Norse Mythology Flashcards

Aesir

A race or tribe of gods who live in Asgard.

Alfheim

One of the nine worlds inhabited by the light elves.

Asgard

The realm of the gods, home of the Aesir.

Ask

The first man, made from an ash tree.

Balder

Odin’s second son, known as 'the beautiful,' loved by all except Loki.

Bestla

Mother of Odin, Vili, and Ve, wife of Bor, daughter of giant Bolthorn.

Bifrost

The rainbow bridge connecting Asgard to Midgard.

Bor

A god, married to Bestla, and father of Odin, Vili, and Ve.

Buri

The ancestor of the gods, father of Bor and grandfather of Odin.

Einherjar

Noble dead warriors who feast and battle in Valhalla.

Embla

The first woman, made from an elm tree.

Fenrir or Fenris Wolf

A wolf, son of Loki and Angrboda.

Fimbulwinter

The unending winter preceding Ragnarok.

Frey

A god of the Vanir who resides with the Aesir; brother of Freya.

Freya

A goddess of the Vanir who lives with the Aesir; sister of Frey.

Frigg

Odin’s wife and queen of the gods, mother of Balder.

Garm

A monstrous hound who kills and is killed by Tyr at Ragnarok.

Ginnungagap

The yawning gap between Muspell and Niflheim at creation's start.

Gjallerhorn

Heimdall’s horn, associated with Mimir’s well.

Heimdall

The far-seeing watchman of the gods.

Hel

Loki's daughter who rules Hel, realm of the shameful dead.

Huginn

One of Odin’s two ravens, meaning 'thought.'

Idavoll

The plain for the returning surviving gods after Ragnarok.

Jord

Thor’s mother, a giantess who is also the goddess of the earth.

Jormungundr

The Midgard serpent and nemesis of Thor, Loki's child.

Jotunheim

The realm of the giants.

Loki

Odin's blood brother, a cunning shapeshifter.

Midgard

The realm of humans, meaning 'middle yard.'

Mimir

Odin’s uncle and keeper of wisdom's spring.

Mjollnir

Thor’s hammer, crafted by Eitri.

Muninn

One of Odin’s ravens, meaning 'memory.'

Muspell

The fiery world at the creation's beginning.

Nidavellir

Also known as Svartalfheim, home of the dwarfs.

Nidhogg

A dragon who devours corpses and chews Yggdrasil's roots.

Niflheim

A cold, misty place at the start of everything.

Norns

The three sisters who decide fate and tend Urd's well.

Odin

The highest god, known also as all-father and Grimnir.

Sif

Thor’s wife, known for her golden hair.

Skuld

One of the norns, representing the future.

Sleipnir

Odin’s eight-legged, fastest horse, offspring of Loki.

Thor

Odin's son, god of thunder, known for his red beard.

Tyr

The one-handed god of war, son of Odin.

Urd

One of the norns, representing fate and determining the past.

Urd’s well

The well in Asgard tended by the norns.

Valhalla

Odin's hall where noble dead warriors feast.

Valkyries

Odin’s handmaidens who collect noble souls for Valhalla.

Vanaheim

The realm of the Vanir.

Ve

Odin’s brother, a son of Bor and Bestla.

Verdandi

One of the norns, representing the present.

Vigrid

The plain where the battle of Ragnarok will occur.

Vili

Odin’s brother, a son of Bor and Bestla.

Yggdrasil

The world-tree in Norse mythology.

Ymir

The first being, a giant and ancestor of all giants.