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Loki: Central in myth, absent from cult
Whilst British actor Tom Hiddleston has received fanfare and plaudits for his duplicitous depiction of Loki on the small and silver screens, people in Viking societies had a far more complicated relationship with the eternal trickster of Norse mythology.4 months ago — Culture and religion -
The sea in Norse myth: Jörmungandr, Rán, and Ægir's hall
People in Viking societies held a deep reverence for the sea, as it was a source of sustenance as well as facilitating much commerce and conquest. This deep respect was also reflected in the sagas and stories they regaled one another with.8 months ago — Culture and religion -
Why did giants and the Norse gods keep intermarrying?
They say that opposites attract. Never is this more the case than in the rich tapestry of Norse mythology, where the forces of chaos and order mix, where jötnar and the Norse gods intermarry.9 months ago — Culture and religion -
Bound in pain: How the gods punished Loki
The themes of divine retribution and fate are no strangers to mythologies the world over. In the rich tapestry of Norse mythology, how the gods punished Loki occupies a central place in the cataclysmic events leading to Ragnarök.11 months ago — Culture and religion -
Brísingamen: The lost necklace of Freyja
The goddess Freyja, associated with beauty, fertility, love, magic, and war, is known to possess Brísingamen, a magical necklace of unparalleled beauty. How Freyja gained, and then lost, this necklace is a classic story of lust, sex, and metamorphosis.11 months ago — Culture and religion -
Helheim: For all those who suffer a not-so-glorious death
An icy afterlife awaits those who venture to one of the nine realms of Norse mythology. Like Odin, let us venture there to pick apart the often-overlooked realm of the dead.11 months ago — Culture and religion -
Feathers and fire: Freyja's cloak in Norse myth
With a cloak that allowed a magical transformation into a bird and enabled flight across the nine realms of the Norse cosmos, Freyja was surely the best-dressed deity in Norse mythology.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
Loki's lineage: The complex family of the trickster god
Maligned for centuries as a mere trickster, the Norse god Loki is more than just a playful prankster. Part of his multifaceted character is his complex lineage and family tree, which provide both destructive and friendly influences.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
The horse, the builder, and the trickster: How Asgard got its walls
Blue-collared construction work meets mythological fantasy in this ripping and raunchy tale from the Norse sagas.1 year ago — Culture and religion -
Víðarr, Odin's son: The god who survived Ragnarök
"The wise man must guard his tongue carefully; rarely is there regret for being too silent." Whilst this quote is attributed to Odin himself, it could easily describe his son, Víðarr. Let us examine this Norse god of silence and vengeance and peel back the mystery of this enigmatic deity.1 year ago — Culture and religion
