myth part 1

This is the Primordial Void that is a vast emptiness.

Ginnungagap

This means "yawning void".

Ginnungagap

The 2 worlds on either side of the Ginnungagap.

Muspelheim and Niflheim

Realm of ice, mist, and darkness.

Niflheim

A bubbling spring in Niflheim. Means "bubbling boiling spring" or "roaring cauldron".

Hvergelmir

Hvergelmir formed the icy, venemous rivers called ________.

Élivágar

The realm of fire and destruction.

Muspelheim or Muspell

Ruler of Muspelheim. Also destined to burn the world.

Surtr

What is a venomous substance that was formed from the Élivágar Rivers?

Yeast

How was Ymir formed?

The icy, venomous yeast fell into the Ginnungagap and was thawed by the life giving fire of Muspelheim. The yeast began to clump together and formed Ymir.

What did Ymir's sweat form?

A male and a female giant

What 6-headed giant was formed from Ymir's legs and his sweat mixing?

Thrudgelmir (Þrúðgelmir)

What was Ymir doing when his children were born?

He was sleeping while his 3 children were born from his legs (Thrudgelmir) and armpits (male and female giant)

This being was formed from the venomous ice just like Ymir.

Audhumla

This nourished Ymir with her milk. She also licked the slaty ice blocks, which revealed the first god.

Audhumla

Who is the first god who was freed from the ice blocks thanks to Audhumla?

Buri

Son of Buri

Borr

Wife of Borr

Bestla

Father of Bestla

Bolthorn

Bor and Bestla had 3 children named ____.

Odin, Vili, Ve

Odin, Vili, and Ve killed this being to form the world.

Ymir

What did Ymir's flesh become?

Earth/Soil that fills the Ginnungagap

What did Ymir's blood become?

Rivers, lakes, and oceans.

What did Ymir's bones become?

Mountains and hills.

What did Ymir's teeth and bone fragments become?

Rocks and pebbles

What did Ymir's hair become?

Trees and vegetation

What did Ymir's skull become?

Sky/Heaven

What are the names of the 4 dwarves that hold up the sky?

Norðri, Suðri, Austri, and Vestri (North, South, East, and West)

What did Ymir's brain become?

The clouds

What did Ymir's eyebrows become?

The wall of Midgard (protects humans from the giants)

What did Ymir's maggots become?

They were given humanoid forms and became the dwarves who dwell beneath the mountains.

These 2 objects were formed from the sparks of Muspelheim.

Sól (Sun) and Máni (Moon)

What is the name of the wolf that chases the Sól?

Sköll

What is the name of the wolf that chases the Máni?

Hati

Cosmic ash tree that connects all 9 realms.

Yggdrasil

What is the realm of the Aesir called?

Asgard

What is the realm of the Vanir called?

Vanaheim

What is the realm of humans called?

Midgard

What is the realm of the Jotun (Giants) called?

Jotunheim

What is the realm of the elves called?

Alfheim

What is the realm of the dwarves called?

Svartalheim

What is the realm of the dead in the underworld called?

Helheim or Hel

What creature gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil and feeds on corpses?

Nidhogg the dragon

What creature runs in the branches of Yggdrasil and carreis insults between the Nidhogg and the eagle at the top?

Ratatoskr

Name the 4 stags on Yggdrasil.

Dain, Dvalin, Duneyr, Duraþrór

What do the stags do on Yggdrasil?

Eat the leaves

What creature sits atop Yggdrasil?

An eagle (the guardian/watcher)

What does the eagle atop Yggdrasil do?

It sits in the branches, surveying the Nine Worlds and possessing great wisdom. In some versions, it is also identified as Hræsvelgr which also flaps its wings to make winds.

This god has the nickname "Allfather" and is considered the god of Wisdom, War, Death, and Poetry.

Odin

What did Odin do for infinte knowledge?

Sacrificed one eye at Mimir's Well.

What did Odin do to be able to understand the magical runes and gain knowledge and wisdom held by them?

Hung himself on Yggdrasil with the following conditions

What were the magical powers Odin recieved from the runes from his sacrifice?

1) Healing
2) Protection
3) Control over magic
4) Manipulate nature
5) Raise the dead
6) Seduction
7) Wisdom and Foresight

What are the names of Odin's 2 ravens?

Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory)

What do Odin's ravens do for him?

They go out and report what is happening on Midgard to Odin.

Which raven is Odin more afraid of losing?

Losing Muninn (Memory)

What are the names of Odin's wolves?

Geri ("the greedy") and Freki ("the ravenous")

What do Odin's wolves represent?

They represent his wild side and war aspects.

What does Odin feed his wolves?

He feeds them most of the food at a feast, and he survives by drinking only wine.

How often is Odin with his ravens and wolves?

The wolves lay at his feet, and the ravens sat on his shoulder.

Who are Skoll and Hati's parents?

Fenrir and Iarnvidia (a giantess from the mythical woods called Járnviðr)

What is the name of Odin's horse, known as the fastest horse in Norse mythology?

Slepnir

Describe Slepnir's abilities.

1) Ability to travel between realms
2) Ability to travel on water and air
3) Increased stability (8-legs)
4) Super strength in attacks and carrying loads
5) Human-level intelligence
6) Supernatural Stamina

Who are the parents of Slepnir?

Loki and Svaðilfari (the horse of the Master Builder)

After the Aesir-Vanir War, the gods did what to form Kvasir?

Every god spat in a vat, which formed Kvasir

Who is the wisest being in Norse mythology?

Kvasir

Who killed Kvasir?

Fjalar and Galar

What was the blood of Kvasir made into?

The Mead of Poetry

Who killed Gillingr and his wife?

Fjalar and Galar

Who did Fjalar and Galar hand the Mead of Poetry to?

The giant Suttungr, after he threatened to drown them in the tide. The dwarves bargained to give up the Mead of Poetry in exchange for living

Where did Suttungr bury the Mead of Poetry?

In a secret chamber in the mountain Hnitbjorg ("Pulsing Rock")

What were the 3 vessels that Fjalar and Galar stored the Mead of Poetry?

Two vats named Són ("blood") and Boðn ("vessel"), and a cauldron named Óðrœrir ("that which excites the spirit")

Who did Suttungr task with guarding the Mead of Poetry?

Gunnlöð or Gunnlöd (Suttungr's daughter)

Who did Odin disguise as when he went to get the Mead of Poetry?

Bölverkr ("Worker of Misfortune")

Who did Odin work for in order to get the Mead of Poetry?

Baugi, Suttungr's brother

How does Odin kill all the slaves of Baugi?

He used a wet stone to sharpen their scythes and thre it the air, which caused the slaves to accidentally kill each other.

How does Odin get into Hnitbjorg?

Baugi began to drill into the mountain and Odin turned into a snake to get to the center.

How does Odin get the Mead of Poetry and escape Hnitbjorg?

He convinces Gunnlöð to let him take 1 sip after being with her for 3 nights with her. He takes huge sips and has it all. Then he turns into an eagle and flies to Asgard.

What happens to the mead that spills?

It becomes the source of "bad poetry" and is referred to as the skáldfífla hlutr ("rhymester's share" or "bad poet's mead")

What are the names of the containers that Odin stores the Mead of Poetry in?

Óðrerir (main cauldron)
Boðn (a vat)
Són (a vat)

What abilites do the contents of the Mead of Poetry provide to one who drinks them?

It turns one into a sage or skald (poet) granting profound wisdom, immense creativity, and the ability to compose inspired poetry or scholarly works.

Who is the god of strength, protector of Midgard, and enemy of the giants?

Thor

Who are Thor's parents?

Odin and Jord (a giantess representing the Earth)

What is Thor's hammer called?

Mjolnir ("crusher" or "lightning")

What is Thor's belt called?

Megingjörð ("power-belt" or "strength-girdle")

What are Thor's golves called?

Járngreipr ("iron grippers" or "iron gauntlets")

What are the names of the 2 goats that pull Thor's chariot?

Tanngrisnir ("teeth-barer") and Tanngnjóstr ("teeth-grinder")

What is a magical property of Thor's goats?

They can be resurrected with Mjolnir by Thor the next day if their bones remain intact (unbroken)

Which goat becomes lame after a human breaks one of its leg bones?

Tanngnjóstr

Who breaks Thor's goat's leg bone?

Thialfi, after Loki tricked him into eating the bone marrow

What was Thialfi's punishment for breaking Tanngnjóstr's leg bone?

Both Thialfi, along with his sister Roskva, were taken as servants by Thor.

Who stole Mjolnir?

Thrym (the giant king)

Where did Thrym hide Mjolnir?

8 miles deep in Jotunheim

What did Thrym demand in exchange for Mjolnir?

Freyja's hand in marriage

How did Thor and Loki trick Thrym?

Thor dressed up as Freyja for the wedding, and Loki was one of the bridesmaids.

What does Thor do at the wedding that raises suspicion with Thrym?

1) Eats an entire ox, 8 salmon, and all the "daintes" (food) for the women
2) Drinks 3 barrels of mead on his own
3) Displays fiery eyes (fury) when Thrym lifts the bridal veil

How does Loki cover up for Thor's actions at the wedding?

He claims that Freyja (Thor) is so lovesick that she didn't eat, drink, or sleep for 8 days.

What does Thor do when Mjolnir is brought out and placed in his lap to bless the bride at the wedding?

He takes off his disguise and kills all the giants in the hall.

Why does Thor go visit Hymir?

He needs to find a big enough cauldron to hold the amount of mead he needs to have a party at Aegir's palace.

What two tasks does Hymir give Thor upon reaching the shore?

To carry the two-whale catch to the hall or to make the boat fast.

How does Thor complete the task of securing the boat?

He carries the entire boat, including the whales and oars, to the hall.