Viking gods and goddesses

Want to know a cool fact about the Vikings? The Scandinavian sea warriors worshipped a huge array of Viking gods and goddesses. They believed that the gods affected many aspects of their lives and even decided their fates!

These powerful beings were also known as Norse gods. They could be strong, clever, sneaky, and even kind and caring! Let’s meet some of the most famous Viking gods and goddesses…

Odin

Odin, a.k.a Woden, was one of the most powerful gods in Norse mythology. Vikings believed he was the King of the Gods and ruler of all things. According to legend, he created all of Earth and its creatures, including humans.

But that’s not all. Odin was a war god and renowned for being a powerful magician. In stories, he rode into battles on a magical horse called Sleipnir. It had eight legs and could gallop over land and sea!

And Odin wasn’t only brave in battle. He sacrificed one of his eyes so that he could drink from the Fountain of Knowledge, which made him one of the wisest gods. Yikes! He’s often pictured with his two raven companions, Huginn and Muninn, who flew around the world gathering information for him.

Frigg

This goddess was renowned for her strength, cleverness and great beauty. Her name comes from a word that means ‘love‘ or ‘beloved‘, and as Odin’s wife, she was the Queen of the Gods and ruling goddess of the sky.

Frigg was an important figure for Viking women, who would worship her near bogs and marshlands. The goddess of marriage and motherhood, she had three sons – Balder, Höðr and Hermod. She was able to see the future but never spoke of it to anyone.

Thor

Thor was one of the most popular gods! One of Odin’s sons, he is best known as the god of thunder, but he also ruled over law and order. He was much more predictable than his dad, which made him easier to trust – so most Vikings worshipped him.

Vikings believed that Thor created thunder and lightning as he rode over the clouds – in a chariot pulled by two goats! He fought with a mighty hammer named Mjölnir, and was known for his love of great feasts and fighting.

Sif

Sif was the goddess of the harvest. According to legend, she had very long, golden hair the colour of wheat. Sif was worshipped by Viking farmers who wanted to keep their crops healthy during the cold winter.

In one tale, her hair was cut short by the trickster god, Loki. Her husband, Thor, was furious – so to make up for the crime, Loki asked the dwarves to make Sif a beautiful wig. It was made from strands of real gold, and grew as if it was her natural hair. It made her more beautiful than ever!

Want to learn about more mythical beings? Check out this Greek gods and goddesses article!

Frey

Also known as Freyr, Frey was the Viking god of peace and fertility. Like Sif, he was worshipped by farmers, as the Vikings believed that he controlled the sun and rain – which are vital for growing crops.

Beyond that, Frey was known for having lots of cool stuff! His magical ship, Skidbladnir, could be folded up to fit in a pocket, and he rode in a chariot pulled by a magic boar called Gullinbursti. The big pig shone like gold and moved faster than any horse.

Freya

Frey’s twin sister, Freya, was the goddess of love and death. She could use magic, see the future, and wore a cloak made of falcon feathers that gave her the power to fly! Freya also loved gold jewellery, music and poetry.

But she had a darker side, too. Freya fought in battles, riding in on a chariot pulled by two large cats to collect the souls of brave warriors who had died.

According to legend, half of all fallen Viking warriors went to her realm, Fólkvangr, which was said to look like a beautiful meadow. The other half went to feast with Odin in a huge hall called Valhalla.

Balder

The son of Odin and Frigg, Balder was the god of light, forgiveness and all things pure. A friendly and gentle god, he was loved and admired by all the other Viking gods and goddesses. Balder was also very handsome – according to Viking tales, even the flowers bowed to him as he walked past!

Balder lived with his wife, Nanna (see above), and son Forseti, the god of justice, in a beautiful mansion in the sky. It was named Breidablik, and nothing evil or unclean was allowed to set foot in inside. Wow!

Loki

Meet sly Loki, one of the most well-known Viking gods and goddesses! Known as a charming and cunning trickster, Loki was the god of mischief – and he certainly lived up to this title.

Neither good nor evil, Loki was chaotic and could shapeshift into any person or creature. He liked to play pranks on his fellow gods and goddesses, and humans too, if he got the chance! But these pranks could have deadly consequences…

One of Loki’s most fateful pranks was when he shapeshifted into an old woman to trick Frigg into causing the death of her beloved son, Balder. Frigg wanted to protect Balder from harm, but admitted to Loki (as an old woman) that one thing could hurt him: mistletoe. Back in his usual form, Loki tricked Balder’s blind brother, Höðr, into killing Balder with the plant.

Hel

Hel was the Viking goddess of the underworld. She was said to have a gruesome appearance, with one side of her face rotten like a zombie! But the Vikings didn’t see Hel as an evil goddess. She was more often described as being mysterious, solemn and powerful.

The daughter of Loki, Hel ruled a cold, gloomy realm called Niflheim, where she looked after people who had not died in battle – those who passed from illness, age or bad luck.

An important ruler, she was kept separate from her two fearsome brothers: the gigantic wolf, Fenrir, and Jörmungandr, a huge serpent who was so big that he coiled around the world. Yikes!

Who are your favourite Viking gods and goddesses? Leave us a comment and let us know!

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