If you’ve ever heard of the mighty Thor, then this article will shed light on how he met his end, as well as introduce you to a collection of Norse gods and goddesses you might not be quite as familiar with.
Thor
It was Odin (the leader of the gods) and the earth goddess, Fjorgyn, who gave birth to Thor , the mighty thunder god. In Norse mythology, it was Thor who was one of the most powerful of the gods, carrying around a hammer with magical powers. He wore many hats in the tales that he was a part of, such as being the protector against the frost giants. When the doom of the gods took place (Ragnarok), his life was taken when the defeated sea serpent Jormungand was able to infiltrate his body with poisonous venom. When the Roman calendar was born, it was Thor who gives inspiration to the fifth day of the week – ‘Thursday.’
Njord
Belonging to one of the Vanir (a group of gods that represent positivity), Njord was the Germanic god of the sea, as well as father to Frey and Freyja , the fertility goddess. Freyja wowed onlookers with her beauty, but she was also known for the power she held over the dead. Possessing similar responsibilities as Odin, she watched over the heroic dead and chose who of the deceased were worthy at the end of battle. In addition to serving as the goddess of fertility, Freyja is also linked to lust and love. As for a significant other, tales reveal that she has a lost husband (called Odur or Od). Since little is known about her husband, many suspect that she was married to Odin , the theme that appears in some stories.
Tyr
Odin and Frigg give birth to Tyr, who becomes known as the god of war. When Fenrir (the monstrous wolf known as the beast of Ragnarok) becomes too powerful, the Norse gods have no choice but to keep the creature under lock and key.
No chain was strong enough to hold Fenrir so it was Tyr that had to place his hand in the mouth of the wolf while the other gods worked to invent a restraint with magical powers. When the beast realized that he had been tricked and could not get out of the god’s clutches, he bit off the hand of Tyr.
When Ragnarok took place, Tyr (of course) participated in the battle, where it was his fate to fight against Garm , the watchdog of the underworld. In the end, both Garm and Tyr lost their lives. Other names that the god is referred to include Tir, Tiv, Tiw, and Tiwaz.
Other gods and goddesses associated with Norse mythology include:
· Dellingr: Meaning ‘the dayspring’ or ‘shining one,’ this god is mentioned in 13th century text, who is known as the father of Dagr , the personification of ‘day.’ Others recognize the god as the third husband of Nott , the personification of ‘night.’
· Forseti: As the god of truth, peace and justice, Forseti’s name translates into ‘the presiding one’ , much like a president.
· Ullr: Meaning ‘glory,’ Ullr served as a major or important god during prehistoric times with details of the god dating back to the 3rd century. In medieval Icelandic circles, not much is recalled regarding Ullr.
· Melli: Known as ‘the lovely one,’ Melli is a son of Odi and brother to Thor, who other than his family ties, does not have much written about him in recorded history.