Norse mythology was developed by the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian peoples.
The concept of mythology comes from the late Latin mythology , in turn derived from the Greek word mythologia . The term refers to the set of various myths of a community .
A myth , in turn, is a story that has heroic or divine beings as protagonists. These narratives are located beyond history and generally provide a fanciful explanation of the origins of a people.
The Nordic adjective, meanwhile, allows you to qualify that or that which is originally from northern Europe . The notion refers to countries such as Finland , Norway , Sweden , Iceland and Denmark , among others.
What is Norse mythology
The legends , beliefs and worldviews of the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian peoples are called Norse mythology . This mythology developed in regions such as Scandinavia , Gaul and Britain .
Norse mythology was passed down from generation to generation orally . It came to us mainly through the Greater Edda and the Lesser Edda , two compilations dating from the 13th century .
The absence of a sacred book and divine revelation; the representation of the Earth as a flattened disk; the division of the universe into nine kingdoms; and the existence of several clans of divinities are some of the main characteristics of this mythology.
Various gods, giants and other beings appear in Norse mythology.
The beginning and the end
According to Norse mythology, at the beginning of time there was a kingdom of fire ( Muspelheim ) and a kingdom of ice ( Niflheim ) where various creatures lived. In the middle of them, appeared an abyss known as Ginnungagap .
From the Hvergelmir fountain, located in Niflheim , water gushed out and turned into ice when it reached Ginnungagap . In a moment the ice covered the entire void. When Auðumbla , the Great Cosmic Cow that fed the hermaphrodite giant Ymir , licked the ice, it gave rise to the birth of Buri , the first god .
Buri fathered Bor , father of the primeval Æsir (gods): Odin , Ve and Vili . These three beings finally killed Ymir and created the world from the giant's body.
Norse mythology contemplates the end of the world as a result of a battle called Ragnarök . According to the prophecy , gods, giants and other beings will face each other in a battle that will destroy the universe .
Creatures of Norse mythology
In addition to the Æsir , Norse mythology includes other supernatural creatures. Deities such as the Vanir and the Valkyries ; races of giants like the jotuns ; female beings like the nornas ; elves ; and various kinds of beasts appear in the narratives.
As for human beings , these myths rescue the figures of legendary heroes and kings such as Ragnar Lodbrok , Hagbard and Völundr . These characters made possible the construction of an epic and contributed to the formation of the identity of the Nordic peoples.
Its influence in the modern era
Norse mythology has a great influence on various aspects and works of modern culture . It has inspired the development of literary and musical creations and is even present in the vocabulary of languages such as German and English.
Thursday , for example , is the English word for Thursday . Its etymological origin refers to the Day of Thor , Norse god of thunder and strength.
The series of operas "The Ring of the Nibelung" by the German Richard Wagner and the novel "The Lord of the Rings" by the British JRR Tolkien are other testimonies of the influence of Norse mythology.