Is There A Norse God Of Animals

From Odin's mighty equus caballus 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 equally Elves, Dwarfs and Giants.

Everywhere, from Lord of the Rings to The Elder Scrolls games, these creatures are deeply woven into our cultural material.

But what many people don't realise is that almost of these creatures accept their cue directly from Norse mythology.

Hither, we take a look at the best of the all-time – from races such every bit elves to individual creatures such as the mighty Kraken – and so for everything you need to know well-nigh the fantastic beasts, we've got you covered!

Thor, the Norse God of Thunder and Lightning

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 cute than the sunday.

On the whole the Elves kept themselves away from the affairs of humans, appearing simply occasionally to either cause or cure illnesses, based on their whims. They were a very fluid race and did non 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 exist an endeavour to introduce the 'good vs evil' concept or they may be Dwarfs nether another name.

Either way, information technology's clear that the Ljósálfar are what nosotros accept come to know of as Elves.

Dwarfs

Svartalfheim – literally home of the blackness elves – is where the Dwarfs live.

Unlike our modern depictions, there is no testify that Dwarfs were brusque, stout beings. Instead, they are considered 'lesser' beings and and then some may accept 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 ever has a favourable wind – and Draupnir and Gungnir – Odin's band and spear.

Dwarfs are highly knowledgeable, very wise, extremely skilled and magically powerful. The four Dwarfs Austri, Vestri, Nordri and Sudri – East, West, Due north and Due south – agree the sky aloft by its iv corners, a testament to their incredible strength.

Jötnar

The Jötnar (singular Jötunn) are an odd bunch, and difficult to ascertain. Despite generally being translated every bit 'Giants', they are usually the same size equally humans.

Often said to be at war with the Gods of the Æsir and Vanir, still, many of the Norse Gods themselves are borne of one or more Jötunn. It'due south perhaps meliorate to consider them equally 'devourers'; cluttered 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 commencement 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 result just 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 merely, every bit always, it's non quite that elementary!

It'due south 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 only cull who gets in to Valhalla, they besides cull who lives and dies in boxing!

Read more than: 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 force and the stench of decay. They tin as well increment their size at will and shape-shift into other creatures.

Peradventure virtually importantly, they tin swim through solid rock, which perhaps explains how they exit their tombs.

They spend their days protecting the treasures in their graves and burdensome people who attempt to rob them, or who wronged them in their lives.

So now nosotros have our classes of being, let's wait at a few specific examples of Of import Norse Creatures.

Jörmungandr

For humans at least, there are few creatures more important than Jörmungandr. Also known as the Midgard Snake, he encircles the Earth keeping everything in place.

Jörmungandr is the child of Loki and the Jötunn Angrboða, forth with Fenrir and Hel, and was tossed into the bounding main by Odin. The ophidian grew so big that he was able to surround Midgard and grasp his own tail.

Jörmungandr'south curvation-enemy is Thor, the God of Thunder. Ragnarok – the Finish of Days – begins when Jörmungandr releases his tail and comes out of the ocean to poison the heaven.

He volition exist slain by Thor who then drops down dead from being poisoned by his venom. Mutually Assured Devastation!

Fenrir

Another of Loki'due south delightful children, Fenrir the Wolf is the fiercest and nigh vicious of all the creatures. Thanks to prophecies noting Fenrir's growth and ferocity, the Gods decided he must exist bound.

They tried two strong bondage, which Fenrir bankrupt 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 oral fissure as a bargain.

Later the Gods had jump him with Gleipnir, a tether that's as thin as silken ribbon simply stronger than any chain, he reslised he'd been tricked and fleck Tyr'southward mitt make clean off.

At Ragnarok, Fenrir volition kill Odin and and then, in turn, be killed by Odin's son Víðarr.

Read more: The History of the Viking Historic period

Sleipnir

Odin'southward mighty, 8-legged horse Sleipnir is even so some other 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 deal for the release of Baldr later on he had been killed by the mistletoe launched by his blind blood brother Höðr.

Huginn and Muninn

Huginn, from the Sometime Norse for 'thought', and Muninn, from the One-time 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 go on an middle on his charges and become wise.

Some have linked the 2 ravens to being a metaphor for Odin casting out his thoughts and his mind in a trance-like do, and he was known to fear that one day they might non 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 person, the Fossegrim is tale of both skillful and bad.

On the one hand, the Fossegrim is sometimes known to teach humans how to play the violin equally beautifully as he, but but if they sacrifice a goat. If the goat is too lean, the Fossegrim will only teach how to melody the dabble.

Just a sufficiently prime goat will make for a lesson until the player'southward fingers bleed at which point they volition be able to play then well as to brand the trees in the forest trip the light fantastic toe.

On the other hand, he lures women and children to lakes and streams where they drown, which is rather harsh! Just as with all parts of mythology, where good things happen, death is ordinarily close past!

Ratatoskr

Ratatoskr, drill-tooth or bore-tooth, is a squirrel who runs up and downward Yggdrasil, the world tree, ferrying messages between the eagle Veðrfölnir, who perches atop Yggdrasil, and the serpent Níðhöggr, living beneath ane of the three roots of the tree.

Most theories believe that this is to stir up hostilities between the ii, spreading slander and gossip. In plough the ii attack the tree, leading to a wheel of disuse and rebirth that refreshed the tree.

Kraken

More often than not depicted equally a giant squid or octopus – though sometimes as more of a crab – the Kraken is folklore's big creature of the bounding main.

Said to measure more than a mile, its torso is so huge than when on the surface it tin exist mistaken for an island.

Lying in look in the deep waters, the Kraken rises up when disturbed by boats above. When sailors run into its huge size they make for it, believing information technology to be the shore, but to be pulled downwards to their doom.

The Kraken may be inspired by the being 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 ocean.

As you can encounter, Norse Mythology harbours a huge array of creatures, some more fearsome than others. I'chiliad sure you'll concur, though, that there's not many that you lot'd desire to encounter on a dark night!