The Viking Gods

Like the Greeks and the Romans before them the Vikings had many gods until they converted to Christianity. This page attempts to provide details on the more important of these gods.

ODIN - THE GOD OF WARRIORS AND BATTLE

Odin was the father of the gods of Asgard (equivalent to Zeus). He was not only the god of battle, but also the god of wisdom and poetry. Odin lived inValhall and all those who had fallen in battle (the Einherjar) came to live there.

Odin had a grey horse called Sleipnir with eight legs so it never got tired, and two ravens called Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory). Odin sent the ravens out every morning and in the afternoon they came back to tell him all the news from the world that day. When it came to fighting Odin was the owner of a spear named Gungnir. This would always find its target when thrown.

He was married to Frigg and also owned two wolves called Geri and Freki. These wolves were at his side during the feasting in Valhall.

Odin had numerous names including Woden (the Anglo-Saxon version of the name) which survives today as Wednesday (or Wodens Day).

THOR - THE GOD OF THUNDER

Thor was a son of Odin and the giantess Jord. He was the chief giant-killer and ruled over a kingdom called Thrudvangar. Within that kingdom he had a 540 room palace called Bilskirnir.

When Thor rode across the sky in his enormous chariot drawn by goats called Tanngnjost (Toothgnasher) and Tanngrisnir (Toothgrinder), there was thunder and lightning in Midgard. Thor was able to eat these goats and they would regrow overnight. His weapon was the hammer Mjollnir (destroyer) and this was used to slay giants, as well as to remove snow and ice at the end of the winter (hence he was the god of farmers). In order to use the hammer Thor wore a pair of iron gloves. He could also put on a belt which doubled his strength.

As with Odin, Thor is still remembered in the name of a day of the week (Thursday).

FREYR, THE GOD OF FERTILITY, MARRIAGE AND GROWING THINGS

When crops were sowed in the spring a hole was dug in the middle of the field. Pieces of bread and some eggs were put into the hole and some beer was poured on top. This pleased Freyr and he would probably then help to make the crops grow tall and strong.

Freyr owned a folding ship called Skidbladnir. It folded so that it could be stored in a pouch when not required. Once unfolded, it was large enough to carry all the gods and their weapons, and would also produce a breeze wherever it went.

Freyr had a twin sister called Freyja who was the goddess of love and fertility.

Freyja has given us Friday.