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 continued to live on as Nordic folklore even after Scandinavia became Christian. The myths tell of many gods, heroes, and magical beings, drawn from old manuscripts, carvings, and folk traditions.

The stories mainly focus on the struggles of the gods and their relationships with other beings, including humans and the jötnar, who can be friends, enemies, or family to the gods. In these myths, the world is made up of Nine Worlds surrounding a great sacred tree called Yggdrasil. The world begins from the body of a giant named Ymir, and the first two humans, Ask and Embla, are created. The myths also speak of Ragnarök, a great battle where the gods and their foes fight, the world is destroyed in fire, and then it is reborn, green and fertile, with two humans starting a new world.

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

Terminology

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