2.4.5 The Gods
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This article is from the Nordic countries FAQ, by Antti Lahelma and Johan Olofsson, with numerous contributions by others.
2.4.5 The Gods
As to the gods who dwelt in Asgard, Snorri twice gives their number as
twelve, excluding Odin himself. Odin was the father and head of the
Aesir; he was called All-Father, but had many other names, among them
One-Eyed, God of the Hanged, God of Cargoes, and Father of Battle. He
journeyed far and wide over the earth, and had two ravens to bring him
tidings from afar. His eldest son was Thor, whose mother was Earth.
Thor was immensely strong, and drove in a chariot drawn by goats. He
possessed three great treasures: the hammer Mjollnir, which could slay
giants and shatter rocks; a belt of power which doubled his strength;
and iron gloves with which to grasp the terrible hammer.
Another son of Odin was Balder, said to be the fairest of all and most
deserving of praise; he was white of skin and bright-haired, and was
both wise and merciful. The gods Njord and Freyr were also dwellers in
Asgard, but were not of the race of the Aesir. Njord came of the
Vanir, and was sent to Asgard as a hostage when the two races were at
war, and Freyr was his son. Njord controlled the winds and the sea,
helped in fishing and seafaring, and brought men wealth, while Freyr
gave sunshine and rain and the gifts of peace and plenty. Freyr
possessed the ship Skithblathnir, large enough to hold all the gods,
but small enough when folded to lie in a pouch, and also a wonderful
boar with golden bristles.
Another god was Tyr, who could give victory in battle, and it was he
who bound the monster Fenrir and was left as a result with only one
hand. There was also Bragi, who was skilled in the use of words and in
making poetry. We hear, too, of Heimdall, who was called the white
god, and was said to be the son of nine maidens. His dwelling was
beside the rainbow bridge, for he acted as the gods' warden, guarding
heaven from the frost-giants. He could see for an immense distance,
while his ears were sharp enough to catch the sound of grass growing
on earth, and wool on sheep. He owned the Gjallarhorn, whose ringing
blast could be heard through all the worlds.
There was also among the gods Loki, the son of a giant, who was
handsome to look upon but given to evil ways. He was a cunning
schemer, who both helped and hindered the gods, and he gave birth to
the wolf Fenrir, to the World Serpent, and to Hel, the ruler of the
land of death. These were the chief of gods, and beside them were
others of whom we know little: Ull, a famous archer and skier,
Forseti, the son of Balder and a good law-giver, Hoder, a blind god,
and Hoenir, who was sometimes the companion of Odin and Loki in their
wanderings. The sons of the great gods, like Vali, Vidar, and Magni,
had special parts to play, for they were to inherit the world of
Asgard when the older generation had perished.
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