Viking Gods and Religion

The god’s enemy were the giants. Vikings believed the world would end with the final battle of Ragnarok, between gods and giants. 

 

There were two groups of gods worshipped: 

 

Vanir (Fertility Gods) – Wise and skilled in Magical Arts 

 

Aesir (Warrior Gods) – Worshipped in War and Victory 

 

The more prominent are listed here: 

 

Odin – God of War (King of Gods). The chief Viking god and god of the Aesir. He ruled Valhalla (Viking heaven), where chosen warriors went after death. All Vikings worshipped and feared him. 

 

Frigg – Goddess of Marriage and Protector of Children. Odin’s wife and the foremost goddess of the Aesir. Friday is named after either Frigg or Freya. 

 

Thor – God of Thunder. Son of Odin and protector of the land of the gods from the giants. The best loved and worshipped of the gods and the strongest of all gods and of the Aesir. It is believed that thunder is the noise made when Thor is fighting the giants with his hammer (Mjollnir). When Thor had the hammer, his strength increased. Thor is the Germanic word for Thunder. Thursday is named after Thor. 

 

Loki – God of Mischief and Lies (God of Fire) – Represents evil and is known for trickery. The darkest of all gods, 

 

Loki represented evil and is known for his trickery. He was the darkest of all Gods, possessing great knowledge of the world and clever in making other gods do as he wished. He ended up betraying the gods against Odin. 

 

Baldur – God of Love, Peace and Forgiveness. Loki tricked Baldur’s brother Hohr into killing him with a spear of mistletoe. 

 

Frey – God of Prosperity and Fertility. A Vanir god. 

 

Freya – Warrior Goddess of Love and Beauty. The most beloved and honoured amongst goddesses. Foremost goddess of the Vanir. 

 

Idun – Goddess of Spring and Immortal Youth. She guarded the golden apples. The apples were eaten by Norse Gods to continue to let them live until Ragnarok. 

 

Hel – Goddess of the Dead. The daughter of Loki, she was to reign over the realm of the dead. 

 

Valkyries – Warrior Maidens of Odin. Responsible for choosing the warriors who could enter Valhalla. 

 

Valhalla – Hall of Slain Heroes (Viking Heaven). An enormous majestic hall ruled over by Odin with hundreds of doors where fallen warriors could enter. 

 

Ragnarok – The End of the World. The doom of all gods and humans and the final battle between the Aesir and Vanir to end the world.