01:03:10 min
CLEAR ALL
What is a properly functioning mythology and what are its functions? Can we use myths to help relieve our modern anxiety, or do they help foster it? In Myths to Live by, Joseph Campbell explores the enduring power of the universal myths that influence our lives daily and examines the myth-making...
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In the story, many of the gods die and the nine worlds of the Norse cosmos held in the branches of Yggdrasil are consumed by fire. But, according to surviving accounts of the prophecy, not everyone will die in this Viking apocalypse.
Hel, goddess of death, could there be a more fearsome being in the world of Norse mythology? But don’t be taken-in by the portrayal of the Norse goddess of death in the Marvel universe. While the Norse goddess was the ruler of the underworld, she was never represented as pure evil.
Valhalla is closer to the concept of heaven than it is to hell, but it is not an exact parallel. Located in Asgard, Valhalla is where Odin, the god of thunder, reigns. Valkyries, Odin’s maiden warriors, select which elite Viking warriors may enter.
To satisfy his relentless thirst for wisdom, Odin sacrificed one of his eyes in exchange for a drink from Mimir’s well, which gave him the enlightenment he sought.
Every notable character in the history of humanity and throughout various cultures and beliefs had someone even more important sitting next to him – a wife.
“Shining Baldur” was a Norse god of the Aesir tribe of unparalleled beauty and wisdom who settled the feuds of men and gods. His death as a result of Loki’s trickery is one of the central stories of Norse mythology.
There is a well-known Norse myth which tells of how the Vanir Freyr fell in love with the giantess Gerd, wooed her, and eventually convinced her to marry him. She was not any easy catch - many attempts and various tactics were needed to gain the proud giantess’ hand…
Gullinbursti was an attribute of the god Freyr, and sometimes Gullinbursti is referred to as his fylgia, or familiar. Therefore, understanding the god Freyr is key to understanding the importance of his golden boar Gullinbursti.
Let’s take a closer look at these two clans of deities in Norse mythology, what differentiates them, and what aligns them.