© Shutterstock

The language used -

Norse mythology was primarily discussed in dialects of Old Norse, a North Germanic language spoken by the Scandinavians in the Middle Ages, and the ancestor of modern Scandinavian languages.

© Getty Images

Written mythology -

Norse mythology was almost exclusively written by Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic poet from the 13th century. Sturluson composed a collection of poems known as the Prose Edda, which came from earlier traditional materials.

© Getty Images

Norse cosmology -

Units of time and elements of the Norse cosmology are personified as gods or beings. For example, there's the Sun (Sól, a goddess), the Moon (Máni, a god), and Earth (Jörð, a goddess).

© Getty Images

Days of the week named after Norse gods -

The popularity of the deities of Norse mythology is evident in the names of the days of the week in Germanic and Scandinavian languages. These languages, in turn, were influenced by Latin, brought to various regions by the armies of the Roman Empire.

© Getty Images

The days of the week and their gods -

Sunday honors Sunna or Sól, the Norse goddess of the Sun. Monday is Máni's day, the god of the Moon and brother to Sunna. Tuesday is Tyr’s day, the god of war. Wednesday is Odin's day, the king of the gods, also known as Woden. Thursday is Thor’s day, and Friday is either Frigg’s or Freyja’s (both goddesses) day. Saturday honors the Roman god Saturn, who the Norse kept the Roman name of.

© Getty Images

The Norse universe -

The Norse universe is described as having a tricentric structure. According to the mythology, for the Norsemen, the world resembled three plates, set atop one another with space between each. These plates were held together at the top by a giant tree known as Yggdrasil.

© Getty Images

The different worlds -

Within Yggdrasil, there are Nine Worlds. They are Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Midgard, Jotunheim, Nidavellir, Svartalfheim, Hel, and Niflheim.

© Public Domain

The first human couple -

According to Norse myth, the first human couple was Ask, who was crafted from an Ash tree, and his wife Embla, who was crafted from Elm.

© Public Domain

The Vikings believed in different beings -

The Vikings believed there were two types of gods: the Æsir and the Vanir. The Æsir were a group of war gods, like Thor, and the Vanir were a group of fertility deities, like Freyr. The Vikings also believed in other beings, such as giants and dwarfs.

© Getty Images

Gods and giants are related -

In Norse mythology, giants are the original "founding" beings at the top of the Norse family tree. And although they're enemies, the gods are all descendants of giants.

© Getty Images

Thor -

In the Marvel universe, most fans already know Thor as one of the most important gods in the Norse pantheon. Worshiped by most Vikings, Thor was the god of thunder, whose role was to uphold law and order.

© Getty Images

Mjölnir -

Used both as a devastating weapon and as a divine instrument to provide blessings, Mjölnir is Thor's hammer.

© Getty Images

The all powerful Odin -

The father of all gods, Odin is the equivalent of Zeus in Greek mythology. He's the lord of war and death, and he was feared by the Vikings as the bringer of misfortune.

© Getty Images

He traded one eye for wisdom -

Odin has only one eye because he sacrificed the other in order to drink from the well of wisdom, which made him gain immense knowledge.

© Public Domain

The creation of the world - Odin and his two brothers created the world from the body of a giant called Ymir. The earth was made from his skin, the sky from his skull, the sea from his blood, the clouds from his brain, and rocks and stones from his bones and teeth.

© Getty Images

Frigg -

Probably the most famous of the Norse goddesses, Frigg is the wife of Odin. She represents marriage and motherhood. It was also believed that she knew every person’s destiny, but never revealed it to anyone.

© Getty Images

Valkyrie -

In Norse mythology, a Valkyrie is a female figure who goes to battlefields and takes the bravest warriors who fall there and brings them to Odin in Valhalla. During WWII, a team of Germans plotting to overthrow Hitler named their secret plan Operation Valkyrie.

© Getty Images

Loki isn't Thor’s brother -

Although Marvel has popularized Loki as Thor’s brother, the two aren't actually related in Norse mythology.

© Public Domain

Vidar -

Have you ever heard of Vidar, the god of vengeance? While he's pretty unknown outside of Scandinavia, Vidar is famous for avenging his father Odin's death by killing the wolf Fenrir, Loki's son.

© Public Domain

The rainbow bridge -

If you're familiar with the 'Thor' comics or movies, then you might have noticed there’s a bridge separating Midgard, the realm of humans, from Asgard, the realm of the gods. The bridge is called Bifröst, and it looks like a rainbow. It's the only way to enter Asgard.

© Getty Images

Gods aren't immortal -

Unlike the deities of several other mythologies, the Norse gods aren't immortal. They're only unusually long-lived, and owe it to the goddess Idunn and her magical apples.

© Getty Images

The afterlife -

According to Norse mythology, Valhalla is where warriors killed in battle went after death. There's also Fólkvangr, which is ruled by Freyja, who chooses half of those who die in battle to reside with her. Finally, there's Hel, an underground realm where most individuals went.

© Getty Images

The end of time -

In Norse mythology, there’s a battle at the end of time called Ragnarök. In this apocalyptic battle between the gods and monsters, almost all life is destroyed, and the Nine Worlds are submerged.

© Shutterstock

The boat of monsters -

In Norse mythology, Naglfar is a boat made entirely from the fingernails and toenails of the dead. During the events of Ragnarök, Naglfar is carrying hordes of monsters who will battle the gods.

© Getty Images

Loki’s children launch Ragnarök -

Although Loki aligns himself with the gods of Asgard and often proves himself helpful, he and his children are the central antagonists of the gods at Ragnarök. His children are Hel, the goddess of death, Jörmungand, the serpent that surrounds the world, and Fenrir, the wolf.

© Getty Images

The Norns -

According to Norse mythology, the three Norns, named Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld, were responsible for the destiny of all living creatures. They were incredibly powerful, and their influence was felt throughout the Nine Worlds.

© Getty Images

Norse mythology influenced Richard Wagner -

Norse mythology influenced German composer Richard Wagner, who used them in his composition 'Der Ring des Nibelungen.'

© Getty Images

J. R. R. Tolkien was also inspired -

J. R. R. Tolkien has admitted that 'The Hobbit' (1937) and 'The Lord of the Rings' (1954) were heavily influenced by Norse mythology.

© Getty Images

In pop culture -

In the popular TV series 'Vikings: Valhalla,' the plot is heavily based on Norse myth and folklore. The characters often have visions of Odin, and pray to several Norse gods, such as Thor.

Sources: (World History) (History) 

See also: Curious facts you didn't know about the Vikings

© BrunoPress