Norse Mythology
The mythology of the Nordic peoples, also known as Norse or Scandinavian mythology, is a collection of stories about the North Germanic peoples. It originated from paganism and continues to this day. Norse mythology consists of tales of various deities, beings, and heroes derived from numerous sources from both before and after the pagan period, including medieval manuscripts, archaeological representations, and folk tradition
Most of the surviving Norse mythology focuses on the interactions between the gods and various other beings, such as humans and the jtnar. The cosmos in Norse mythology is composed of Nine Worlds, which surround a sacred tree called Yggdrasil.
Units of time and cosmology are personified as beings or deities. Various forms of creation myth are told, where the world is made from the primordial being Ymir, with the first humans being named Ask and Embla. These are then predicted to be resurrected following the events of Ragnarok. During this battle, the gods and their enemies are engulfed in flames, and the entire world is brought back to life.
Since the 17th century, scholars have been discussing the various aspects of Norse mythology. Through a combination of historical linguistics and comparative mythology, they have discovered that some of the elements of the mythology originated from the Proto-Indo-European period. During the Romanticist period, the popularity of the Viking revival led to the development of an interest in Norse mythology. It also sparked the interest of other Germanic neopaganists.
The publication of Old Norse texts that contain stories about the Nordic peoples led to the widespread use of references to the gods and heroes in European literature. During the 20th century, the popularity of the mythology led to the creation of various forms of fictional media, such as role-playing games and comic books. Various bands have also been known to perform songs about Norse mythology. Some of these include Bathory, Mnegarm, and Amon Amarth. This is also the subject of Rick Riordan’s Magnus Chase book series.
