Viking Gods
At the start of the Viking age most Scandinavians were pagan. They had many gods and goddesses from simple nature spirits toheroic figures. Odin, Thor and Frey were the major deities, who dwelled in Asgard – the inner world of an elaborate universe.
Vikings believed they travelled to other worlds in the afterlife. They were cremated or buried with possessions and sacrifices.
Some rich men were buried in boats, and women in carriages or sleds. But the spread of Christianity was unavoidable. Christianmissionaries had been in Scandinavia from the beginning of the Viking age, and Vikings who settled in Christian countrieslearned Christian ways. For emerging Scandinavian rulers there was political advantage in alliances with neighbouring Christianpowers. Denmark was converted in the 960s. Norway and Sweden gradually gave in over the next century. For some timeChristianity and the old faith continued side by side, but pagan belief faded away as the Viking era ended.
Viking statue of the god Odin, Gothenburg Museum of Natural History, Sweden. Image: Kristijan Arsov, Unsplash
At the start of the Viking age most Scandinavians were still pagan. They had many gods and goddesses - Odin, Thor and Frey werethe major deities.
Odin was the Viking god of war. They believed he rode a horse with eight legs and had only one eye because he had traded theother one in for a drink from the well of wisdom. It is said Odin had two ravens, Huginn (Thought) and Muninn (Memory) whowould fly around the world every day and report back to him.
Thor son of Odin was said to bring especially good luck. Thor, reigned over war, strength and right. He protected mankind fromthe giants. Iron and silver amulets in the shape of Thor’s hammer were worn by many Vikings. Vikings believed it was Thor’shammer (Mjolnir) that made the sound of thunder. Thursday is named after Thor.
Frey, also called Yngvi, in Norse mythology, the ruler of peace and fertility, rain, and sunshine and the son of the sea godNjörd
Research old Norse gods.
- Who were the Norse gods?
- In what ways did the Old Norse gods serve people during the Viking age?
- Why were these stories told by the people of the Viking Age?
Activity: Listen to the story of Odin.
- Do we tell similar stories today?
- Did you know that some of the Old Norse gods have days of the week named after them in English? See if you can discover them.
