From Odin’s mighty horse to a world-circling serpent, Norse Mythology has a cacophony of crazy creatures!
The world of fantasy is packed full of amazing mythical creatures such as Elves, Dwarfs and Giants.
Everywhere, from Lord of the Rings to The Elder Scrolls games, these creatures are deeply woven into our cultural fabric.
But what many people don’t realise is that most of these creatures take their cue directly from Norse mythology.
Here, we take a look at the best of the best – from races such as elves to individual creatures such as the mighty Kraken – so for everything you need to know about the fantastic beasts, we’ve got you covered!
Elves
Said to inhabit the realm of Alfheim, under the rule of the God Freyr, the Elves were tall, slim demi-gods with pale skin and hair, who were more beautiful than the sun.
On the whole the Elves kept themselves away from the affairs of humans, appearing only occasionally to either cause or cure illnesses, based on their whims. They were a very fluid race and did not subscribe to the normal gender roles of humans. Elves were often portrayed as morally ambivalent.
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Some sources distinguish Elves into two different groups – Dökkálfar and Ljósálfar – Dark Elves that are ‘blacker than pitch’ and Light Elves that are ‘lighter than the sun’.
This is disputed by many scholars, and the Dökkálfar could either be an attempt to introduce the ‘good vs evil’ concept or they may be Dwarfs under another name.
Either way, it’s clear that the Ljósálfar are what we have come to know of as Elves.
Dwarfs
Svartalfheim – literally home of the black elves – is where the Dwarfs live.
Unlike our modern depictions, there is no evidence that Dwarfs were short, stout beings. Instead, they are considered ‘lesser’ beings and so some may have warped this into ‘short’.
Dwarfs dwell in the earth, and Svartalfheim is often thought of as a labyrinthine underground complex of mines and forges. Smithing – making things – is what we think of best when it comes to Dwarfs.
Amongst the incredible artefacts forged by the Dwarfs are Mjollnir – Thor’s hammer – Skidbladnir – a ship belonging to Freyr that always has a favourable wind – and Draupnir and Gungnir – Odin’s ring and spear.
Dwarfs are highly knowledgeable, very wise, extremely skilled and magically powerful. The four Dwarfs Austri, Vestri, Nordri and Sudri – East, West, North and South – hold the sky aloft by its four corners, a testament to their incredible strength.
Jötnar
The Jötnar (singular Jötunn) are an odd bunch, and difficult to define. Despite generally being translated as ‘Giants', they are usually the same size as humans.
Often said to be at war with the Gods of the Æsir and Vanir, nevertheless, many of the Norse Gods themselves are borne of one or more Jötunn.It's perhaps better to consider them as ‘devourers'; chaotic spirits of night and darkness and winter.
We'll get onto a few specific Jötunn later in this article but they include Hel – the Goddess/Giantess of the Underworld and Ymir who is a hermaphroditic entity that is the first being in the Norse creation myth.
Trolls are a subset of the Jötnar.
Valkyries
A stirring rendition of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries has adorned many a film to good effect but what are the Valkyries?
They're Odin's female helping spirits who are depicted as elegant maidens ferrying the slain to Valhalla. A good story but, as always, it's not quite that simple!
It's certainly true that the Valkyries carried the slain to battle but their name – Choosers of the Slain – hints at their more sinister side. They don't simply choose who gets in to Valhalla, they also choose who lives and dies in battle!
Read more: The Role of Women in the Viking Age
Draugr
What mythology is complete without some kind of zombie story? In Norse mythology these are the Draugr.
Draugr are undead beings, with superhuman strength and the stench of decay. They can also increase their size at will and shape-shift into other creatures.
Perhaps most importantly, they can swim through solid rock, which perhaps explains how they exit their tombs.
They spend their days protecting the treasures in their graves and crushing people who attempt to rob them, or who wronged them in their lives.
So now we have our classes of being, let's look at a few specific examples of Important Norse Creatures.
Jörmungandr
For humans at least, there are few creatures more important than Jörmungandr. Also known as the Midgard Serpent, he encircles the Earth keeping everything in place.
Jörmungandr is the child of Loki and the Jötunn Angrboða, along with Fenrir and Hel, and was tossed into the ocean by Odin. The serpent grew so large that he was able to surround Midgard and grasp his own tail.
Jörmungandr's arch-enemy is Thor, the God of Thunder. Ragnarok – the End of Days – begins when Jörmungandr releases his tail and comes out of the ocean to poison the sky.
He will be slain by Thor who then drops down dead from being poisoned by his venom. Mutually Assured Destruction!
Fenrir
Another of Loki's delightful children, Fenrir the Wolf is the fiercest and most vicious of all the creatures. Thanks to prophecies noting Fenrir's growth and ferocity, the Gods decided he must be bound.
They tried two strong chains, which Fenrir broke easily, before commissioning the Dwarfs to create Gleipnir.
When the Gods came to tether Fenrir, he didn't trust them so the God Tyr places his hand in Fenrir's mouth as a bargain.
After the Gods had bound him withGleipnir, a tether that's as thin as silken ribbon but stronger than any chain, he reslised he'd been tricked and bit Tyr's hand clean off.
At Ragnarok, Fenrir will kill Odin and then, in turn, be killed by Odin's son Víðarr.
Read more: The History of the Viking Age
Sleipnir
Odin's mighty, 8-legged horse Sleipnir is yet another one of Loki's children. The best of all horses, Sleipnir is the offspring of the stallion Svaðilfari and Loki who, in the guise of a mare, was attempting to distract the stallion's owner.
Hermóðr, the messenger of the Gods, rode Sleipnir to Hel to bargain for the release of Baldr after he had been killed by the mistletoe launched by his blind brother Höðr.
Huginn and Muninn
Huginn, from the Old Norse for ‘thought', and Muninn, from the Old Norse for ‘mind', are a pair of ravens that fly around Midgard and bring news of the affairs of men to Odin.
Through their daily travels Odin could keep an eye on his charges and become wise.
Some have linked the two ravens to being a metaphor for Odin casting out his thoughts and his mind in a trance-like practice, and he was known to fear that one day they might not return.
Fossegrim
The Fossegrim is a water spirit who plays enchanting music on the violin. Usually depicted as a beautiful, semi-clad or naked male, the Fossegrim is tale of both good and bad.
On the one hand, the Fossegrim is sometimes known to teach humans how to play the violin as beautifully as he, but only if they sacrifice a goat. If the goat is too lean, the Fossegrim will only teach how to tune the fiddle.
But a sufficiently prime goat will make for a lesson until the player's fingers bleed at which point they will be able to play so well as to make the trees in the forest dance.
On the other hand, he lures women and children to lakes and streams where they drown, which is rather harsh! But as with all parts of mythology, where good things happen, death is usually close by!
Ratatoskr
Ratatoskr, drill-tooth or bore-tooth, is a squirrel who runs up and down Yggdrasil, the world tree, ferrying messages between the eagle Veðrfölnir, who perches atop Yggdrasil, and the serpent Níðhöggr, living beneath one of the three roots of the tree.
Most theories believe that this is to stir up hostilities between the two, spreading slander and gossip. In turn the two attack the tree, leading to a cycle of decay and rebirth that refreshed the tree.
Kraken
Generally depicted as a giant squid or octopus – though sometimes as more of a crab – the Kraken is folklore's big beast of the sea.
Said to measure more than a mile, its body is so huge than when on the surface it can be mistaken for an island.
Lying in wait in the deep waters, the Kraken rises up when disturbed by boats above. When sailors see its huge size they make for it, believing it to be the shore, only to be pulled downwards to their doom.
The Kraken may be inspired by the existence of the Giant Squid which, at 18m long, is a real monster of the waters. Thankfully, though, the real thing is seldom seen by humans, much preferring the deep, dark depths of the sea.
As you can see, Norse Mythology harbours a huge array of creatures, some more fearsome than others. I'm sure you'll agree, though, that there's not many that you'd want to encounter on a dark night!
Update: Text altered to correct errors flagged up in comments below. Thanks folks 🙂
FAQs
What is the most powerful creature in Norse mythology? ›
It is believed that Vidar was the strongest among all men or gods, except for Thor.
What are the shadow creatures in Norse mythology? ›Draugar live in their graves or royal palaces, often guarding treasure buried with them in their burial mound. They are revenants, or animated corpses with a corporeal body, rather than ghosts which possess intangible spiritual bodies.
Who is the god of monsters Norse? ›Angrboða (Old Norse: [ˈɑŋɡz̠ˌboðɑ]; also Angrboda) is a jötunn in Norse mythology. She is the mate of Loki and the mother of monsters.
What was Odin's animal? ›Odin also has several animals. His two ravens Hugin and Munin (thought and memory) fly around the world and report back what they see. Sleipnir the eight-legged horse can run through all the worlds. Geri and Freki are Odin's wolves.
What Norse God is a wolf? ›Fenrir is the great wolf in Norse Mythology who breaks free from his chains at Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods, kills Odin, and is then killed by Odin's son Vidarr. Fenrir is the son of the trickster god Loki and brother of the World Serpent Jormungandr and the jotunn Hel.
Who is the coolest Norse god? ›The supreme deity of Norse mythology and the greatest among the Norse gods was Odin, the Allfather of the Aesir. He was the awe-inspiring ruler of Asgard, and most revered immortal, who was on an unrelenting quest for knowledge with his two ravens, two wolves, and the Valkyries.
Who is higher than Odin? ›(21.) Thor is the foremost of them. He is called Asa-Thor, or Oku-Thor.
Is Kratos a Norse god? ›...
Kratos (God of War)
| Kratos | |
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| Based on | Fárbauti of Norse mythology (2018–present) |
| Designed by | Charlie Wen |
Hod, also spelled Höd, Hoder, or Hodur, in Norse mythology, is a blind god, associated with night and darkness. Hod was the son of the principal god, Odin, and his wife, Frigg.
What is the name of the Nordic demon? ›Fenrir, also called Fenrisúlfr, monstrous wolf of Norse mythology. He was the son of the demoniac god Loki and a giantess, Angerboda.
What is Norse for beast? ›
niten (noun m.) 'animal, beast'
Who is the Viking god of chaos? ›Loki is considered a trickster god, known for being neither fully good nor evil since his main aim was always to create chaos. Despite his father being a giant, he is still counted a member of the Aesir—a tribe of deities including Odin, Frigg, Tyr, and Thor.
Who is the Norse god of terror? ›The Serpent (Cul Borson) is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Known as the Norse God of Fear, he is the brother of Odin and the uncle of Thor as well as a foe of both relatives.
Who is the Norse god of blood? ›Kvasir is attested in the Prose Edda and Heimskringla, both written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century, and in the poetry of skalds.
What is Loki's spirit animal? ›Spirit animal is a walrus. Loki, the primary god of trickery, deceit, and chaos. “The Trickster”.
What is Heimdall animal? ›This may mean that Heimdall was associated with the ram perhaps as a sacred and/or sacrificial animal or that the ancient Scandinavians may have conceived of him as having been a ram in appearance.
What were the powerful Viking animals? ›There were five animals in particular that gave strength and power: the birds of prey gave people insight and hawk vision, the wolf taught the warrior to thirst for blood, while the wild boar made him fearless. The bear gave power and strength, and the serpent held the world together, Aannestad said.
What is Loki's wolves name? ›Fenrir (Old Norse 'fen-dweller') or Fenrisúlfr (Old Norse "Fenrir's wolf", often translated "Fenris-wolf"), also referred to as Hróðvitnir (Old Norse "fame-wolf") and Vánagandr (Old Norse 'monster of the [River] Ván'), is a wolf in Norse mythology.
What were Odin's wolves called? ›In the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning (chapter 38), the enthroned figure of High explains that Odin gives all of the food on his table to his wolves Geri and Freki and that Odin requires no food, for wine is to him both meat and drink.
Which wolf eats the moon? ›Mánagarmr. Snorri also names a wolf named Mánagarmr ("Moon-Hound", or "Moon's Dog") as the most powerful of the giantess's progeny, and goes on to say that he will swallow the Moon and gorge on the dead. This is presumably an alternate name for Hati or Sköll that Snorri took from folklore.
Who is higher Zeus or Odin? ›
To answer the question right away, Zeus and Odin are not the same, nor have they ever been thought to be the same entity at any point throughout history. Zeus is the king of the gods in Greek mythology, whilst Odin is the king in Norse mythology.
Who was the most loved Norse god? ›Balder, Old Norse Baldr, in Norse mythology, the son of the chief god Odin and his wife Frigg. Beautiful and just, he was the favourite of the gods.
Who is the father of all gods? ›As the chief Greek deity, Zeus is considered the ruler, protector, and father of all gods and humans. Zeus is often depicted as an older man with a beard and is represented by symbols such as the lightning bolt and the eagle.
Who is the king of all gods? ›Zeus – King of all Gods.
Who is the highest god? ›Shiva is the supreme God of Hinduism. Most Hindus worship him as the Supreme Being, though by different names.
Who is the Norse god of death? ›Hel, in Norse mythology, originally the name of the world of the dead; it later came to mean the goddess of death. Hel was one of the children of the trickster god Loki, and her kingdom was said to lie downward and northward.
Who is the first Norse god? ›Aurgelmir, also called Ymir, in Norse mythology, the first being, a giant who was created from the drops of water that formed when the ice of Niflheim met the heat of Muspelheim. Aurgelmir was the father of all the giants; a male and a female grew under his arm, and his legs produced a six-headed son.
Are Greek or Norse gods stronger? ›Comparing both mythologies, Greek gods appear stronger and possess more divine powers than their Norse counterparts. Also, the Greek gods are immortals while the Norse gods are mortal. Thus, the Greek deities of war will win this one.
Who is the Viking god of light? ›The God of Light and Radiance, Baldr, and the God of Darkness, Höðr, are twin brothers, sons of Odin and Frigg. Baldr is the most beloved of the Gods who once had a nightmare that he would be killed. His mother Frigg then demanded that all things in the entirety of the nine realms vow not to harm him.
Is Odin half elf? ›Odin's advantage over other gods is his half-elf side, which allows him to continually grow in power, according of Lezard, Odin used to be a rather weak god.
Who survives Ragnarok? ›
In Norse mythology, Lif and Lifthrasir (also spelled Life and Leifthrasir) were two people designated to be the sole human survivors after Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world. In the battle of Ragnarok, all the gods were doomed to be destroyed, but the forces of evil would also be killed.
Who is the demon of chaos? ›Apopis, also called Apep, Apepi, or Rerek, ancient Egyptian demon of chaos, who had the form of a serpent and, as the foe of the sun god, Re, represented all that was outside the ordered cosmos. Although many serpents symbolized divinity and royalty, Apopis threatened the underworld and symbolized evil.
What is black Norse? ›In Norse mythology, Surtr (Old Norse "black" "the swarthy one", Surtur in modern Icelandic), also sometimes written Surt in English, is a jötunn.
Were there Nordic witches? ›- In Old Norse, seiðr (sometimes anglicized as seidhr, seidh, seidr, seithr, seith, or seid) was a type of magic which was practised in Norse society during the Late Scandinavian Iron Age. ...
- Seiðr practitioners were of both sexes, with sorceresses being variously known as vǫlur, seiðkonur and vísendakona.
A drengr, in its original, most literal meaning, is a rock that stands alone out at sea. From this image of a rock fortress standing alone against the buffeting waves stems the meaning of drengr for human beings in Old Norse—a person with reckless courage in the face of whatever comes along.
What is Angel in Norse? ›Etymology. From Old Norse engill (“angel”), borrowed from Old Saxon engil and/or Old English enġel, from Proto-West Germanic *angil, which is borrowed via Latin angelus, from Ancient Greek ἄγγελος (ángelos, “messenger”).
How do you say killer in Norse? ›'°killer, slayer; executioner'
Who is the god of insanity? ›In Greek mythology, Lyssa (/ˈlɪsə/; Ancient Greek: Λύσσα Lússā), called Lytta (/ˈlɪtə/; Λύττα Lúttā) by the Athenians, was the spirit of mad rage, frenzy, and rabies in animals. She was closely related to the Maniae, the spirits of madness and insanity. Her Roman equivalent was variously named Ira, Furor, or Rabies.
Who is the Norse god of trickery? ›Scholars have debated Loki's origins and role in Norse mythology, which some have described as that of a trickster god. Loki has been depicted in or referenced in a variety of media in modern popular culture.
Who is the 1st god in the world? ›Brahma the creator
In the beginning, Brahma sprang from the cosmic golden egg and he then created good and evil and light and dark from his own person. He also created the four types: gods, demons, ancestors and men, the first of whom was Manu. Brahma then made all the other living creatures upon the earth.
Who was Thor afraid of? ›
Marvel's Thor has been haunted by dark visions of Thanos killing his closest allies and just admitted it's changing his future. After being shown a dark future where Thanos has killed the Avengers and stolen Mjolnir for himself, Thor is even more terrified of the villain's arrival than ever before.
What is Odin scared of? ›What was Odin scared of? In Norse mythology, Huginn (from Old Norse "thought") and Muninn (Old Norse "memory" or "mind") are a pair of ravens that fly all over the world, Midgard, and bring information to the god Odin. In the poem Grímnismál, it is said that Odin is afraid the two ravens would not come back.
Who is Odin's blood brother? ›Odin and Loki are blood brothers, but the origin of this seems to be unclear in Norse Mythology. One version says that Odin killed Loki's giant father and adopted him. Another version states that Loki and Odin were both around at the beginning of time and we're good friends.
What are the 4 mythical creatures? ›These four creatures are also referred to by a variety of other names, including "Four Guardians", "Four Gods", and "Four Auspicious Beasts". They are the Azure Dragon of the East, the Vermilion Bird of the South, the White Tiger of the West, and the Black Tortoise (also called "Black Warrior") of the North.
Does Valhalla have mythical creatures? ›One of the more recognizable creatures that players are forced to face in Valhalla is the wolf Fenrir. In mythology, the wolf serves as a major threat to Odin, and the game creates its own spin on this by making the player encounter the wolf in visions.
What are Norse spirits called? ›The vættir (Old Norse: [ˈwɛːtːez̠]; singular vættr [ˈwɛːtːz̠]) are spirits in Norse mythology. The term can be used to refer to the full cosmos of supernatural beings, including the álfar (elves), dvergar (dwarves), jötnar (giants), and gods (the Æsir and Vanir).
Is the Phoenix in Norse mythology? ›On the other side is an animal figure – perhaps the rooster Gullinkambi (Old Norse “golden comb”) or the Phoenix. According to Norse mythology Gullinkambi sits on top of the tree Yggdrasil. Here it wakes the Viking warriors every morning and it will crow at the beginning of Ragnarok (the end of the world).
What are the 5 heavenly beasts? ›The five creatures are: Black warrior of the North (Turtle with snake), azure dragon of the East, vermilion bird of the South, white tiger of the West and yellow dragon of the Center.
What is the 3 eyed mythical creature? ›The cuegle is a monster in Cantabrian folklore. Walking on two legs and roughly humanoid in shape, it is believed to have black skin, a long beard, grey hair, three arms without hands or fingers, five rows of teeth, a single stubby horn and three eyes in its head: one yellow, one red, and one blue.
Are there 10 legendary animals Valhalla? ›There are nine legendary animals in total in the world of Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and each of them can be redeemed at the Hunter's Hut in Ravensthorpe.
Who is the god of Valhalla? ›
In Norse mythology, Valhalla is the hall of slain warriors, who live there blissfully under the leadership of the god Odin.
What is Norse for blood? ›From Old Norse blóð, from Proto-Germanic *blōþą (“blood”). Cognates include English blood.
What is the Norse word for wolf? ›In Norse mythology, a vargr (anglicised as warg) is a wolf, especially the wolf Fenrir that destroyed the god Odin in the battle of Ragnarök, and the wolves Sköll and Hati who perpetually chase the Sun and Moon.
Who is the helheim eagle? ›Hræsvelgr (Old Norse: [ˈhrɛːsˌwelɡz̠]) is a jötunn in Norse mythology. He is portrayed as the eagle-shaped originator of the wind.
Is there a blood god in Norse mythology? ›Two dwarfs, Fjalar and Galar, who were weary of academics and learning, killed Kvasir and distilled his blood in Odhrǫrir, the magic caldron. When mixed with honey by the giant Suttung, his blood formed mead that gave wisdom and poetic inspiration to those who drank it.
What is the Norse water monster? ›Hafgufa (Old Norse: haf "sea" + Old Norse: gufa "steam"; "sea-reek"; "sea-steamer") is a sea creature, purported to inhabit Iceland's waters (Greenland Sea) and southward towards Helluland.