Loki

The norse god Loki is known as the trickster god. He is Malicious, clever, and unpredictable. Both of his parents were giants, ultimately making him a giant as well. He had a wife named Sigyn and a mistress named Angrboda, who was also a giant. With her he had three monsters and all together five children. Loki played many tricks on poeple and often made bad situations worse. He loved it and found it very entertaining.

Loki was the god who "began the chain of events that lead to the destruction of the gods". He killed figgs son, Baldr and refused to remorse to bring him back. Loki was punished for this by being placed on boulders with a poisonous snake on his head. His wife Sigyn remained by his side the whole time. In order to protect him from the pain she held a bowl above his head in order to catch the drops of venom coming from the snake. Every once in a while though, she had to leave his side in order to empty out the bowl. When she did this, venom fell amongst Loki's face causing him to "twist in pain". This reaction is what causes earthquakes. Later Loki was killed along with the other gods in the battle of Rangarok.


Casselman, Linda. "The Norse Trickster God Loki". Suite101. May 11, 2001. November 24, 2010.
         < http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/mythology/64495 >.


Crystal Ellie. "Norse Gods and Goddesses". Crystalinks. 1995. November 24, 2010.
         < http://www.crystalinks.com/norsegods.html > .

Tyr

Tyr is known as the god of war. He is bold and courageous. It is said, that by his name, he is either the son of Odin or the son of Hymir, a giant. He Carries around a spear which symbolizes justice. Tyr is considered Odin's right hand man or should I say " left hand man". A story goes that Fenrir, the bad wolf, was unable to be tied down by any chain. So the gods had a silk ribbon made of many things that would hold down the wolf. The wolf would not agree to this unless one of the men stuck their hand in his mouth. So Tyr, being the brave man he was, decided it would be him who took one for the team. In this instense though, Tyr lost his right hand, leaving him to be known as the one-handed god.

Tyr is also known as Tiw, by the anglo-saxons and the day tuesday is named after him. During Ragnarok, Tyr wants revenge on Fenrir for taking his hands, but that never happens. Tyr kills the gaurd dog of Hel, Garm, but then dies himself from the wounds made upon him.

Saunders, Chas. "Tyr". Godchecker. 1999. November 24, 2010.
        < http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/norse-mythology.php?deity=TYR >.


Crystal, Ellie. "Norse Gods and Goddesses". Crystalinks. 1995. November 24, 2010.
       < http://www.crystalinks.com/norsegods.html >.

Thor

Thor is the son of odin and is known as the god of thunder. He controlled the lighting and the storms. When is hammer would strike, lighting would flash across the sky. He married Sif, the goddess of fertility but he also had a mistress, Jarnsaxa. He had a son with Jarnaxa, Magni, and another son, Modi, but his mother is unknown. Thor was a large powerful man with a red beard and flowing hair. His popularity exceeded his fathers substantially. Many stories that Thor is seen in consist of giants trying to steal his hammer.

Thor protected gods and other humans aginst evil forces. His main weapon was a hammer called Mjollnir. He was called on by the common man to ensure fertility. Thor was often known for battleing giants and smashing their heads with his hammer. His greatest ememy was Jormungard, the midgard serpent. During Ragnarok, Thor killed the serpent but then dies himeslf from the poison.

      "Thor-Norse God of Thunder." Mythicalrealm. 1998-2010. November 14, 2010.
 < http://www.mythicalrealm.com/legends/thor.html. >

       Bose, Debopriya. "Thor: Norse God of Thunder." Buzzle. 2010. November 14, 2010.
< http://www.buzzle.com/articles/thor-norse-god-of-thunder.html. >

Odin

Odin was the father of all norse gods. He was known as the god of magic and knowledge as well as war and death. Odin lived in Asgard with all the other gods. His parents were Bor and Bestla. Odins wife was Frigga and his sons were Thor, the god of thunder, and Tyr, the god of war. He had a long beard and only one eye because he gave his eye "in exchange for a drink from Yggdrasil, a well of knowledge."  Odin also rode an eight-legged horse named Sleipnir and had two birds that carried news to him. His birds names were Huggin and Minnin which meant thought and memory.

Odin was the supreme god. Deceit, Violence, and war all intersted odin and he loved to cause conflict. He created a great hall in heaven called Valhalla. All the warriors that died in battle were housed their in heaven where thet received food and beer. Odin believed that they would all assist him in the battle of Ragnarok, the battle that would kill all gods. Odin was killed by the wolf Fenrir, "offspring of the fire god Loki."

           "Odin, Norse Mythology. "ancient-mythology. 2004-2010. November 14, 2010. <http://www.ancient-mythology.com/norse/odin.php>.

            Deshpande, Mukul. "Odin: The Chief of the Norse Gods." Buzzle. 2010. November 14, 2010. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/odin-the-chief-of-the-norse-gods.html>.

Why Norse gods?

Why Norse gods? I chose Norse gods as my blog topic because I wanted to learn more about them. I have been introduced to a few different Norse gods through class and am intersted to know a little bit more about them and where they came from. Each god represents something different. Norse mythology dates from the 11th to the 18th century and it is believed to have flourished during the viking age. Norse Mythology came from stories once told by Germanic tribes and was then spread through poetry. Most Norse stories are about people who became heroes and the gods are potrayed as powerful beings. Norse refers to ancient Scandinavians; Norwegians, Swedish, Danish, and Icelandic. It is believed that some of the norse characters may actually have a connection with real people from the 4th and 6th century AD. Eventually Norse mythology was replaced by the belief in christianity. Although still today, many of the gods and creatures are used in films and books.

 
Odin entering Valhalla < (Their Heaven)

Odin, Thor, Tyr and Loki are all Norse gods I will be discussing.