Norse Mythology

 

                                                                                 THE PLAYERS

ODIN

Odin is the highest and oldest of all the Gods. Odin knows many secrets. He hung from the world tree Yggdrasil for nine nights. His side was pierced by the point of a spear, which wounded him gravely. He ate and drank nothing for nine days and nine nights. He was alone there in pain, the light of his life was perishing slowly. He is the god of cargoes and prisoners. He is called Grimnir and Third. He is the all-father, the lord of the slain, the gallows god. He brought war into the world, battles are begun by throwing a spear at the opponent’s army, dedicating the war and deaths to Odin. If you survive in the war, it is because of Odin’s grace and if you die it is because he has betrayed you. If you die in combat, the Valkyries (beautiful battle maidens) who collect the souls of the noble dead, will take you to the hall known as Valhalla. Odin will be waiting for you in Valhalla and there you will drink and fight and feast and battle, with Odin as your leader.

THOR

Thor, Odin’s son is the God of thunder and lightning. He is straightforward whereas his father is cunning, he is good natured whereas his father is devious. He is by power the strongest of all the Gods. Thor’s weapon is Mjollnir , a powerful hammer forged by the dwarfs for him. He wears iron gloves, which help him to hold the hammer. Thor is the defender of Asgard and Midgard (the Earth).

LOKI

Loki is very handsome, plausible, convincing, likable, the most wily, subtle and shrewd of all the inhabitants of Asgard. It is sad that there is so much darkness, anger, and envy. He is the father of monstrers, the author of woes and the sly God. He is the God of mischief. He walks in the sky with the shoes that fly and he can transform his shape that he looks like other people or change into animal form but his real weapon is his mind. Not even Odin is as cunning as Loki. He is Thor’s friend as well as Thor’s betrayer. He is tolerated by the Gods just because his strategies and plans save them as often as they get them into trouble. Loki makes the world more interesting but less secure.     

                                                      THE STORY OF ODIN’S ONE EYE

In Jotunheim, which was the home of the giants, there was a well called Mimir’s well. It is believed that it feeds Yggdrasil, the world tree. Myths say that anyone who used to drink from that well he or she used to gain wisdom. Mimir is the wise one, the guardian of memory, knows many things. His well is wisdom and Mimir used to drink every morning from the well .Long, long ago Odin put his long cloak and his hat, and in the form of a traveler he travelled through the land of the giants, risked his life to get wisdom.

 “One drink from the water of your well, uncle Mimir”, said Odin. “That is all I ask for”. “My mother, Bestla , was your sister”.

“That is not enough”, told Mimir.

“Name your price” said Odin. 

Mimir shook his head. “Your eye is my price, your eye in the pool”.

And he gave his eye as his price. Then, he drank from the well, the water was cold and wisdom flooded into him. Now he could see more clearly than he saw with his two eyes.

                                             YGGDRASIL AND THE NINE WORLDS

1. Yggdrasil – the world tree.(the space)

2. Asgard- the land of Gods.

3. Midgard- the Earth.

4. Jotunheim- the land of the frost giants.

5. Alfheim- the home of the light elves.

6. Nidavellir (Svartalfheim)- the home of the dwarfs who made powerful weapons.

7. Vanaheim- where Vanir lived.

8. Niflheim – the dark mist world.

9. Muspell – the world of flame, where Surtr waits. 

10. Hel – named on it’s ruler, it is the place where dead go who did not die bravely in a war.