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Loki: Central in myth, absent from cult
Whilst British actor Tom Hiddleston has received fanfare and plaudits for his duplicitous depiction of Loki on the small and silver screens, people in Viking societies had a far more complicated relationship with the eternal trickster of Norse mythology.4 months ago — Culture and religion -
The Valkyries as battle maidens, fate weavers, mythic messengers, and... a source of artistic inspiration
The Valkyries have been a source of artistic inspiration for centuries due to their roles as battle maidens, weavers of fate, and mythic messengers.5 months ago — Culture and religion -
The Prose Edda: Snorri Sturluson's guide to Norse mythology
Do you often find it hard to tell the difference between Thor and Tyr? Unsure of the relationship between Baldr and Bragi? Well, thanks in part to a 13th-century CE poet and politician, there is a textbook that serves as an ultimate guide to the rich complexities of Norse mythology.5 months ago — Culture and religion -
Why Freyr gave away his sword: The deal that doomed him
In one of the more facepalm moments of Norse mythology, mighty Freyr gave his magical sword away in an act akin to a death sentence.6 months ago — Culture and religion -
The sea in Norse myth: Jörmungandr, Rán, and Ægir's hall
People in Viking societies held a deep reverence for the sea, as it was a source of sustenance as well as facilitating much commerce and conquest. This deep respect was also reflected in the sagas and stories they regaled one another with.8 months ago — Culture and religion -
Gerðr: An earth goddess at the edge of the Norse pantheon
Gerðr, a rather obscure earth goddess, speaks not only to the ancient agrarian traditions of Viking societies but also to their need for the powerful to have divine legitimacy.8 months ago — Culture and religion -
Ullr: The Norse skiing god who faded from memory
Overshadowed in modern minds by his more illustrative family members, and even by a fellow deity associated with skiing, Ullr survives as a shadowy figure on the edges of our knowledge of Norse mythology.8 months ago — Culture and religion -
Frigg vs. Freyja: Why two Norse goddesses get confused
Do you have a serious case of deity dyslexia? The Norse goddesses Frigg and Freyja may have alliteration and gender in common, but each holds a distinctive and unique place in Norse mythology. We look at why these two deities have a serious case of mistaken identity.10 months ago — Culture and religion -
Bound in pain: How the gods punished Loki
The themes of divine retribution and fate are no strangers to mythologies the world over. In the rich tapestry of Norse mythology, how the gods punished Loki occupies a central place in the cataclysmic events leading to Ragnarök.11 months ago — Culture and religion -
Brísingamen: The lost necklace of Freyja
The goddess Freyja, associated with beauty, fertility, love, magic, and war, is known to possess Brísingamen, a magical necklace of unparalleled beauty. How Freyja gained, and then lost, this necklace is a classic story of lust, sex, and metamorphosis.11 months ago — Culture and religion
