Norse mythology

Norse mythology, also called Nordic or Scandinavian mythology, is a collection of ancient stories and beliefs from the North Germanic peoples. These tales come from Old Norse religion and lived on as Nordic folklore after Scandinavia became Christian. The myths tell of many gods, heroes, and magical beings.

The stories mainly focus on the gods and their relationships with other beings, including humans and the jötnar. In these myths, the world is made up of Nine Worlds surrounding a great sacred tree called Yggdrasil. The myths also speak of Ragnarök, a great battle where the gods and their foes fight, and the world is destroyed and then reborn.

Scholars have studied Norse mythology since the 1600s, linking its stories to older myths from across Europe. In recent times, there has been renewed interest in these tales, especially during the Romanticist Viking revival, and Norse myths now appear often in modern popular culture. Today, some people practice Germanic Neopaganism, bringing these ancient beliefs back to life.

Terminology

The historical religion of the Norse people is called Norse mythology. Other names for it are Scandinavian mythology, North Germanic mythology, or Nordic mythology. These names all describe the old stories and beliefs from people who lived in northern Europe.