There are also smaller images, such as figurines depicting the god Odin (with one eye), Thor (with his hammer) and Freyr (with his enormous phallus).
Ebony
The thing to remember, though, is that most of the references we use were transcribed after Christianity entered Scandinavia. This means that many of the stories were likely corrupted by said influence, rewritten to more closely resemble the Christian mythos. Regrettably, as a result, we know very little of what the original stories and culture were like.
Johan
While Snorri was a christian munk, he actually goes into some length in the younger edda about how he saw them as merely “let astray”. He writes that he believes it was just a expression of devotion to the christian god before Jesus word had spread. So he tried to keep it as unbiased as possible since he didn’t see it as outright “heresy”. Whether he told the truth on that part is sadly impossible to say.
Laufyson
I agree, although there are several books that I believe have remained uncorrected by Christian mythos. The Eddas are extremely helpful as well as Myths of the Norsemen by Helene A. Guerber. Just suggestions for anyone studying 🙂
Norna holm
Where did all these myths originate. Are they based on …what? Even folklore has a beginning and I wonder if anybody would have an explanation. Did we as humans just make things up in order to try to understand where we came from and why we were here or is there something else
Norman
“Did we as humans just make things up in order to try to understand where we came from and why we were here”
I think you have just touched upon the source of ALL religion! Where else could they come from?
Huxley
Well, most myths seem to have similarities with each other all over the world, even from cultures that are not connected to each other. Certain symbolic representations seem to appear all over the world, And they keep reappearing to this day, in modern fantasy stories and the dreams of ordinary people. And because of this, theories have been proposed that mythologies perhaps could be explained as instinctual patterns of behavior represented in symbolic form. So to answer your question what are the myths based on, They are perhaps based on unconscious psychic content which shapes how humans behave over evolutionary time.
Norman
Joseph Campbell’s “Hero with a Thousand Faces”.
Sherry
The Bible speaks about the Gods of Men in the 6th chapter of Genesis. I don’t understand why the Christians tryed to erase that history from our memories.(and, yes, I am a Christian women)
Claudia
There are similarities of norse mythology and other beliefs. The Egyptians believed in an afterlife and buried their rulers with things for the next life, similar to norse myths. Christianity also promotes an afterlife based on Jesus Christ. Every religion or system of beliefs has some form of afterlife. It would seem that we ALL want life after this one, although there is no factual proof to support the belief that it exists.
William
No proof? If you study the Bible you will see the proof in many different ways. Right down to certain diseases affecting certain organs in the body. So do you think it was possible for people before modern medicine to know what organ was affected by a disease? Or the exact day a boy was suppose to get circumcised? That day the Bible states is when the babies blood clots the best. Not a day earlier or later. Even today with modern medicine, it is extremely close to the number of days and the same time frame used today for that procedure.
Kelvin Rabey
the Bible was rewritten to appease the then King – The King James Version. So it is possible that the original writings have changed to suit his “tastes”. There are also similarities in the Christian specific dates and the Pagan religions specific dates. This was deliberately done to make conversion to the ‘New’ religion – Christianity.
Bobby
You have to distinguish between what is written in the bible (claims) and actual proof. You can’t point to the bible to prove the bible. That is circular reasoning.
Ramon
The first thing you must do when reading the “bible” (any version)…. is except that man lies……. the answer the question… who wrote the bible. The argument is always that god told them what to write.. and then when asked how they know that…. they answer .. because its in the bible…… back to initial question.. who wrote the bible? The fact that man has always used religion to control people spans all religions. Even my upbringing has unanswered questions….. I was taught the first religion was that of the demons and devils…. then man came along and worshipped the Sun and Moon…… then the Original Druids appeared worshipping Earth (Gia)….. and forth was the Norse and multiple other religions around the world sprung up around the same time line.
Mike
All mythology can be understood to explain the challenges that the authors faced at the time of writing. It’s the reason why Greek mythology often has multiple versions of the same story with different lessons and endings.
Ricky
I have always wondered if we as humans truly evolved as scientists claim. They say that we kept the traits and physical anomalies that made us more adept and able to survive. If that is true, why did most all of humanity everywhere on this planet seem to seek out a higher power? In evolutionary terms, how would that trait be beneficial for our survival? Yet we did seek out “gods” and entities who could have caused our creation. The only answer that makes sense to me is just that….that we were created by a higher power and part of our DNA has always pushed us to seek that power out.
Just my opinion and I am sure there will be others who disagree but it is still a question. There are those who do not believe in gods or a higher power. But, in reality, you have to believe in something in order to “not” believe in it. You have to accept it possible existence before you can state that it doesn’t exist.
Jack Bridgraj
Since the written word ofAll nationalities was interpreted by the Papacy Then the English,,, It’s only Fair to say “we’re screwed”because ,everything we know today
has been versionjsed and published by the British ! Before Politics there was Religion
as propogated by Roman/Italian POPES and their made up religions+ Heaven and Hell
The Romans Enslaved everything around them ..Including Israel who created Judaism
Savior Yesua/Jesus and Allah ..to protect themselves from Perceived Enemies,,,,Thus
RELIGION WILL ALWAYS start WARS.. A Beautiful Shield IN deed