The Mythological Creature
NORSE MYTHOLOGY.

Norse mythology (in English: “Norse Mythology”, Norstalk: north) was the belief of the people of Northern Europe (the countries of Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden) before the arrival of Christianity. These beliefs and legends spread to other Northern European countries, including Iceland which has the sources of such mythology.

The mythology is a collection of ancient beliefs of Northern Europeans that contains stories about supernatural beings, cosmology, and other myths written in the form of poetry or prose and summarized in the Edda. The mythology was written before and after the arrival of Christianity in Northern Europe.

In Scandinavian folklore, the mythology still survives, and in rural areas, the ancient tradition is still seen today. Mythology has also influenced and inspired literature today.

***Sources***

Norse mythology is spoken by word of mouth and is now widely abandoned or lost. In ancient times, such stories were collected and recorded by Christian scholars, especially in Edda and Heimskringla. Edda is written in the form of prose and verse, it tells about the character of Gods and mythological stories. Some of the Edda was written by Snorri Sturluson, a Christian poet, writer, and scholar who considered the Norse Gods to be more human-like than demons.

In addition to these sources, there are living legends that developed in Scandinavian society, for example some legends that appear in German literature, and mythological stories in Deor. When some of those stories persist, experts can reveal stories that have not been written. In addition, there are hundreds of places in Scandinavia named after their gods.

There are some relics that reveal stories in Norse mythology. The relics are in the form of paintings, statues, and sculptures.

***cosmology***

In Norse mythology, there are nine worlds, of which the nine worlds are connected by the Yggdrasil tree. In Norse mythology, the Yggdrasil tree is the center of the world. On its branches and roots are different worlds, namely:

•Asgard, the world of the Esirs or the highest and most powerful of the gods. Asgard lies on the upper branch of Yggdrasil through the springs of Urd.

•vanaheim, the world of the Vanir or the faction

little gods. It is located adjacent to Asgard in the environment of the gods.

Alfheim, the world of the Elves or the small god race of fertility regulators.

•human world as a world of immortals.

Jotunheimr, the world of the Jotuns or the giants.

•Svartalfheim, the world of the Svartalfars (English: Swart elfs/elves) or Dokkalfar (English: Dark elfs/elves) are the elves of darkness.

•Instead, the world of Dwarves or dwarves. They lived in caves or underground as skilled miners and experts made metal tools and weapons.

•Niflheim, the cold underworld, home of the Jotuns (giants) of ice, is ruled by Hel, Loki's daughter

Muspell or Muspellheim, the world of fire and home to Surt, a giant whose skin is lava and hair is fire

***supernatural being***

According to Norse mythology, there are three classes of beings that are more powerful than humans, namely: Aesir, Vanir, and Jotun. Aesir and Vanir are very close, because they are the Gods. Aesir and Vanir together created the universe, governing human life, even though they once fought with each other.

The enemies of Aesir and Vanir are the Jotuns or giants (ancient English: Eontenas or Entas). They are similar to the Titans and Gigantes in Greek mythology. The word Jotun is often translated as giant, although the word Troll or demon is more suitable. The Jotuns or the giants are not always evil. Aesir as a faction of the Gods was at odds with Jotun, although the Gods and Jotuns had once been in a relationship and were married to each other, as Thor was married to Jarnsaxa; Odin was brother to Loki; he was also a member of the Jotun clan; Hel (half Goddess half giant) is brother to Loki. In mythology, Jotun women were usually not evil (as in the story, Grid helped Thor) and married the Gods (as in the story, Thor married Jarnsaxa).

***The main gods of Aesir in mythology

Nordic***

•the first being or the first god born from ice licked by Audhumbla. Father of Borr.

•Borr: The father of Odin, Ve and Vili he got from the wife of a giant named Bestla.

•Odin: God of battle, death, poetry, and magic/magic. The ruler of Asgard, has a weapon in the form of a spear called Gungnir.

•Ve: A god who bestows the ability of human speech.

Villi: The god of water.

•God of lightning, god of war. Son of Odin and giant of Jord. He has a hammer named Mjolnir.

•But: God of war and courage. Tyr's attribute was a spear.

•Heimdall: Guard god. He is the god who guards the Bifrost, the way in and out of Asgard. The son of Odin and Nine Waves, also known as Rigr or the creator of mankind.

•Fish: God of fire and deceiver, trouble-seeker. Son of the giants Farbautia and Laufey, he killed Balder through a ruse. Loki was originally a descendant of Jotun, but since becoming an inbred brother to Odin, Loki became the god Aesir and lived in Asgard.

***Other creatures in Norse mythology***

•the first giant.

•First man: the first man

•First woman: first woman

•Fenrir: The ferocious giant wolf, the first child of Loki and Angrboda, who is like a monster. Finally, it was successfully tied by the chains made by the Dwarves after he ate the hands of Tyr who sacrificed so that Fenrir would be tied.

•A giant serpent that can wrap around the earth and hold its own tail, the second son of Angrboda and Loki.

•^_Jord: Sea god.

•Goddess of youth. It has apples that can make life eternal.

Kings and heroes

Mythological literature deals with legends about kings and heroes, like supernatural beings. The legends and stories are considered to be the origin stories of their country. Several legends are thought to have occurred, and Scandinavian scholars sought to dig into its history through myths in tales of heroism.

***The worship of the ancient Scandinavians***

In the past, worship of ancient gods and human sacrifices were performed by Scandinavians. The Blot is a form of worship that was applied to the ancient Germans and Scandinavians. They used a stone arranged called “horgr” as a simple altar or a means of worship. There are important cult centers such as Skiringsal, Lejre, and Uppsala. The temple at Uppsala has three statues of gods or idols: Thor, Odin, and Freyr. The priestly system exists, but it is not yet perfectly illustrated. At that time, the deities that were much worshiped were Odin and Thor. Today, there are no temples for worship of ancient Norse gods. Worship and worship were only done by the people of the past. Many of the former temples of the past were either left unaccounted for or destroyed during the Christianization of Europe.