Longest Posting Streak - Get Your Rainbow On

[artyboy]

Odin formed the first humans, Ash and Embla, out of wood.

[artyboy]

Unlike Egyptian and Greek mythology, both of which have male rulers of the underworld, the Norse underworld is ruled by the goddess Hel.

[artyboy]

Vingolf is the name of the beautiful house the gods built for the Asynjur, the goddesses in Asgard.

[artyboy]

There are nine worlds in Norse mythology. Each world is divided into three levels. The first level contains Asgard, the home of the gods, and the middle contains Midgard, the home of human beings. Midgard is connected to Asgard via Bifrost, “the Rainbow Bridge.

[artyboy]

Niflheim, "Mist home," is the darkest and coldest region in the world and was supposed to be the first of the nine worlds. It is located in the north, and it was believed that under Niflheim was Helheim, home of the dead. On the other hand, Muspelheim was created far to the south of the world and is a burning-hot place, filled with lava, flames, and soot. Muspelheim was supposed to be the home of fire giants and demons and ruled by the giant Surt, a sworn enemy of the Aesir.

[artyboy]

Valhalla was the hall where Odin housed the dead whom he considered worthy of dwelling with him. This was not a reward for moral behavior rather it was a reward for being a distinguished warrior. Odin collected these warriors with the purpose of having them come to his aid in his foretold struggle against the wolf Fenrir during Ragnarok.

[artyboy]

Old Norse poems depict Valhalla as being thatched with shields and spears and guarded by wolves and eagles. It’s a place of perpetual fighting, presumably with the intention of sharpening the warriors’ skills for their battle against Fenrir.

[artyboy]

Having sacrificed an eye to receive wisdom, Odin had no need to eat, as wine was both food and drink to him.

[artyboy]

Odin’s throne, from which he supposedly could see into all the worlds, was called Hlidskialf.

[artyboy]

Despite being known as Odin, the most significant god in Norse myth has many names (over twenty). Even the name Sweden comes from “Svidur,” one of Odin’s names.