Republic of the Philippines

SURIGAO DEL NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY

Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
“For Nation’s
Greater Heights”

COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

Second Semester, AY 2023 - 2024

Course Code : EM 5 Class Schedule: MW 7:00 – 8:30

A.M.
Course Title : Mythology and Folklore Room: CTE 233
Instructor : Dr. Carmelin Puracan - Mosa
Topic/s : The Norse Gods
Discussant Name: : Lovely B. Guden

Norse mythology is the collection of myths and legends of the ancient Scandinavian
people. It tells the stories of the gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and the fate of the
world.

The Primordial Chaos

Before the world was created, there was a vast empty space called Ginnungagap. The
higher regions of Ginnungagap were bitterly cold, while the lower area grew increasingly
hot. At the northern edge of Ginnungagap, there was a world of ice called Niflheim, and
at the southern edge, there was a world of fire called Muspelheim. The ice and fire met
in the middle of Ginnungagap, and the melting ice and hot sparks interacted to gradually
form steam and mist. These took shape as a great giant called Ymir and a primordial
cow called Audhumla.

The First Beings

Ymir was the ancestor of all the giants, and he fed on the milk from Audhumla.
Audhumla licked the salty ice and revealed a man called Buri, who was the ancestor of
all the gods. Buri had a son called Bor, who married a giantess called Bestla. Bor and
Bestla had three sons: Odin, Vili, and Ve. These three brothers were the first of the
Aesir, the main group of gods in Norse mythology. They were not happy with Ymir and
his offspring, who were chaotic and destructive. They decided to kill Ymir and use his
body to create the world.

The Creation of the World

The three brothers dragged Ymir's lifeless body towards the center of Ginnungagap, and
this is the place where they created the world from the remains of Ymir. The blood
became the oceans, rivers, and lakes; the flesh became the land; the bones became the
mountains; the teeth became the rocks; the hair became the trees; and the skull became

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 Republic of the Philippines
SURIGAO
the sky. They also made the sun, DEL
the moon, andNORTE
the starsSTATE
from theUNIVERSITY
sparks of
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
Muspelheim, and placed them in the sky to light up the world. They created a central
“For Nation’s
Greater Heights”

sacred tree called Yggdrasil, which connected the different parts of the world. They also
created the Nine Worlds, which were the realms of different beings, such as gods,
giants, elves, dwarves, and humans.

The Nine Worlds

The Nine Worlds of Norse mythology were divided among three levels, all held together
by Yggdrasil. The upper level consisted of Asgard, the world of the Aesir gods; Alfheim,
the world of the light elves; and Vanaheim, the world of the Vanir gods, who were
associated with fertility and nature. The middle level consisted of Midgard, the world of
the humans; Jotunheim, the world of the giants; and Svartalfheim, the world of the dark
elves or dwarves. The lower level consisted of Niflheim, the world of ice and mist;
Muspelheim, the world of fire and lava; and Helheim, the world of the dead, ruled by the
goddess Hel. The Nine Worlds were constantly in conflict, and the gods and the giants
were the main enemies.

The First Humans

The three brothers then created the first humans, Ask and Embla, from two pieces of
wood that they found on the shore. They gave them life, breath, mind, speech, and
appearance. They named them Ask and Embla, which mean ash and elm in Old Norse.
They placed them in Midgard, the world of the humans, and gave them a home
surrounded by a fence to protect them from the giants. Ask and Embla became the
progenitors of all the human race, and the gods watched over them and their
descendants.

Odin: The Supreme Norse God of Wisdom, War, and Magic

Odin is the king of the Aesir, the principal race of Norse gods. He is the father of all the
gods and the creator of humans. He is also the god of many things, such as wisdom,
war, poetry, magic, death, and the runic alphabet. He is often depicted as an old man
with one eye, a long beard, a cloak, a wide-brimmed hat, and a spear. He is revered and
feared by the Vikings, who call him by many names and offer him sacrifices.

The Origins and Family of Odin

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 Republic of the Philippines
Odin is the son of Bor, a god, SURIGAO
and Bestla, aDEL NORTE
giantess. STATE
He has UNIVERSITY
two brothers, Vili and Ve,
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
with whom he killed the first being, Ymir, a giant. From Ymir's body, they created the
“For Nation’s
nine worlds
Greater of Norse cosmology, including Midgard, the realm of humans, and Asgard,
Heights”

the realm of the gods. Odin and his brothers also created the first humans, Ask and
Embla, from two pieces of wood.

Odin is married to Frigg, the goddess of marriage and prophecy. He has many children,
both divine and mortal. His most famous sons are Thor, the god of thunder, Balder, the
god of light and joy, and Vidar, the god of vengeance. He also has a blood-brother, Loki,
the trickster god, who causes him many troubles.

Odin is also the god of magic and sorcery. He knows many spells and charms, such as
how to bind and unbind, how to change his shape and appearance, how to control the
weather and the elements, and how to influence the minds and fates of others. He is
especially skilled in seiðr, a type of magic that involves contacting the spirits of the dead
and foretelling the future. However, this type of magic is considered unmanly and
shameful by the Vikings, so Odin is often mocked and scorned for practicing it.

Odin is the god of war and battle. He is the leader of the einherjar, the fallen warriors
who dwell in his hall, Valhalla. He chooses half of the slain in every battle, while the
other half go to Freyja, the goddess of love and death. He prepares them for the final
battle of Ragnarök, the doom of the gods, when he will face his destined enemy, the wolf
Fenrir.

Odin is also the god of poetry and eloquence. He is the patron of skalds, the poets who
compose and recite verses in honor of the gods and heroes. He stole the mead of
poetry, a magical drink that gives the gift of words, from the giants. He also inspired
many legendary heroes and kings, such as Sigurd, the slayer of the dragon Fafnir, and
Harald Fairhair, the first king of Norway.

Frigg: The Norse Goddess of Love and Wisdom

Frigg is a Norse goddess who is the wife of Odin, the king of the gods, and the mother of
Balder, the god of light and joy. She is the queen of Asgard, the home of the gods, and
the leader of the Asynjur, the group of goddesses. She is the goddess of love, marriage,
fertility, motherhood, and domestic affairs. She is also the goddess of wisdom, prophecy,
and magic, as she knows the fate of all beings, but rarely reveals it.

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 Republic of the Philippines
SURIGAO
Frigg is one of the most important DEL NORTE
and influential STATE
goddesses UNIVERSITY
in Norse mythology, as she
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
is the consort of Odin and the mother of Balder, two of the most revered gods. She is
“For Nation’s
also the Heights”
Greater patroness of women, especially wives and mothers, and the protector of the
family and the home. She is often involved in the affairs of the gods and the mortals, as

she tries to prevent or mitigate the disasters that threaten the world. She is also the one
who initiates the mourning for Balder after his death, and the one who will welcome him
back after Ragnarok, the doom of the gods.

Balder: The Norse God of Light and Joy

Balder (also spelled Baldr or Baldur) is one of the Aesir gods in Norse mythology. He is
the son of Odin, the king of the gods, and Frigg, the queen of the gods. He is the
husband of Nanna, a goddess of joy and peace, and the father of Forseti, a god of
justice and reconciliation. He is the god of light, joy, purity, and summer, and he is loved
by all the gods and beings in the nine realms. He is said to be so handsome and noble
that light shines from his body, and even the flowers bow before him as he passes.

Balder’s role in Norse mythology is mainly related to his death and resurrection, which
are seen as symbols of the cycle of life and the fate of the gods. Balder was destined to
die by a prophecy that Frigg heard, and she tried to prevent it by making everything in
the world swear an oath not to harm him. However, she overlooked the mistletoe, a
seemingly harmless plant, and Loki, the trickster god, used it to kill Balder. Balder’s
death caused great grief and anger among the gods, and they tried to bring him back
from the underworld, but failed. Balder’s death also marked the beginning of the end of
the world, as it was one of the signs of Ragnarok, the doom of the gods.

Thor: The Norse God of Thunder, Lightning and Strength

Thor is one of the most prominent and popular gods in Norse mythology. He is the son
of Odin, the chief of the gods, and Jord, the goddess of the earth. He is the husband of
Sif, the goddess of fertility, and the father of several children, including Modi, Magni,
Thrud and Ullr. He is also the protector of mankind, who often intervenes to defend them
from the threats of the giants and other enemies.

Thor is best known for his mighty hammer, Mjolnir, which he uses to control the weather,
especially thunder, lightning and storms. He also has a belt of strength, Megingjord,
which doubles his power, and a pair of iron gloves, Jarngreipr, which help him wield his
hammer. He rides a chariot pulled by two goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, who can

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 Republic of the Philippines
SURIGAOthe
be killed and eaten and then resurrected DEL NORTE
next day. HeSTATE
also hasUNIVERSITY
a loyal servant,
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
Thjalfi, and a wise companion, Roskva.
“For Nation’s
Greater Heights”
Thor has many adventures in Norse mythology, often involving his encounters with the
giants, who are his main foes. Some of his most famous exploits include:

His fishing trip with the giant Hymir, where he almost catches the world-serpent
Jormungand.

His journey to Utgard, where he is tricked by the giant king Utgard-Loki into competing in
impossible tasks.

His duel with the giant Hrungnir, where he smashes his head with his hammer, but also
gets a piece of whetstone stuck in his forehead.

His visit to the giantess Skadi, where he makes her laugh by tying his beard to a goat’s
beard and pulling it.

His role in Ragnarok, the final battle of the gods, where he kills and is killed by
Jormungand.

Bestla: The Norse Goddess of the Frost Giants

Bestla is a Norse goddess who belongs to the race of the frost giants, also known as the
Jotnar. She is the daughter of Bolthorn, a powerful giant, and the sister of Mimir, the
wise god of the well. She is also the mother of Odin, the king of the gods, and his
brothers Vili and Ve. She married Bor, the son of Buri, the first god created by the cow
Audhumla.

Bestla is not a prominent figure in Norse mythology, but she plays an important role as
the ancestor of the Aesir, the main group of gods. She is also one of the few giants who
are friendly to the gods, unlike most of her kin who are enemies of the Aesir. She helped
her son Odin and his brothers to overthrow their grandfather Ymir, the first giant, and to
create the world from his body parts. She also gave Odin the gift of wisdom by allowing
him to drink from Mimir’s well, which cost him one of his eyes.

Bor: The Norse God of the First Generation

Bor is a Norse god who belongs to the first generation of gods, before the world was
created. He is the son of Buri, the first god who emerged from the ice, and the father of
Odin, the king of the gods, and his brothers Vili and Ve. He married Bestla, a giantess

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 Republic of the Philippines
SURIGAO
who was the daughter of Bolthorn, DELfrost
a powerful NORTE
giant. STATE UNIVERSITY
Bor and Bestla are the
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
ancestors of the Aesir, the main group of gods in Norse mythology.
“For Nation’s
Greater Heights”

Bor is not a prominent figure in Norse mythology, but he plays an important role as the
bridge between the gods and the giants, two opposing forces in the Norse cosmology.
He is also the one who passed on the divine spark to his sons, who became the creators
of the world and the rulers of the nine realms. Bor is mentioned in the Poetic Edda, a
collection of ancient Norse poems, and the Prose Edda, a medieval Icelandic manual of
Norse mythology.

Bragi :: The Norse God of Poetry and Eloquence

Bragi is a god in Norse mythology, who is the master of poetry, eloquence, and wisdom.
He is the son of Odin, the chief of the gods, and possibly the giantess Gunnlod, who
guarded the mead of poetry. He is the husband of Idun, the goddess of youth and
spring, who provides him and the other gods with the magic apples of immortality. His
name means “poet” in Old Norse, and he is also the origin of the word “brag”, meaning
to boast or praise.

Bragi is the skaldic poet of the Aesir, the main tribe of gods. He has the power to create
and recite beautiful and inspiring poems, songs, and stories, which he often performs at
the court of Odin. He is also a wise and learned figure, who knows the history and lore of
the nine worlds. He is often depicted with a long beard, a harp, and runes carved on his
tongue, which symbolize his skill and knowledge of poetry.

Bragi has several myths and stories in Norse mythology. One of them is the story of how
he met his wife Idun. According to one version, he was traveling in the land of the giants,
when he heard a beautiful voice singing. He followed the sound and found Idun, who
was the daughter of a giant. He was enchanted by her beauty and her voice, and asked
her to marry him. She agreed, and he took her to Asgard, where she became the
goddess of youth and spring. Another story is the story of how he welcomed the hero
Hermod to Valhalla, the hall of the slain warriors. He greeted him with a poem, praising
his bravery and deeds, and invited him to join the feast of the gods. He also told him the
stories of the other heroes who had died in battle and were honored in Valhalla.

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 Republic of the Philippines
Bragi is one of the gods who willSURIGAO DEL NORTE
die in Ragnarok, STATE
the doom of theUNIVERSITY
gods. He will be killed
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
by the fire giant Surt, who will set fire to the world and burn everything to ashes. Bragi
“For Nation’s
willGreater
not fight in the final battle, but will instead sing and play his harp, honoring the fallen
Heights”

gods and heroes with his poetry. He will also comfort his wife Idun, who will survive the
destruction and join the new generation of gods in the new world.

Freyja: The Norse Goddess of Love, Witchcraft, and War

Freyja (Old Norse: “Lady”) is one of the most prominent and influential goddesses in
Norse mythology. She is the sister and female counterpart of Freyr, the god of fertility
and prosperity, and the daughter of Njord, the god of the sea and wealth. She belongs to
the Vanir tribe of deities, who are associated with nature, fertility, and magic, but she
also became an honorary member of the Aesir tribe of deities, who are associated with
war, wisdom, and sovereignty, after the Aesir-Vanir War, a conflict between the two
groups of gods.

Freyja is the goddess of love, beauty, and sexuality in Norse mythology. She is the
patroness of lovers, marriages, and fertility. She is also the goddess of gold, as she
loves jewelry and adornments. She owns the necklace Brisingamen, a precious and
magical item that she obtained from four dwarves in exchange for sleeping with them.
She also has a cloak of falcon feathers, which allows her to transform into a bird and fly
across the nine worlds. She rides a chariot pulled by two cats, or sometimes a boar
named Hildisvini, who is either her lover or her son. She has many lovers, both gods and
mortals, and she is not bound by any marital vows. She is the most desirable and
sought-after goddess in Norse mythology.

chcraft and Magic

Freyja is the goddess of witchcraft and magic in Norse mythology. She is the master of
seiðr, a form of magic that involves seeing and influencing the future, as well as
manipulating the minds and fates of others. She taught this art to Odin, the chief of the
gods, and to other gods and humans. She is also skilled in other forms of magic, such as
shape-shifting, healing, and summoning. She has a special connection with the Volva,
the female seers and sorceresses who practice seiðr and prophecy. She is the source of
their power and inspiration.

Freyja is the goddess of war and death in Norse mythology. She is the leader of the
Valkyries, the female warriors who choose the slain on the battlefield and bring them to
the afterlife. She shares half of the fallen warriors with Odin, who takes them to his hall

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 Republic of the Philippines
SURIGAO
of Valhalla, while she takes the DEL
other half to her NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY
hall of Sessrumnir, located in the realm
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
of Fólkvangr. She is also the goddess of the dead, as she receives the souls of those
“For Nation’s
who die Heights”
Greater of old age, sickness, or other causes. She is the comforter and protector of the
deceased, and she helps them to prepare for their rebirth. She is the goddess of the
cycle of life and death, and the balance of peace and war.

Loki: The Shape-Shifting God of Mischief in Norse Mythology

Loki is a god in Norse mythology who is often simply described as the ‘trickster’ god for
his love of playing pranks on both his fellow gods and his or their opponents. He is the
son of the giant Fárbauti and the goddess Laufey, and he has two brothers, Helblindi
and Býleistr. He is also the father of many monstrous children, such as the wolf Fenrir,
the serpent Jormungand, and the goddess of death Hel. Loki has the ability to change
his shape and sex, and he can transform into any animal or object. He is also very
cunning and persuasive, and he can lie and deceive with ease. He is often depicted as
having red hair and a mischievous smile.

Loki was included among the Aesir, a tribe of gods who lived in Asgard, and he was the
companion of the great gods Odin and Thor. He helped them with his clever plans but
sometimes caused embarrassment and difficulty for them and himself. For example, he
helped Odin to obtain the mead of poetry from the giant Suttung, but he also stole Sif’s
golden hair and replaced it with a wig made by the dwarves. He helped Thor to retrieve
his hammer Mjolnir from the giant Thrym, but he also arranged for Thor to dress as a
bride and marry Thrym. He helped the gods to build the wall around Asgard, but he also
gave birth to Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse of Odin, after mating with a stallion. He
helped the gods to acquire many precious gifts from the dwarves, but he also provoked
a fight between the gods and the giants by insulting them at a feast.

Loki’s most notorious and tragic deed was causing the death of Balder, the beloved god
of light and joy. Balder was destined to die by a prophecy that his mother Frigg heard,
and she made everything in the world swear an oath not to harm him. However, she
overlooked the mistletoe, a seemingly harmless plant, and Loki used it to kill Balder. Loki
disguised himself as an old woman and tricked Frigg into revealing that the mistletoe
was the only thing that could hurt Balder. Then he made a dart out of the mistletoe and
gave it to Hod, Balder’s blind brother, and guided his hand to throw it at Balder. The dart
pierced Balder’s heart and he fell dead. Balder’s death caused great grief and anger

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 Republic of the Philippines
SURIGAO
among the gods, and they tried DEL
to bring him NORTE
back from theSTATE UNIVERSITY
underworld, but failed.
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
Balder’s death also marked the beginning of the end of the world, as it was one of the
“For Nation’s
signs of Heights”
Greater Ragnarok, the doom of the gods.

Loki’s role in Balder’s death made him an enemy of the gods, and they captured him and
bound him to a rock with a venomous snake dripping poison on his face. His wife Sigyn
tried to catch the poison in a bowl, but when she had to empty it, the poison would drip
on Loki and make him writhe in pain. He remained in this state until the onset of

Ragnarok, when he broke free and joined the forces of the giants against the gods. He
fought against his former friend Heimdall, the guardian of the rainbow bridge Bifrost, and
they killed each other. Loki’s children also played important roles in Ragnarok: Fenrir
swallowed Odin, Jormungand fought Thor and poisoned him, and Hel received the souls
of the dead.

Summary:

Before the world was created, there was a vast empty space called Ginnungagap. The
higher regions of Ginnungagap were bitterly cold, while the lower area grew increasingly
hot. Ymir was the ancestor of all the giants, and he fed on the milk from Audhumla.
Audhumla licked the salty ice and revealed a man called Buri, who was the ancestor of
all the gods. Buri had a son called Bor, who married a giantess called Bestla. Bor and
Bestla had three sons: Odin, Vili, and Ve. The three brothers dragged Ymir's lifeless
body towards the center of Ginnungagap, and this is the place where they created the
world from the remains of Ymir. The blood became the oceans, rivers, and lakes; the
flesh became the land; the bones became the mountains; the teeth became the rocks;
the hair became the trees; and the skull became the sky. They also made the sun, the
moon, and the stars from the sparks of Muspelheim, and placed them in the sky to light
up the world. The three brothers then created the first humans, Ask and Embla, from
two pieces of wood that they found on the shore. They gave them life, breath, mind,
speech, and appearance. The gods and godessess included in the topic were Odin, the
king of the Aesir, the principal race of Norse gods, Frigg, the queen of Asgard, the home
of the gods, and the leader of the Asynjur, the group of goddesses. She is the goddess
of love, marriage, fertility, motherhood, and domestic affairs, Balder, the queen of
Asgard, the home of the gods, and the leader of the Asynjur, the group of goddesses.
She is the goddess of love, marriage, fertility, motherhood, and domestic affairs, Thor,
the son of Odin, the chief of the gods, and Jord, the goddess of the earth, Bestla, Norse
goddess who belongs to the race of the frost giants, Bor, the Norse god who belongs to

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 Republic of the Philippines
SURIGAO
the first generation of gods, before DEL
the world wasNORTE
created,STATE UNIVERSITY
Bragi, the master of poetry,
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
eloquence, and wisdom. He is the son of Odin, the chief of the gods, and possibly the
“For Nation’s
giantess Gunnlod, who guarded the mead of poetry, Freyja, the goddess of love,
Greater Heights”

beauty, and sexuality in Norse mythology. She is the patroness of lovers, marriages, and
fertility. She is also the goddess of gold, as she loves jewelry and adornments, and Loki,
the ‘trickster’ god for his love of playing pranks on both his fellow gods and his or their
opponents.

Relevance:

Norse mythology provides valuable insights into the ancient Norse culture, beliefs, and
way of life. Understanding their mythology can shed light on their values, customs, and
how they perceived the world around them. It has had a significant influence on modern
literature, art, and popular culture. Many famous works of literature, movies, and TV
shows draw inspiration from Norse mythology, such as Marvel's Thor and Neil Gaiman's
"American Gods." By studying Norse mythology, you can uncover the origins of these
cultural references and gain a deeper appreciation for the stories and symbols that have
endured through the ages. Moreover, exploring Norse mythology can also be a gateway
to understanding the broader field of comparative mythology. By comparing Norse myths
with myths from other cultures, you can uncover common themes and archetypes that
resonate across different societies and time periods., Studying mythology in general can
be a way to tap into our human need for storytelling and the exploration of universal
themes. It allows us to connect with our ancestors, explore the mysteries of existence,
and gain a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Citation/Sources:

21 Norse Gods & Goddesses from Viking Mythology - Centre of Excellence. (n.d.).

https://www.centreofexcellence.com/norse-gods goddesses/?

fbclid=IwAR3jiTvPNiY6vcnTQ455QZ2QGMz49sK5FA8jpvKJ62e2

1NsaSvPP5EH0t94

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 Republic of the Philippines
GreekMythology.com. (2018, SURIGAO
October 31).DEL
Bor -NORTE STATE UNIVERSITY
Greek mythology.
Narciso Street, Surigao City 8400, Philippines
https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Norse/Bor/bor.html
“For Nation’s
Greater Heights”

McKay, A. (2023, June 11). Gods in Norse Mythology. Life in Norway.

https://www.lifeinnorway.net/norse- gods/?

fbclid=IwAR3nXF8IPRqViLew48R9jiwBO8oX7ZaJO2TChBw1JKLIuBl8

7VoCCm40D-4

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