GODDESSES

Angerboda: A Frost Giantess who was mate (or mistress) to the trickster God Loki. She bore three children; Jormungand, Fenrir, and Hel.

Bertha: The Goddess of Spinning.

Bestla: The mother of Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve, by her husband Bor.

Brunhild: A mighty female warrior, one of the Valkyrie. She defied Odin and in punishment he imprisoned her within a ring of fire on earth, decreeing that there she would remain until a brave hero rescued her. Enter Sigurd. He braved the fire, broke her charmed sleep, and fell in love with her. He gave her the ring, Andvarinaut, unaware of its curse. Eventually she kills herself when she learns that Sigurd had betrayed her with another woman (Gudrun), not knowing he had been bewitched into doing so by Grimhild.

Bylgja: A daughter of Aegir and Ran.

Eir: A companion of Frigg, Eir is the Goddess of Healing. She taught her art and the secret powers of herbs only to women, who were the only physicians in Ancient Scandinavia.

Elle: Personification of Old Age; in the form of an old hag, she wrestled Thor to defeat, much to his shame.

Embla: The name of the first woman.

Fjorgyn: The mother of the God Thor, she appears in few myths.

Freya: She is originally from the Vanir. Goddess of Love, Sex, Magic and Witchcraft, Fertility, and Beauty. She is sometimes identified as the Goddess of Battle and Death. She is also quite accommodating in sexual matters. She is said to have traded sexual favors (by sleeping with the four dwarves who had fashioned the necklace) to possess the necklace of the Brisings. When it was taken from her by Loki, she started a war of retaliation. Her father is Njord, a Fertility God. Blond, blue-eyed, and beautiful, Freya travels in a chariot drawn by cats. She is the leader of the Valkyries and the Idises - one of her titles is Vanadis. She resided in the celestial realm of Folkvang, where it was her privilege to receive half of all the warriors slain in battle and take their souls to her hall, Sessrumnir, in Folkvang; the God Odin received the other half at Valhalla. She loves music, spring and flowers, and spends much time with the fey. She is seen wearing a cloak of bird feathers, which allows the wearer to change into a falcon and the beautiful necklace of the Brisings given to her by the dwarves, which the Norse still refer to as the Milky Way. In Germany, Freya was sometimes identified with Frigg, the wife of Odin. She is also the twin sister of the God Frey.

Frigg: Goddess of the Sky. Daughter of Fjorgyn, Goddess of the Earth. She is Odin's wife and mother of Baldur and Hoth. Friday is named after her. Frigg is the patroness of marriage and motherhood. She assists women in labor and is associated with the naming of children. Frigg has the reputation of knowing everyone's destiny, but never reveals it. Being the wife of Odin, she is known as the Queen of the Heavens. She is the central deity in Asgard where her hall, Fensalir (Water Hall) is located. Her tools are the spindle and the distaff.

Fulla: From her name we get our word for abundance. Fulla is Frigg's handmaiden and messenger. She carries Frigg's casket of treasures and her support makes it possible for Frigg to do her work. Prayers are addressed to her for intercession with Frigg, and for guidance in service. She is pictured as a young woman with long, full hair, bound at the temple with a golden band.

Gerda: A Scandinavian Deity of Light. She is the most beautiful of creatures, the daughter of a female giant and a mortal man. Frey became infatuated with Gerda and sent his servant to fetch her. Gerda refused, but Frey kept sending gifts, and finally threats. A spell in runes eventually won Gerda, and she traveled to Asgard to live with Frey.

Gna: The messenger of heaven and of heaven's queen, Frigg. She is a wind deity.

Goilveig: She is a mighty witch who, according to legend, was killed three times but still lived. (She comes to Asgard and irritates the Aesir. They burn her three times, and twice she rises from the dead. Her death leads to the war between the Vanir and the Aesir. To end the war, the Aesir and Vanir agree to exchange hostages. The Aesir send Kvasir and Mimnir to the Vanir and the Vanir send Frey, Freya and Njord to the Aesir. Eventually, the two races of Gods semi-merge, though not entirely). Some believe she is an avatar for the mightiest of the Vanir, Freya.

Gondul: One of the most famous Valkyries, Gondul was sent to Earth to bring back the spirits of famous kings who fell in battle.

Gonlod: The mother of poetry. She was the giantess who owned the Cauldron of Inspiration that the God Odin took by trickery. She was also said to be the mother of Bragi, God of Poets.

Hel: The Goddess of the Dead. She dwelt beneath one of the three roots of the sacred ash tree Yggdrasil and resides in her hall, Elvidnir (misery) in the underworld (Helheim) of Niflheim, the World of Darkness. She is the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angerboda. Odin, the All-Father, hurled Hel into Niflheim, the realm of cold and darkness, itself also known as Hel, over which he gave her sovereign authority. Here the dead suffer unimaginable tortures, except for those who died heroically in battle (who ended up in Valhalla, the Hall of Heroes). Hel is described as being half white and half black or half-living and half-dead. She is responisble for plagues, sickness and catastrophes.

Hnoss: Goddess of Infatuation. Daughter of Freya.

Holda: She cares for children who have died; and, with Odin, leads the Wild Hunt during the Yule season. She is considered a patron of Witches, and is described as kind with a helpful disposition, except when she notices disorder in the household affairs. She helps to make sure spinners finish their spinning before the end of Yule. She also gives flax to mankind, allowing them to weave, and she teaches mankind how to hunt.

GODS

Alberich, A dwarven king, had his castle in a subterranean palace carved out of rock and ornated with gems and precious metal. He guarded the Nibelung hoard and was also a very powerful magician. He gave Siegfried the sword Balmung and a cloak which granted invisibility. Freya received the necklace Brisingamen along with Draupnir, Odin’s ring, and the magical sword Tyrfing.

Baldur: God of Beauty. He was the second son of Odin, chief of the Gods, and Frigg. His mother took oaths from all plants, creatures, elements and metals that they would not harm him, all except the mistletoe plant for she felt it was too young and too small to harm him. He was therefore thought to be immune from harm and the other Gods, in sport, would throw things at him. Loki, the God of Mischief, deceived Hodr (a blind God and Baldur's brother) into throwing a spear made from mistletoe at Baldur, thereby killing him. He is taken to Hel, and Frigg searches out Hella to find out what can be done to bring him back. Hella says that if every living thing will weep for Baldur, she will release him. Frigg is able to secure pledges from all living creatures except for an old woman named Thokk, who is actually Loki in disguise. Baldur, therefore, still waits in Hel with his wife, and will come out again only after Ragnarok to help rule the new world.

Bergelmir: The frost giant who, with his wife, were the only frost giants to survive drowning in the blood when Odin and his brothers killed Ymir.

Berserker: Grandson of the eight-handed Starkadder and Alfhilde. He always fought ferociously and recklessly, without armor. That's the origin of berserk for a savage fighter, or one with the "fighting fever".

Billing: Father of the beautiful Rind, who despite an ititial repugnance toward Odin eventually capitulated to his wooing and bore him a son, Vali. Vali later killed Hoder, thereby avenging Baldur's death.

Bor: Son of Buri, husband of the giant Bestla, and father of Odin, Vili and Ve.

Bragi: The God of poetry and eloquence, and considered the greatest of all the bards. He is the son of Odin and Gunnlod, a female giant. He was married to Idun.

Brono: Brono was the son of Baldur. He is the God of Daylight.

Buri: The first God, who was the Father of Bor and the Grandfather of Odin. His "birth" was by being released from the primeval ice when Audhumla (the cow) licked the ice.

Farbanti: He is a giant who ferried the dead over the waters to the underworld. He is the father of Loki by Laufey, who gave birth to Loki when Farbanti struck her with a lightning bolt.

Fjalar: The evil dwarf who, with his brother Galar, killed the wise man Kvasir in order to gain Kvasir's magic powers. They mixed his blood with honey in a cauldron and ended up with a mead that bestowed wisdom to the drinker. But the mead was taken by Suttung, a frost giant, who boasted of his acquisition to all. When the boasts reached Odin, he decided to go to Jotunheim (land of the frost giants) to get the mead for himself. He disguised himself as the evil frost giant Bolverk, and persuaded Baugi (another frost giant) to dig a tunnel through the mountain to where Suttung kept the mead under the guard of his daughter Gunnlod. Then odin turned himself into a snake and slithered through the tunnel to the treasure. When he reached the cavern he turned himself into a handsome giant and for three days and nights was Gunnlod's passionate lover. She allowed him to drink all of the mead whereupon he changed himself into an eagle, and flew home to Asgard and spit up the mead into some empty jars.

Forseti: God of Justice and Meditation. Son of Baldur and Nanna.

Frey: A God of the Vanir race. Twin brother of Freya. He is the God of Peace, Fertility and Weather. He is married to Gerda, a giantess he fell in love with after spying her from Odin's high seat. He gave his sword to his manservant as payment for him to go and bring Gerda to him. As a result, he will be without his weapon at Ragnarok and will have to battle Surt with only an antler. Frey also has a boat, Skidbladnir, which can be folded up and carried.

Geirrod: A frost giant and father of two daughters, Gjalp and Greip. He is a bitter enemy of Thor, and having captured Loki (when Loki was flying around as a hawk) received from him a promise that he, Loki, would bring Thor to Geirrod's castle without Thor having his magic belt and magic hammer. Loki did as promised and led Thor into the trap. On the way there, though, they stopped to rest at the home of a giantess named Grid. She told Thor what was up when Loki left the room, and gave him her magic belt, iron gloves and magic staff. Thor used each and slew Geirrod, his daughters, and all other frost giants in the vicinity.

Heimdall: He is said to be the son of nine mothers. He lives at the foot of Bifrost, and guards it. He is known as the watchman of the Gods. Heimdall is the keeper of the Gjallahorn, the "ringing" horn, which he is to sound when Ragnarok is near. His hearing is so sensitive he canhear the grass growing and the wool on sheep growing. He consorted with three women, from whom descend the three classes of mankind; serf (thrall), freeman (karl), and nobleman (jarl).

Hermod: Son of Odin and Frigg, and brother of Baldur. He was Divine Messenger of the Gods (same as Hermes and Mercury).

Hodr: The blind brother of Baldur, tricked by Loki, he throws a mistletoe dart at his brother and kills him.

Hogni: He and his brother Gunner, persuaded by Brunhild to avenge her honor, arranged Sigurd's death. They inherited his fortune, including the cursed ring Andvarinaut, and were in turn doomed at the hands of Atli.

Holer: The God of Death and Destruction and the one who brings diseases and disasters. He takes people to his dungeon where he tortures them to death.

Honir: The long-legged God of the Aesir, and brother of Odin.

Non-Gender Specific Deities

Alaisiagae: Nordic War Goddesses.

Askr and embla: The first man and first woman and the progenitors of the human race. They were created out of tree trunks by Odin and his two brothers.

Fenris: Fenris is the monstrous wolf, son of the God Loki who will swallow Odin at Ragnarok, but will be slain by Odin's son, Vidar.

Garm: The hound which stands in front of Hel's home and snarls with jaws dripping blood at the pilgrims from the Upper World. He will kill, and be killed by, Tyr at Ragnarok.

Gold-comb: The cock who shall crow when Ragnarok comes.

Gulltopr: Heimdall's horse.

Hodr:

Non Deities

Ginnunggap: Ginnunggap is the "Yawning Void" that existed before the creation of the Gods.

Gioll: The river which surrounded the underworld, Hel.

Gleipnir: The chain which binds Fenris. It is made from the footfalls of cats, the beards of women, the roots of mountains and the breath of fish.

Gotterdammerung: The end of the world.

Gungnir: Odin's spear, obtained from the dwarves by Loki.

Halls of the Gods:
Bilskinir - Thor's Hall
Breiablikk - Baldur's Hall
Fensilar - Frigg's Hall
Folksvang - Freya's Hall
Gladsheim - Odin's Hall (Valhalla is within Gladsheim)
Glitnir - Forsetti's Hall
Hel - Hel's Hall
Himminbjorg - Heimdal's Hall
Landvidi - Vidar's Hall
Sokkvabekk - Saga's Hall
Thrymheim - Skadi's Hall
Valaskjalf - Vali's Hall
Vingol - Hall of the Goddesses
Ydalir - Uller's Hall

Ragnarok: The end of the world.