Mythology of the North

Sharon McLaren informed the Lake Superior Elders about the mythology of the North on August 8, 2012.  This presentation included a step back in time to the myths and legends of the early Nordic world, the Gods and Goddesses that they worshipped and their eventual demise.  Sharon is a summer resident of Sault Ste. Marie and the director of the Cultural Center of Port Charlotte, Florida.  The presentation was enthralling and extremely interesting.  By the way, Sharon explained the differences between legends and myths.  Myths are in reference to Gods and legends are in reference to heroes.  The Nordics held the number nine in the highest regard.  According to them, there were nine worlds that began as giants.  The giants and humans lived on the same level.  There as the bifrost, which was a rainbow bridge connecting the world the Gods resided on and the humans.  Only the Gods could walk on this bridge to and from both worlds.  There were two types of Gods, warriors and fertility Gods.  Odin was considered the “all father.”  He was an Aesir God who was associated with memory and foresight.  Odin was a shape changer and his favorite shape was an old wanderer.  He was married to Frigg who made the clouds.  Odin had children with other women, including giant women. 

Some of the Gods that were Odin’s children were: Balder (God of Love and Joy); Thor (son of a giantress and Odin – powerful God in regards to his strength); Tyr (one handed God of War – a story was told of how he lost his hand); Humdall (guardian of the bifrost); and Alfheim (Top level ruler of the white elves). 

Loki was a son of the giants and Odin and he fathered three monster children: a snake being; horrible woman; and a large dog like creature.  The snake ended up being the guardian of midgard (the middle world); the woman became the guardian of hell; and the large dog like creature battled against the Gods and Tyr put his hand in the large dog’s mouth and lost his hand while he was trying to retrieve something of importance.  Loki was a trickster, a magician and a shape changer.  He was adopted by Odin who valued some of his talents. 

Mimir was the guardian of the well of knowledge and Odin gave up one eye to drink from the well of wisdom.  This well was located on the level in which the humans lived, interesting.

Another story involved the Goddess Gullveeig.  She had an obsession with gold so the other God’s decided to torture her because of this obsession.  This caused a war between the Vanir and Aesirs, which lasted ten years. 

There are similar beliefs propagated by various folklore such as pulling the sword from a stone versus pulling the sword from a tree which was introduced by the Nordics.

Sogurd awakens Brunnhilde who was placed in a ring of fire.  Then another God managed to cross that ring of fire and Brunnhilde thought it was Sogurd; but it was Rugnarok.  She ended up marrying the later God.

The day of reckoning involved the final battle between the Gods, giants and monsters. Surt was the guardian of the giants.  Thor battles the Midguard serpent and both die.  Most of the monsters and Gods are killed.  Vivarr survives and Balder and Hod are resurrected.  Sound familiar.  There is new world order.  I found this presentation to be very interesting and could have listened to a lot more of the Nordic folklore.