In Norse mythology, there are two distinct groups of deities spoken of in the Eddas: The Æsir/Ásynjur and Vanir. The Æsir (gods) and Ásynjur (goddesses) were the original inhabitants of Valhalla and are commonly viewed as the gods of battle and war. The Vanir, on the other hand, are typically viewed as nature gods, ruling over the sea, wind, forest, agriculture, and fertility. This, however, is an oversimplification, as there is plenty of overlap between the two groups. For example, both Odin and Thor (Æsir) are linked to fertility while Freyja (Vanir) is associated with war.
Prior to the Æsir-Vanir War, the two groups remained relatively separate. However, after the Æsir tortured Gullveig, the Vanir demanded reparations and to be treated as equals. Instead, the Æsir waged war on the Vanir, and after multiple defeats, the Æsir finally agreed to grant the Vanir equality and the two have been at peace since.
There are numerous deities mentioned in the Eddas, a collection of Old Norse poems and stories recorded during the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. Below is a list of many of these deities in alphabetical order. For each deity, I have included a basic description, weapon or domain of power, responsibility, symbols, associated animals, and preferred offerings. This is not a comprehensive list nor a comprehensive look at each deity, but instead a snapshot to be used in a pinch. As with any deity list, this list is an oversimplification and will likely look much different in practice. In the coming months, I plan to write more detailed posts exploring their myths through an analysis of the Eddas, cultural significance, invocations, and more, so keep an eye out for those. They will also be linked here for future readers to learn more.
A
Ægir- Primordial god of the sea
- Weapon/Domain of Power: sea
- Symbols: waves, trident, helm (Aegishjalmur)
- Associated Animals: kraken
- Preferred Offerings: fish, salt, polished stones, bread, wine, mead, shells, coins, craft beer
Back to top
B
Baldur/Baldr
- Æsir god of light, beauty, nobility, learning, and war
- Weapon/Domain of Power: wisdom, grace
- Symbols: Ships (Hringhorni), sun, light, mistletoe, bonfires
- Associated Animals: golden eagle, swan
- Preferred Offerings: chamomile, lit candles, meat, mead, honey, flowers, wine
- Ásynjur goddess of agriculture
- Weapon/Domain of Power: agriculture, bees
- Symbols: bees, beans, cow, honey, hives
- Associated Animals: bee
- Preferred Offerings: mead, honey, flowers, water, wine, fruit, beans, milk, cheese, yogurt, sweets
Bragi
- Æsir god of verse and rhyme
- Weapon/Domain of Power: words
- Symbols: harp, book
- Associated Animals: nine songbirds (a black-capped chickadee, a boreal chickadee, a purple finch, a snow bunting, a pine grosbeak, three different northern wood warblers, and a hermit thrush)
- Preferred Offerings: music, poetry, mead, wine, honey
- Primordial god of creation, father of all gods
- Weapon/Domain of Power: father of all
- Symbols: circle, ice, all elements, seeds
- Associated Animals: cow (Ginnagagap)
- Preferred Offerings: milk, cheese, yogurt, salt, water, mead, meat
- Æsir god of day
- Weapon/Domain of Power: day, light
- Symbols: day, sun, light, sunflower, time, chariot
- Associated Animals: horse (Skinfaxi)
- Preferred Offerings: honey, mead, sunflowers, wheat, baked goods, grains, vegetables, meat, ale, beer, wine, gold, cheese, butter
- Ásynjur goddess of healing
- Weapon/Domain of Power: mortar and pestle, healing herbs
- Symbols: mortar and pestle, healing instruments, bandages
- Associated Animals: gray jay
- Preferred Offerings: healing herbs and oils, honey
Back to top
F
Fjörgyn/Jörd- Personification of earth
- Weapon/Domain of Power: stone, earth, and soil
- Symbols: stone, soil, mountains, hills, wilderness, bees
- Associated Animals: snapping turtle, toad, rock vole
- Preferred Offerings: stones, water, milk, honey, mead, wine, dried berries, leaves, flowers
- Æsir god of law and justice
- Weapon/Domain of Power: double-headed axe, gold, silver
- Symbols: scales, lute
- Associated Animals: gray wolf, hawk
- Preferred Offerings: savory foods, beer, mead, apples
- Vanir goddess of destiny, fate, fertility, love, battle, and hunting
- Weapon/Domain of Power: Brisingamen (her necklace), runes, falcon cloak, chariot drawn by two cats
- Symbols: cats, chariot, jewelry, gold,
- Associated Animals: cats
- Preferred Offerings: apples, mead, honey, cat figures, perfume, chocolate, amber, gold, beeswax
- Vanir god of love, fertility, hunting, and harvest
- Weapon/Domain of Power: Gullinborsti (golden-bristled boar), Skidbladnir (ship), magic sword
- Symbols: phallus, Inguz/Ingwaz rune, boar, sickles, seeds, pollen, rain
- Associated Animals: boar, feral pig
- Preferred Offerings: apple, cider, gold, coins, grain
- Ásynjur goddess of love, fertility, wisdom, and war
- Weapon/Domain of Power: foresight, wisdom
- Symbols: spindle, spinning wheel, keys,
- Associated Animals: great-horned owl
- Preferred Offerings: wool, milk, mead, pastries, fruity wines
- Ásynjur goddess of abundance and fertility
- Weapon/Domain of Power: fertility, prosperity, abundance
- Symbols: golden headband, shoes/sandals
- Associated Animals: N/A
- Preferred Offerings: preserved or dried foods, mead, sweet wines, chamomile
Gefion/Gefjon/Gefjun
- Vanir goddess of fertility, virginity, agriculture, virtue, and the unwed
- Weapon/Domain of Power: shape-shifting, plow
- Symbols: plow
- Associated Animals: wood ducks, oxen
- Preferred Offerings: grain, bread, potatoes, ankle bells, ale
Gersemi/Semi
- Ásynjur goddess of sisterhood, familial love, and treasure
- Weapon/Domain of Power: sisterhood, friendship, love
- Symbols: jewels, gold, treasure
- Associated Animals: otter
- Preferred Offerings: precious gems, gold, flowers, honey, mead, gems, anything you find beautiful
- Vanir goddess of magic
- Weapon/Domain of Power: magic, witchcraft, second-sight, sorcery, seidr
- Symbols: gold, fire
- Associated Animals: serpent
- Preferred Offerings: gold, cinnamon, ginger, spiced alcohol
Back to top
H
Heimdall- Æsir god of guardianship, vigilance, protection, and light
- Weapon/Domain of Power: Gjallarhorn (horn), watcher of the Bifrost
- Symbols: horn, horses, eyes, sirens, alarms
- Associated Animals: horse (Gulltoppr)
- Preferred Offerings: lamb, mutton, coffee, caffeinated drinks, mead
- Ásynjur goddess of death and the netherworld
- Weapon/Domain of Power: life and death, Helheim
- Symbols: dark horses, ravens, graveyards, corpses, tombs, brooms, rakes
- Associated Animals: black hound (Garm)
- Preferred Offerings: tea, chocolate, dried meats, preserved flowers, mead, raw honey
- Æsir messenger for the gods
- Weapon/Domain of Power: honor, bravery, messages
- Symbols: winged scroll, horses
- Associated Animals: Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse
- Preferred Offerings: incense, feathers, mead, meat, honey
- Ásynjur goddess of consolation and compassion
- Weapon/Domain of Power: compassion, mercy
- Symbols: shield, wooden bucket and ladle, water scoop
- Associated Animals: red-tailed hawk
- Preferred Offerings: water, flowers, candles, coffee, mead
- Vanir goddess of beauty, love, lust, desire, sisterhood, and treasure
- Weapon/Domain of Power: beauty, charisma
- Symbols: jewels, gold, treasure
- Associated Animals: otter
- Preferred Offerings: precious gems, gold, flowers, honey, mead, gems, anything you find beautiful
- Æsir god of darkness and winter
- Weapon/Domain of Power: mistletoe dart, tragedy, winter
- Symbols: blindfolds, closed eyes, darkness, shadows, cold, mistletoe
- Associated Animals: bat
- Preferred Offerings: whole grains, bread, nuts, beer, mead, cheese, butter, hearty meals, root vegetables
- Æsir god of reason, honor, holiness, and sanctity
- Weapon/Domain of Power: silence, omens
- Symbols: stork, silence, ash, elm
- Associated Animals: stork, walrus
- Preferred Offerings: mead, dark beer, honey, iron
Back to top
I
Iðunn/Idunna- Ásynjur goddess of youth, immortality, and rejuvenation
- Weapon/Domain of Power: basket of life-giving apples
- Symbols: apples, fountains, spring, dawn
- Associated Animals: owl
- Preferred Offerings: apples, cider, anything made from apples
Back to top
Kvasir
Back to top
Back to top
Back to top
- Born from the spit of both Vanir and Æsir
- Weapon/Domain of Power: wisdom, intelligence, creative inspiration
- Symbols: books, writing utensils, cups, chalices, poems, mead, saliva/spit
- Associated Animals: N/A
- Preferred Offerings: saliva/spit, mead, bread, honey, milk, meat, water, poetry, blood
- Ásynjur goddess of forbidden love
- Weapon/Domain of Power: affairs, adultery, and secret unions
- Symbols: key, open doorway, archway, rose
- Associated Animals: pair of wood ducks
- Preferred Offerings: sweet wine, milk and honey, roses, baked goods, flowers
- Æsir god of chaos, fire, destruction, lies, deceit, and misfortune
- Weapon/Domain of Power: trickery, shape-shifting, lies, deception
- Symbols: snakes intertwined to form an S, fire, torches
- Associated Animals: snake, serpent, wyrm
- Preferred Offerings: cinnamon, mulled wine, coffee with sugar, tobacco, sweets (especially sour ones)
Back to top
M
Magni/Magnur
- Æsir god of brotherhood and strength
- Weapon/Domain of Power: strength
- Symbols: mountain, sword, hammer
- Associated Animals: weasel, pine marten
- Preferred Offerings: bread, mead, strong beer, tobacco, meat, blood
- Æsir god of travel
- Weapon/Domain of Power: travel
- Symbols: ships, vehicles
- Associated Animals: N/A
- Preferred Offerings: incense, bread, mead, water,
- Æsir god of wisdom, friendship, and good counsel
- Weapon/Domain of Power: Well of Knowledge
- Symbols: well, fountains, pool of water
- Associated Animals: mockingbird
- Preferred Offerings: prayer, secrets, stories, blood, water, dark beer, bread, meat
- Æsir god of brotherhood and strength
- Weapon/Domain of Power: family loyalty, brotherhood
- Symbols: shield, helm, weapons
- Associated Animals: pine marten
- Preferred Offerings: blood, meat, mead, beer, bread
Back to top
N
Nanna- Ásynjur goddess of heavenly beauty, joy, and peace
- Weapon/Domain of Power: devotional love
- Symbols: sunflower, wedding rings, moon
- Associated Animals: mourning dove
- Preferred Offerings: sunflowers, mead, honey, gold, dried fruits, flowers, rings, jewelry
- Vanir god of the sea, wealth, fair weather, summertime, and fertility
- Weapon/Domain of Power: sea, sea travel
- Symbols: ships, ports, seashells, fishing nets, silver, gold
- Associated Animals: gull
- Preferred Offerings: dark beer, seafood, poke, gold, shells, tobacco
- Vanir goddess of the night
- Weapon/Domain of Power: night
- Symbols: darkness, shadow, stars, moon
- Associated Animals: nocturnal animals
- Preferred Offerings: root vegetables, dark ale, beer, honey, meat, incense, nocturnal flowers, bonfires,
Back to top
O
Odin
- Æsir god of creation, wisdom, magic, healing, war, and the king of gods
- Weapon/Domain of Power: All-father, wisdom
- Symbols: triple horn, ravens, spear, horned helmet
- Associated Animals: ravens Muninn and Huginn, wolves Freki and Geri, steed Sleipnir
- Preferred Offerings: meat, red wine, poetry, asparagus, rye bread
- Vanir god of divine madness, ecstasy, frenzy, love, desire, and inspiration
- Weapon/Domain of Power: desire, wishes
- Symbols: sun, gold,
- Associated Animals: bluejay
- Preferred Offerings: mead, honey, blood, pork, baked goods, rum
- Ásynjur goddess of lakes, springs, and rivers
- Weapon/Domain of Power: freshwater
- Symbols: lakes, rivers, springs, ships, sailors, nets
- Associated Animals: water birds, blue heron
- Preferred Offerings: fish, shells, wine, coins, jewelry, wine, honey
Back to top
S
Saga
- Ásynjur goddess of history, poetry, records, and stories
- Weapon/Domain of Power: books, knowledge, recordkeeping
- Symbols: books, poetry, records, parchment
- Associated Animals: owl
- Preferred Offerings: dried meat, porridge, nuts, mead, aster, bread, incense, stories, poetry
- Ásynjur goddess of earth, beauty, strength, family, marriage, autumn, harvest, peace-keeping, and civil discourse
- Weapon/Domain of Power: Migard, peace-keeping, family
- Symbols: golden hair, gold, wheat
- Associated Animals: pair of swans
- Preferred Offerings: wheat, beer, honey, mead, gold, wine, corn, amber
- Ásynjur goddess of compassion, kindness, and loyalty
- Weapon/Domain of Power: loyalty, devotion
- Symbols: key, bowl, cup, heart, star
- Associated Animals: red fox
- Preferred Offerings: sweets, cakes, cookies, chocolate, sweet wines, honey, mead, yogurt, cheese
- Ásynjur goddess of romance, love, missives, communication, and law
- Weapon/Domain of Power: matchmaking, courtship
- Symbols: heart
- Associated Animals: pair of wood ducks
- Preferred Offerings: cookies, milk and honey, roses, lilies, hearts
- Vanir goddess of hunting, winter, and skiing
- Weapon/Domain of Power: winter, untamed nature
- Symbols: bow, arrow, skis, snow, pine, mountains, snowshoes
- Associated Animals: silver fox, wolf
- Preferred Offerings: raw meat, jerky, wild berries, vodka
- Ásynjur goddess of lawful war, guardianship, thresholds, protection, and law
- Weapon/Domain of Power: thresholds, law, upholding the truth
- Symbols: doorways, thresholds, archways, scales
- Associated Animals: red-tailed hawk
- Preferred Offerings: bread, wine, mead, honey, meat, the truth, keys
T
Thor
- Æsir god of thunder, storms, lightning, strength, and war
- Weapon/Domain of Power: thunder, lightning, power
- Symbols: Mjolnir (hammer), lightning
- Associated Animals: goats
- Preferred Offerings: goat, pork, cookies, dark beers, goat's milk, mead, hammer, anything struck by lightning
- Ásynjur goddess of storms, beauty, and battle
- Weapon/Domain of Power: storms, hurricanes
- Symbols: sword, mace
- Associated Animals: black bear
- Preferred Offerings: mead, flowers, honey, beeswax, oak leaves, meat
- Æsir god of lawful conflict, righteous battle, order, justice, and rule of law
- Weapon/Domain of Power: victory and justice
- Symbols: sword, shield, chains, scales
- Associated Animals: wolf
- Preferred Offerings: beef, pork, red wine, port, dark ale
U
Ull(r)- Æsir god of friendly competition, athletic ability, good sport, oaths, promises, and contracts
- Weapon/Domain of Power: sports, games, hunter and archery
- Symbols: ring, bow, arrow, snow, skis, snowshoes
- Associated Animals: polar bear
- Preferred Offerings: meal, ale, mead, dried berries, blood, arrow heads
Váli
- Æsir god of vengeance, war, and regret
- Weapon/Domain of Power: vengeance
- Symbols: bow and arrow, knife, warriors
- Associated Animals: northern shrike
- Preferred Offerings: meat, dark ale, mead, bread, tobacco, blood
- Ásynjur goddess of oaths, promises, and agreements
- Weapon/Domain of Power: oaths and agreements
- Symbols: oath-ring
- Associated Animals: Moose
- Preferred Offerings: promises, wine, fruit, bread, milk, honey, mead
- Æsir god of creation
- Weapon/Domain of Power: creation, world-building, construction of the Nine Realms
- Symbols: axe, helm, seeds, world tree
- Associated Animals: walrus
- Preferred Offerings: meat, cheese, milk, honey, dried berries, mead, beer, ale, wine, seeds, grain
- Æsir god of silence, retribution, anger, war, and revenge
- Weapon/Domain of Power: retribution, avenge Odin's death
- Symbols: boot, iron shoe, silence
- Associated Animals: wolverine, wolf
- Preferred Offerings: leather, iron, mead, beer, meat, bread, a sacrifice
- Æsir god of sworn agreements, loyalty to friends and family, oaths, and promises
- Weapon/Domain of Power: oaths and pacts
- Symbols: helm, mace, double-headed axe
- Associated Animals: caribou
- Preferred Offerings: meat, cheese, milk, honey, dried berries, mead, beer, ale, wine, seeds, grain
***
Again, this is by no means a complete list or guide to these deities. Correspondence lists, like this one, show a very superficial and surface-level understanding. Truly understanding them requires an in-depth study of the Eddas as well as building a relationship with them. For example, while Skaði is often reduced to a huntress, she is so much more. Reading her story and working with her, you will find she is also a goddess of feminine strength and rage. She is a protector of women and a survivor, even in the worst of conditions. This is something you will not learn from a correspondence list.
If you liked this post and would like to support future content, please consider leaving a small tip in the jar.
No comments :
Post a Comment
This witch loves to hear from her readers, so please share your thoughts below!