by David Park

Created on: February 04, 2009

Norse mythology was one full of Gods, Giants, Elves, Sprites, Monsters, and of course Humans. Sounds pretty much like any other mythology...until you hear how they all interact.

First and foremost, there was Odin. Odin was also known as Woden (Wednesday is named after him), and he was the 'All-Father'. He was born from Borr-the first, and an elven maiden Brista. When Borr, was told by the prophet Mimir that his sons would kill him soon after they were born, Borr quickly gobbled them all up. Shortly after, Odin and Tyr (Odin's brother) burst from Borr's stomach, killing Borr. Odin and Tyr then shaped the land, Midgard, out of the seas and created humans out of the dirt of the land. Tyr then moved up to the skies and ruled there while Odin grew a massive tree, Yggdrasil. This 'world tree' was so vast that the human world, Midgard, was merely one of the branches. Odin created a netherworld, Nifelheim, an elves' world, Alfheim, a world of the Giants, Jotunheim, and the world of the gods, Asgard, all on the branches of Yggdrasil.

Odin was the God of Wisdom and Magic. He carried the magical spear Gungnir, which, when thrown, never missed its mark. He gave birth to Thor, God of War and Strength, and was often rumoured to change himself into a human and walk around Midgard helping lost souls. He was depicted as a wise old man with one eye and two ravens, Thought and Memory, perched on his shoulders.

The race of the gods was known as the Aesir. They were immortal beings who played upon the paltry lives of the mortal humans. All except for Odin. Odin, being half elf, had mortal blood mixed with his divine blood, which gave him compassion. This is why we refer to him as the 'All-Father', because not only did he create the humans, but he created the Gods who were friendly towards humans as well.

Thor, Odin's son, was one of the most popular and powerful gods. Thursday was named after Thor. He wielded the magic hammer, Mjolnir, which, similar to Gungnir, when thrown at an enemy, it would never miss its mark and would bash their heads in. Thor, although extremely powerful, wasn't very smart. He once went fishing for the Great Serpent (sometimes referred to as Uroborous, the Eternal Snake) who encircled the world, and almost caught it, but also nearly died falling out of the fishing boat he was using to catch it. Also, at one point the evil Vanir (the Giants of Jotunheim) stole his hammer, Mjolnir. Enraged, Thor and Loki (the god of mischief) divine up a plan to get it back.

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