Norse mythology

Why did I choose Norse Mythology?

I chose Norse mythology because it has many aspects to which I am interested in. In particular, I want to learn about norse mythical creatures, the link it has to Paganism and witchcraft, runes, its respective deities etc.

What do I want to find out?

What mythical creatures are there?
What gods are there?
- Is there a hierarchy?
- Is there a god of creation/a myth of creation?
What are the nine realms?
- What is Yggdrasil?
- What is Ragnarok?
What values did Norse religion have?
- What concepts did they believe in?
- Do they still exist?
How did the runic alphabet come about?
- What types of inscriptions have been found?
- What variations of it are there?
- What connections are there between the occult and runes?
  - Were runes the only connection between Norse people and magic?
What language(s) did it represent?
What were their cosmological and or astrological beliefs?
What sort of mythical artefacts, weapons and objects exist?

What mythical creatures are there?

Auðumbla

Auðumbla is a 'primeval cow'. It is thought that she fed Ymir her milk, and freed Buri (grandfather of Odin) from salty rime rocks by licking them away. Auðumbla was birthed from the melting ice in Ginnungagap, and was one of the first beings to exist in Norse Mythology. She is referred to within the Nafnaþulur, as the 'noblest of cows'. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au%C3%B0umbla)

Jörmungandr (The World Serpent)

Jörmungandr is an enormous serpent who is the middle child of Loki and the giantess Angrboda. It was told that Odin once threw Jörmungandr into the ocean that encircles Midgard. Jörmungandr eventually grew so large that it was able to surround the Earth. Jörmungandr is a representation of ouroboros, and it is foretold that when Jörmungandr releases its tail, Ragnarok will begin. It is written that Thor is Jörmungandr's arch-enemy.

Sleipnir

Sleipnir was the horse of Odin. It bore eight legs, so it could keep one within each of the realms. Sleipnir was born of Loki, who had turned himself into a more and was impregnated by a stallion.

Landvættir

Landvættir ('land wights') are spirits of the land in Norse Mythology. They 'protect and promote' the flourishing of the specific places where they live. They are 'chthonic' (under the earth), but other interpretations say they are nature spirits.

Fenrir

Fenrir is a ferocious wolf creature who was born from Loki. Stanza 40 of the poem 'Voluspa' states: 'then is fulfilled Hlin's second sorrow, when Odin goes to fight with the wolf, and Beli's slayer, bright, against Surtr. The shall Frigg's sweet friend fall'. This stanza foretells that Odin will be consumed by Fenrir at Ragnarok. In the following stanza, it is written that Odin's son Vidarr, will 'strike at the beast of slaughter' and avenge his father.
The Prose Edda speaks of how Fenrir was bound by the Gleipnir (rope) due to his rapid growth and power. Fenrir was lured in by the Gods. As a pledge to release him, Fenrir made Tyr place his hand in his mouth. Fenrir, after figuring out he was deceived by the Gods, bit off the right hand of Tyr. The Gleipnir was commissioned through the dwarves by the Gods as a third attempt at trapping Fenrir - the chain was supposedly made out of 'the sound of a cat's footfall, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish and the spittle of a bird'. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenrir)
The Gods, fearing their prophetic doom, formed a plan to deal with Fenrir. They created three fetters. The first, Leyding, was easily snapped and loosened by Fenrir. The second, Dormi, was also snapped by Fenrir, albeit with much more difficulty. The third was Gleipnir, the silken ribbon that was finally able to bind him.

Mare

Mares are malicious entities that sit atop people's chests while they sleep, inducing nightmares. In fact, the word nightmare is actually derive from mares.
It's believed that mares would ride horses throughout the night, leaving them exhausted in the morning. Mares were believed to be the cause of Polish plait, a hair disease, as they were thought to ensnare sleeping creatures in 'marelocks'.

Ratatoskr

Ratatoskr is a squirrel who lives on Yggdrasil to deliver messages between the inhabitants of the tree. Ratatoskr's primary purpose however is to assist in communication between an eagle who guards Yggdrasil and Nidhoggr who lays within its roots, gnawing on them.
'Ratatoskr is doing a fairly bad job and is constantly creating misinformation between the two beasts'. He would even make tempers flare by stating insults where there were none, causing the two beasts to fight.
Ratatoskr caused a lot of damage to Yggdrasil over thousands of years, contributing to its decay and thus accelerating Ragnarok.

Fylgja

Fylgja is a supernatural being or spirit that accompanies a person in connection to their fate or fortune. They supposedly take the shape of animals that reflect the character of the person they represent.
The Fylgja may sometimes appear in front of its owner, often in dreams, and offer 'portents' of events to come.

Vordr

Vordr is a warden spirit who is believed to follow from every person from birth to death.

Gullinbursti

Gullinbursti (meaning 'gold mane' or 'golden bristles') is a mythical boar creature. Gullenbursti was supposedly created as part of a challenge in which Loki bet his own head that his brother, Eitri, could not make items to match the quality of three of Loki's possessions: Sif's hair, Freyr's ship Skíðblaðnir and Odin's spear Gungnir.
Extra threw a pig's kin into a furnace, Brokkr worked the bellows. They, together, manufactured Gullenbursti which had bristles in its mane that glowed in the dark.

I'm not going to detail every single mythical creature within Norse mythology, but I will select a good amount that I'm interested in.

Nidhogg

Nidhogg is the dragon within the roots of Yggdrasil. He gnaws upon the roots, hoping to destroy it.
Nidhogg is the primary proponent in beginning Ragnarok where, once the event begins, he will fly out from the roots to oversee the destruction.

Giants/Jotunn

The Giants, or Jotunn, are primeval beings who existed before the gods. Ymir was the first giant, who gained nourishment from Audumla. Ymir gave 'birth' to many other giants from their body. The first god, Buri, was freed from the salty rime by Audumla, and would have a child named Bor. Bor himself would then have three children: Odin, Vili and Ve, who would fight and kill Ymir over rising tensions between giants and gods. The blood of Ymir flooded Ginnungagap and drowned all but two frost giants: Bergelmir and his wife.
Ymir's corpse was used by the gods to shape the universe.
There isn't much of an actual difference between the giants and gods, considering that some gods were born from giants - so the difference seems to be more cultural than biological. The Eddas suggests the giants typically have similar power to that of the gods.
Giants reside within Jotunheimr, one of the nine Norse realms. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6tunn)
Surtr is a giant who is foretold to rise with a 'flaming sword' to fight the gods during Ragnarok, and that his flames will engulf the Earth. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surtr)

Norns

Norns are exclusively female entities that create and control fate, even that of the gods. They appear at the birth of every living thing, weaving a thread that would decide fate. The Norns could be anywhere from malevolent to benevolent, allowing for both tragic and prosperous events to occur.
It is attested within the Voluspa that the three primary Norns: Uror, Veroandi and Skuld would draw water from their sacred well to nourish Yggdrasil. They were immensely powerful giantesses, whose arrival from Jotunheimr supposedly ended the 'golden age' of the gods. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norns)

Árvakr and Alsviðr/Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi

Árvakr and Alsviðr are the two horses that pull the sun, A.K.A Sol's chariot across the sky. The chariot itself produced immense heat, but no light - the light emitted from the sun was actually Árvakr and Alsviðr's manes.
It is foretold that Árvakr and Alsviðr cannot stop drawing the sun, otherwise the wolf Skoll would consume it. It is said Skoll will consume the sun during Ragnarok. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81rvakr_and_Alsvi%C3%B0r)
Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi were the counterparts, as they drew the moon (Dagr's chariot) across the sky, with their manes lighting up the sky.
Skolls brother, Hati, chases the moon, and is said to catch up and consume the moon during Ragnarok.

Generally speaking I feel a little bit underwhelmed by the creatures within Norse mythos, as this was an aspect I was quite excited by at first. A lot of the creatures are very terrestrial and plain, just with special powers and roles. Once I'm finished with my research and if there is time left, I may look into the mythical creatures of Scandinavian as a whole rather than just Norse creatures, since this should help draw a lot more inspiration.
That being said, there are some interesting creatures in Norse mythos, particularly the Norns, Gullenbursti, Jörmungandr, Ratatoskr and Niddhog. I genuinely love the idea behind the Norns, that fate is something they can physically weave into existence, and that a being of somewhat unassuming appearance can somehow be so powerful and make even gods look weak.
I find Ratatoskr quite interesting since he is a weak and small creature who is quite playing beings of godlike power for pawns, stirring turmoil for his own amusement; something far above his actual power and significance.
I did find Surtr's sword interesting too, I didn't initially think to research the different weapons of Norse beings, but that is now something I want to stack on top of my research into artefacts.

What Gods/Deities are there?

Just like with the mythical creatures, I most likely won't list off every single god (I'm not sure how many there are, so who knows), but I will research the ones with powers and roles I find interesting. I'll try to list them off by their family tree, as they all seem to be related to one another somehow. My information regarding the relations themselves are taken from here: http://veritablehokum.com/comic/the-norse-god-family-tree/

Ymir (The First Giant)

Ymir was the first being to exist within Norse mythos. He was created from the drops of water that formed when the ice of Niflheim met the heat of Muspelheim.
It is written that Ymir was killed by Odin, Vele, and Vi after tensions grew between gods and giants.
The gods used Ymir's body to form the world.
Ymir birthed many giants from all over their body, many of whom seem to be insignificant within Norse mythos. The giants of significance however are: Farbauti, Laufey, Aegir, Ran and Angrboda.

Buri (The First God)

Buri was freed from salty rime stones by Audumbla over three days. By way of an unknown process, Buri had a son, Bor.
There is not much additional information about Buri however, which I'm personally a fan of. Sometimes the lack of explanation gives a character a lot more weight and mystery. To me, it makes me feel like Buri would've had power far beyond that of his descendants.

Borr (God)

Farbauti and Laufey (Giants)

Farbauti is a descendent of Ymir and is known as the father of Loki, alongside Laufey.
Farbauti's role within Norse mythos remains largely unclear, unfortunately.
Laufey is also a descendent of Ymir, and is known as the mother of Loki, alongside Farbauti.
Just like Farbauti, we don't really know much about Laufey.

Loki (God)

Loki is the son of Farbauti and Laufey, and is somehow a god but not a giant?
Loki is considered to be the god of trickery and mischief, possessing the ability to shapeshift.
Loki is married to Sigyn, with whom he had the children Narfi and Vali.
Loki is also the father of Fenrir, Jörmungandr and Hel whom he had with the giantess Angrboda.
Loki is also the father of Sleipnir, who he gave birth to after shapeshifting into a mare and allowing a stallion to impregnate him.
Loki was once a well respected member of the Aesir, but after playing a role in the death of Baldr, Vali (Odin's son) uses the entrails of Loki's son Narfi (who was killed by Loki's son Vali) to bind Loki.
It is foretold that Loki will slip loose of his bindings upon the initiation of Ragnarok, and will fight against the gods - in which he will encounter Heimdallr, and the two will slay eachother.
It is theorised that Loki may be another name for Lodurr, who was involved alongside Odin and Hoenir in creating the first humans. There are also theories stating that Lodurr is another name for Vili or Ve, but it seems more generally accepted that Lodurr is Loki.
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loki) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%B3%C3%B0urr)

Hoenir/Vili/Lodurr (God)

Hoenir may have been the son of Borr, and brother of Odin, Vili and Ve. This is unclear, however.
Hoenir is attested within the Voluspa of the Prose Edda to have, alongside Odin and Lodurr, created the first humans. It is said that Hoenir gave 'reason' to man. However, within Gylfaginning of the Poetic Edda, Vili and Ve are mentioned instead of Hoenir. It is possible that Hoenir is just another name for Vili.
Voluspa stats that Hoenir would be one of the few gods to survive Ragnarok.
Hoenir played a role in an attempt to seal a true after the Aesir-Vanir war, serving as a hostage along with Mimir. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%B3%C3%B0urr)

Aegir and Ran (Giants)

Aegir and Ran are descendants of Ymir. The pair are married to eachother.
Aegir and his wife Ran are both personifications of the sea, and command the power of it.
Aegir and Ran had nine daughters (Blodughadda, Bylgja, Drofn or Bara, Dufa, Hefring, Himinglaeva, Hronn, Kolga, Udr) , who personify waves, and one son (Snaer), who personifies snow.

Borr is the son of Buri, and the husband of the giant Bestla.
Borr had three children with Bestla, Odin, Vili and Ve.

Odin (God)

Odin is the son of Borr, and the brother of Vili and Ve.
Odin is considered to be the 'supreme deity' within Norse mythos, and was the Allfather of the Aesir.
Odin is married to the goddess Frigg, with whom he had a child, the god Baldr.
Odin also had an affair with Jord, a goddess, with whom he had the children Hodr, Bragi and Thor.
He also had another affair Sif, another goddess, with whom he had another child, Ullr.
He is the Norse god of war, poetry and magic.
He is known for having one eye, losing one as a sacrifice to gain a clearer vision of the cosmos. (https://www.centreofexcellence.com/norse-gods-goddesses/#:~:text=The%20Norse%20gods%20belong%20to,as%20their%20most%20notable%20members.)
He was blessed with the knowledge of the runic alphabet after hanging from Yggdrasil for nine days and nine nights. Additional research question: where did runes come from if not from the Allfather himself, and why was a being of so much power and significance unable to read them initially?

Ve (God)

Ve is the son of Borr and brother to Hoenir/Vili/Lodurr and Odin. Ve, along with his brothers, assisted in slaying the first giant, Ymir.
He and his brother Vili were supposedly temporarily exiled from Asgard by Odin for having an affair with his wife, Frigg.

Frigg (God)

Frigg is Odin's wife, a beautiful and powerful Goddess who is associated with 'marriage, prophecy, clairvoyance and motherhood'. She has the power to see the future, but willingly chooses to hide her knowledge from others.
There in an ongoing debate in which it is undecided whether Frigg and Freyja are actually separate entities, or one in the same.
Frigg bore Odin's son, Baldr.

Tyr (God)

Mimir (God or Giant)

Mimir is a god or giant (sources are unreliable) known for his knowledge and wisdom.
Mimir is theorised by some to be Bestla's sister, making Mimir Odin's uncle.
Mimir oversees a well named after him, drinking from the well is thought to grant the consumer great knowledge and wisdom. Odin once sacrificed an eye to Mimir in exchange for a drink from the well.
Mimir was decapitated by the Vanir during the Aesir-Vanir war, but his head survived thanks to Odin who preserved it using magical herbs and songs. Odin consults the head of Mimir in times of need, seeking his advice.

Tyr is a Norse war god who oversees law and justice,
Tyr's place within Norse mythology is shadowy and difficult to pin down, but some scholars propose he may have been a highly central figure amongst the gods.
Tyr was the only god willing to agree to Fenrir's conditions when testing the god's bindings; Tyr placed his hand in Fenrir's jaws as a pledge that he would be released after the test, but bit Tyr's hand off once he realised he had been duped.
Tyr is rarely mentioned in the Prose and Poetic Edda, but in he is mentioned as 'daring', 'has much authority over victory in battle', and that he 'surpasses other men and does not waver'.
It is uncertain who his true father is, but it is speculated to be one of either Odin or Hymir.
It is prophecised that Tyr would slay and be slain by Garmr during Ragnarok. (https://mythopedia.com/topics/tyr)

Jord (God/Giant)

Baldr (God)

Jord is considered to be the personification of earth.
She was a sexual partner of Odin, with whom she had a child, Thor.
Jord plays little to no part in major Norse texts, and is only really mentioned in passing.
Jord fits into the motif of 'mother earth' and is an early representation of the concept.

Hodr (God)

Hodr is a god and one of the sons of Odin.
Hodr was tricked by Loki into killing Baldr with a mistletoe spear.
Hodr was eventually killed by Vali, who seems to have been conceived specifically to avenge Baldr. In an alternate version of this tale, Hodr and Baldr were competing for the hand of Nanna. Baldr, who was nourished and made invincible by a magical good, could not be killed by conventional means. Hodr ventured to the underworld, where he obtained a magical weapon that was then able to kill Baldr. Hodr was avenged by someone named 'Bous' in this tale. (https://norse-mythology.org/hodr/)

Idunn (God)

Idun is a god within the Aesir tribe of deities.
She is known for bearing fruits that posses the ability to grant immortality to those who eat them.
She is said to be the wife of Bragi.
There is unfortunately hardly any other mention of Idunn.

Sif (God)

Sif is a goddess with beautiful, flowing blonde hair. The significance of her hair is proposed to represent golden fields of grain, ready for harvest.
Sif once had her hair cut off by Loki, who was forced to help find her an even fairer head of hair by Thor, who threatened to kill him otherwise.
Sif is the wife of Thor, with whom she had two children, Modi and Thrud. She also had a child called Ullr, of whom the father is unknown but is speculated to be Odin.
Sif is proposed to be a god of fertility and earth, a theory given light by the connection between her and Thor. Their relationship is said to link to how fields of crops were made fertile and abundant by the winds and rains brought on by storms, given that Thor is the god of thunder.

Freyr

Freyr was a god who represented many things, beauty, generosity, sexual fertility and peace. He is stated to be hated by none, partly due to his role in ensuring prosperity across the realms.
Freyr's fylgja was Gullenbursti, the golden boar.
Freyr and Surtr are destined to slay eachother during Ragnarok.

Baldr is the son of Odin and Frigg, and father of the god Forseti, whom he had with Nanna.
He is loved by all gods and goddesses, as well as mortal beings. It is said that he was incredibly gracious and handsome.
Within the Prose Edda, a tale of his death and ressurection writes about how Baldr had dreams of his own death. In response, Frigg isolated everything that he dreamed of to prevent him from dying to them. Baldr was invulnerable to almost everything, and it is written that, as a test of his invincibility, gods would gain entertainment out of throwing weapons at him and watching them bounce off of him. Loki, however, exploited an oversight in Frigg's actions whereby she ignored mistletoe as she thought it too insignificant to hurt Baldr - Loki then made a spear of mistletoe, convinced Hodr to throw it at Baldr, where he then fell dead. Hermod ventured to Hel, where he implored Hel to release Baldr. She demanded that every living thing weep for Baldr to prove their love for him, to which all but one did. Loki, disguised as a giant, refused to weep, sealing Baldr's fate.

Bragi (God)

Bragi was a god and one of the (adopted?) sons of Odin.
He was known for welcoming deceased heroes into Valhalla.
Bragi was originally a bard named Bragi Boddason, but his poems were so beautiful that, upon his death, Odin appointed him the court poet of Valhalla.
He was said to be the husband of Idun.
He is sometimes depicted with a harp. (https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/bragi/)

Thor (God)

Thor is one of the sons of Odin, and is the god of thunder.
He is married to Sif, with whom he had children named Modi and Thrud.
He also had a child named Magni through an affair with Jarnsaxa
Thor is the guardian of Asgard and humanity, he was given this role due his virtually unmatchable strength, courage and determination.
He bears a hammer called Mjollnir, which holds immense power.
Thor's arch-nemesis is Jormungand, the world serpent who encircles Midgard. It is said that they will slay eachother during Ragnarok.

Is there a hierarchy?

For the most part, there isn't really a hierarchy. Asgard is lead by Odin, whose subordinates do not really have 'elevated' roles, they are mostly equal to one another.

What are the nine realms?

The nine realms are:
- Asgard
  - Asgard is home to the Aesir tribe of gods, and is connected to Midgard via the Bifrost.
  - The 'gard' element of Asgard is a reference to the ancient Germanic concept of innangard and utangard, where innangard refers to an orderly and law abiding place, where as utangard refers to a chaotic and anarchic place.
  - Asgard is located within the sky, spiritually. It is also placed within the branches of Yggdrasil, the highest of the nine realms.
- Midgard
  - Midgard is the realm of humanity.
  - Midgard effectively means 'Middle Enclosure', which is reflected in its position within Yggdrasil, which is within the base of its trunk.
- Vanaheim
  - Vanaheim is home to the Vanir tribe of gods.
  - It is unknown where Vanaheim is located within Yggdrasil, but it can be inferred that Vanaheim lies west of Asgard since Njord went eastward from there as a hostage towards Asgard.
- Jotunheim
  - Jotunheim is the realm of the giants.
  - Jotunheim is thought to be the 'utangard' part of innangard of utangard.
  - Jotunheim is represented as the vast, open wilderness that surrounds Midgard, a more civilised world.
- Niflheim
  - Niflheim is the primordial world of ice.
  - It is said that Ymir, the first being, was formed when Niflheim's ice met Muspelheim's fire.
- Muspelheim
  - Muspelheim is the primordial world of fire.
  - It is said that Ymir, the first being, was formed when Niflheim's ice met Muspelheim's fire.
- Alfheim
  - The realm of the elves.
    - Freyr is said to rule over Alfheim.
    - Alfheim is supposedly a beautiful realm, 'more beautiful than the sun'.
- Nidvellir/Svartalfheim
  - The realm of the dwarves.
    - Nidvellir is located low down Yggdrasil's trunk, which represents how the dwarves are a subterranean race.
- Hel
  - The realm of the dead, the underworld.
  - Hel is positioned at the very bottom of Yggdrasil, for obvious reasons.
  - Hel is ruled by its namesake, Hel, who is the goddess of death and the underworld.

What is Ragnarok?

Ragnarok is the name given to the events that occur at the end of the cosmos within Norse mythology. It is the event in which the gods will fight the giants. The events of Ragnarok are:
First, the Norns will decree a great winter, unlike the world has ever seen. This winter will last the length of three normal winters, with no summers in between, causing widespread famine and in turn, conflict.
The wolves Skoll and Hati will finally catch up to the sun and moon respectively, where they will consume them, plunging the skies into darkness.
Yggdrassi will tremble, and the trees and mountains will fall into the ground.
The silken rope binding Fenrir will snap, allowing him to fulfil the prophecy in which he kills Odin. Fenrir will run across the earth, his lower jaw on the ground and his upper jaw at the top of the sky, consuming everything.
Jormungand will release his tail from his mouth, spilling the seas all across the earth. He will spit venom across the earth, poisoning everything.
The ship Naglfar will become free from its moorings, and will make for land with an army of giants, captained by Loki, who will break free of his bindings.
The dome of the sky will be split, and the fire-giants of Muspelheim will emerge from it - Surtr will lead the charge yielding a flaming sword brighter than the sun. The Bifrost collapses behind them as they make way for Asgard.
Heimdall will sound his horn to warn the gods of the arrival of the giants.
Odin will desperately consult the head of Mimir for advice.
Odin will fight Fenrir alongside the einherjar, but Fenrir will come out victorious. Vidar, burning with rage will avenge his father, slaying Fenrir by stabbing his sword through the throat.
The wolf Garm and the god Tyr will slay eachother.
Loki and Heimdall will slay eachother.
Freyr and Surtr will slay eachother.
Thor and Jormungand will fight, where Thor initially comes out victorious, but eventually succumbs to the serpents venom.
The devastated remains of the world will sink into the sea, and nothing will be left but the void.
Some tales state that Vali, Baldr, Hodr, Modi and Magni will survive Ragnarok and live within a new world.

What values did Norse religion have?

The Vikings never really had a name for their polytheistic beliefs, but the practice of worshipping the Norse gods was recognised in 1973 as 'Asatru'.
Anyone can practice Asatru, but only Icelandic citizens can become a part of Ásatrúarfélagið (Aesir faith fellowship).
Asatru places emphasis on the 'right action' as opposed to reliance on an divine intervention or an afterlife.
Members of the religion may conduct 'Blot', its central ritual. People make sacrificial offerings to the gods, spirits and the departed. Blot is usually performed outside, and the most common offering is alcohol of some kind. This ritual forms the core of major holiday celebrations such as Midsummer and Yule.

What concepts did they believe in?

For the most part, there isn't really a hierarchy. Asgard is lead by Odin, whose subordinates do not really have 'elevated' roles, they are mostly equal to one another.
They believed in the 'right action' over relying on the concept of an afterlife or divine intervention - they are accepting and tolerant to all orientations and races.
There isn't really a hierarchy, the highest 'ranking' members are Asatru priets, Gothar (Gothi or Gythia, male or female). There is more emphasis on action as individuals as part of a collective, that each person can offer something to help unify and benefit a group. To become Gothar, you must posses:
- The wisdom of Odin,
- The strength of Thor
- The love of Freyja (https://www.thorsoak.info/p/asatru.html)

What is the runic alphabet and how did it come about?

Little is known about the origins of the Runic alphabet, but it is known that Runes have been used across Europe since about the 1st century AD.
Theories about its origin suggest it may have formed independently from other alphabets, rather than evolving from another. Other theories suggest it may have first been used in southern Europe and was carried forward by Germanic tribes. Another theory is that the Runic alphabet could have been modelled on the Latin and/or Etruscan alphabet.
Inscriptions have been found with left to right AND right to left directional writing, but seem to have settled on a left to right direction in later inscriptions.
"Word divisions were not generally used within Runic texts, but one or more dots were occasionally used for this function."

What types of inscriptions have been found?

Random inscriptions have been found such as 'Josh was here', almost like we have never changed.
Grave stones have been found with runic inscriptions on them, the stones were raised above the ground.
Religious or magical inscriptions that would detail curses, prayers, formulae, or even charms.
Many inscriptions relating to trade or politics have been found: stock orders, excuses for late payment. Trade inscriptions are typically found on wooden rune sticks.
Personal letters, greetings, proposals and love letters have all been found.
Graffiti and hate mail have been found.
Art and craft related inscriptions: blacksmiths, carpenters, builders all have put a signature or note on their work. (https://www.sfu.ca/~ramccall/Runicalphabet.pdf)

What connections are there between runes and the occult?

Runes have been associated with the concept of magic for a long time. In fact, the Voluspa states that Norns (who determine the fate of every living being), utilise runes as a means of determining fate. To an extent, runes were inherently magical by their very nature.
'Some German investigators of this century have guessed that the runes actually are the origin of the Tarot system of the Major Arcana' - the correspondents between Tarot and runes, while interesting, are not proven to be absolutely linked so it is a matter of opinion. (https://www.esonet.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Futhark-A-Handbook-of-Rune-Magic-Edred-Thorsson-1984.pdf)

Many Runic symbols and formulae are linked to magic directly. In fact, some words and phrases seemingly only exist within the context of magic, such as alu, a sequence found in numerous Elder Futhark runic inscriptions. Alu has appeared alone (such as on the Elgesem runestone) or as part of a formula (such as on the Lindholm amulet). Alu is generally accepted to mean 'ale', but it is theorised that it could be connected to the Proto-Germanic 'aluh' (amulet, taboo), from 'alh' (protect), giving it a much deeper, 'magical' meaning. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alu_(runic))

Ancient Germanic people sometimes wore jewellery called a 'bracteate', which is a thing, flat gold medal which typically featured Germanic pagan icons that give protection of divination. Such as this instance that bears the aforementioned inscription alu. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runes)

The Björketorp runestone bears inscriptions that warn us 'A I, master of the runes(?) conceal here runes of power. Incessantly (plagued by) maleficence, (doomed to) insidious death (is) he who breaks this (monument). B I prophesy destruction / prophecy of destruction.' The runestone swears that anyone who breaks the monument shall face destruction. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rketorp_Runestone)

The runes themselves supposedly have no origin within Norse cosmology, they are a the substance of 'latent energy contained in Ginningagap' and that 'runes exist simultaneously in an undifferentiated state throughout this void'. The very existence of the runes can be interpreted as a force of the natural universe, an incomprehensible 'code' that could perhaps make up everything ever known. I personally love this interpretation of runes, as it explains why Odin would have to hang in solitude from Yggdrasil for 9 days to even comprehend and understand the runes. (https://norse-mythology.org/runes/the-origins-of-the-runes/#:~:text=The%20runes%20are%20presumed%20to,south%20of%20the%20Germanic%20tribes.) (https://www.esonet.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Futhark-A-Handbook-of-Rune-Magic-Edred-Thorsson-1984.pdf)

What mythical objects and weapons are there?
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Artifacts_in_Norse_mythology)

Álfröðull:

Álfröðull is an ambiguous term that could refer to the sun-chariot of the goddess Sol, and to the rider (Sol herself).

Andvaranaut:

Andvaranaut is a magic ring, first owned by Andvari, that could help the wearer locate sources of gold.
- Loki once stole the ring, causing Andvari to curse the ring to bring misfortunate and destruction to whoever possessed it as revenge.

Brísingamen:

Brísingamen is the torc or necklace of the goddess Freyja.
It was created by four dwarves, who refused to sell it to Freyja initially. However, they offered it to her on the condition that she slept with each of the dwarves, to which she agreed.

Draupnir:

Draupnir is a magical ring with the power to multiply itself. Every ninth night, eight new rings 'drip' from Draupnir.
Draupnir was created by the dwarf brothers Brokkr and Eitri, alongside Mjollnir and Gullenbursti.
The ring is in possession of Odin, but eventually left it on the grave of his son, Baldr.

Eitr:

Eitr is a liquid substance that is considered to be the origin for all living things. It is thought to be highly poisonous.
Jormungandr produces this substance, as well as other serpents.

Gleipnir:

Gleipnir is the silken binding that holds back Fenrir. The gods commissioned the dwarves to make Gleipnir.
The dwarves made Gleipnir out of six impossible things:
- The sound of a cat's footfall
- The beard of a woman
- The roots of a mountain
- The sinews of a bear
- The breath of a fish
- The spittle of a bird

Rati:

Rati is the name of the drill or auger that Odin used in his efforts to obtain the mead of poetry.

Gungnir:

Gungnir is the spear of Odin, created by the dwarves known as the Sons of Ivaldi, under the mastery of the blacksmith Dvalin.
The spear is described as being so well balanced that it could strike any target, regardless of skill or strength.

What language(s) did it represent?

Runes represented 'various Germanic languages' - Germanic languages include English, German, Low German, Dutch, Afrikaans, Yiddish, Scots, Frisian, Luxembourgish, Limburgish, Finnish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese. All Germanic languages are derived from Proto-Germanic, which originated and was spoken in Iron Age Scandinavia.

What variations of it are there?
(https://www.sfu.ca/~ramccall/Runicalphabet.pdf)

Elder Futhark:

Elder Futhark is thought to be the oldest version of the Runic alphabet, and was used in various Germanic territories. Other variations of the alphabet have evolved from Elder Futhark.

Gothic runes:

Gothic is an extinct east-Germanic language, which was originally written using a Runic alphabet about which little is known.

Anglo-Saxon Futhorc:

The Anglo-Saxon/Old English language made alterations to Elder Futhark, adding different letters to the original. The language was brought to Britain in the 5th century by the Anglo-Saxons and was used until about the 11th century.

Younger Futhork:

Younger Futhork evolved under Elder Futhark over many years, stabilising around 800 A.D, which was the beginning of the Viking Age. It was the primary alphabet of Norway, Sweden and Denmark throughout this period, but was mostly displaced by the Latin alphabet around 1200 due to the influence of Christianity.
Three variations of Younger Futhork exist:

Medieval (Latinised) Futhark:

After the arrival of Christianity in Scandinavia, the Runic alphabet was Latinised and used occasionally, mostly for decoration until about 1850.

Were runes the only connection between Norse people and magic?

The short answer to this is no, Norse peoples utilised other symbols and iconography in regards to more magical concepts. Such symbols include:

Thor's Hammer, Mjollnir:

Thor is associated with strength, courage, integrity and tradition - the symbol of Mjollnir is thus a symbol of protection, it is a means of invoking Thor's immense power to protect over and hallow whatever or whomever bears the symbol. (https://norse-mythology.org/symbols/thors-hammer/)

The Swastika or sunwheel:

The Swastika is associated with luck, holiness, power, prosperity, and the sky. It could be used interchangeably with Thor's hammer due to the similarity in invocation. In fact, the swastika was often carved into hammers to invoke the power of Thor into the hammer and its yielder.
Unfortunately, the swastika is now more commonly associated with the Nazi party, whose misuse of the symbol has permanently tainted the symbols otherwise positive and happy meaning. (https://norse-mythology.org/symbols/swastika-ancient-origins-modern-misuse/)

The Valknut:

The valknut is one of the more enigmatic and discussed symbols connected to Norse mythology. The meanings of this symbol aren't known definitively, but conclusions CAN be made going by archaeological records.
The valknut only seems to appear in conjunction with the dead, one runestones and memorial stones particularly. In most cases where the Valknut is present, Odin is also present. Since Odin is strongly associated with death due to his role as a psychopomp, the connection is solidified further.

The Helm of Awe:

The helm of awe is also a symbol of protection. It was typically used within the context of battle, and would invoke a power that would allow the bearer to overcome his enemies in battle with great ease.
In the Poetic Edda, the dragon Fafnir attributes his apparent invincibility to his use of the helm of awe:
- The Helm of Awe
  I wore before the sons of men
  In defense of my treasure;
  Amongst all, I alone was strong,
  I thought to myself,
  For I found no power a match for my own.
The helm of awe is explicitly mentioned within a collection of Icelandic Folktales by Jon Arnason, in which there is a spell called 'There is a Simple Helm of Awe working':
- Make a helm of awe in lead, press the lead sign between the eyebrows, and speak the formula: Ægishjálm er ég ber milli brúna mér! I bear the helm of awe between my brows! Thus a man could meet his enemies and be sure of victory.

The Svefnthorn:

The Svefnthorn (sleep thorn in Old Norse) is a symbol that would invoke a long, deep sleep to its bearer. Typically, its use case would not be for the person inscribing the symbol, but would rather be used on foes in battle.
In The Saga of the Volsungs, Odin used a Svefnthorn to put the valkyrie Brynhildr into a slumber from which she could not awaken from until someone crossed the circle of fire Odin had kindled around her - Sigurd was eventually able to cross the flames, awaking her from her slumber. (https://norse-mythology.org/symbols/svefnthorn/)

The Vegvisir:

The Vegvisir is a symbol from early modern Icelandic magical manuscripts that would invoke the ability to prevent one from getting lost. The symbol isn't technically Norse, but is still relevant.
The symbol appeared within the Huld manuscript after it was compiled during the 19th century, a LONG time after the end of the Viking Age, however some material may date back to pre-Christian Norse religion, so it is highly contestable whether or not it was a part of ancient Norse religion, or completely separate.

Mjollnir:

Mjollnir is the hammer Thor uses. It possesses immense destructive power while also serving as a divine instrument to provide blessings.

What did I learn?

That Loki really enjoys fathering powerful beasts
That runes could have been a natural force of the universe
That the cosmos exists within the parts of a tree named Yggdrasil
That the Norns are potentially the most powerful beings within Norse mythos
That runes could have been the origin of Tarot

What things inspired me?

The Runic alphabets in terms of their pure imagery, there is something so otherwordly and 'godly' about them, like they are something far beyond our true comprehension.
Runes being a natural force within the universe and an inherently magical and otherwordly power. This links incredibly well into simulation theory.
The idea of being able to inscribe weapons and objects with symbols that invoke otherwordly forces.
The Norns being able to physically spin fate to their whim.
The dwarves being master craftsmen, possessing the ability to create things that even gods could not dream of.
The concept of the sun and moon running from a being threatening to consume them
The idea that the gods were not absolutely powerful. They possess immense powers for sure, but do not absolutely command aspects of the universe - they are prone to very human issues and can have very real struggles.

What could I look into next?

Interpretations of the primordial void, the space that existed before the universe
Other magical languages and or symbols
Wicca
Other mythical artefacts and weapons

Norse mythology

Why did I choose Norse Mythology?

What do I want to find out?

What mythical creatures are there?

Auðumbla

Jörmungandr (The World Serpent)

Sleipnir

Sleipnir was the horse of Odin. It bore eight legs, so it could keep one within each of the realms. Sleipnir was born of Loki, who had turned himself into a more and was impregnated by a stallion.

Landvættir

Landvættir ('land wights') are spirits of the land in Norse Mythology. They 'protect and promote' the flourishing of the specific places where they live. They are 'chthonic' (under the earth), but other interpretations say they are nature spirits.

Fenrir

Mare

Mares are malicious entities that sit atop people's chests while they sleep, inducing nightmares. In fact, the word nightmare is actually derive from mares.

It's believed that mares would ride horses throughout the night, leaving them exhausted in the morning. Mares were believed to be the cause of Polish plait, a hair disease, as they were thought to ensnare sleeping creatures in 'marelocks'.

Ratatoskr

Ratatoskr is a squirrel who lives on Yggdrasil to deliver messages between the inhabitants of the tree. Ratatoskr's primary purpose however is to assist in communication between an eagle who guards Yggdrasil and Nidhoggr who lays within its roots, gnawing on them.

'Ratatoskr is doing a fairly bad job and is constantly creating misinformation between the two beasts'. He would even make tempers flare by stating insults where there were none, causing the two beasts to fight.

Ratatoskr caused a lot of damage to Yggdrasil over thousands of years, contributing to its decay and thus accelerating Ragnarok.

Fylgja

Fylgja is a supernatural being or spirit that accompanies a person in connection to their fate or fortune. They supposedly take the shape of animals that reflect the character of the person they represent.

The Fylgja may sometimes appear in front of its owner, often in dreams, and offer 'portents' of events to come.

Vordr

Vordr is a warden spirit who is believed to follow from every person from birth to death.

Gullinbursti

Extra threw a pig's kin into a furnace, Brokkr worked the bellows. They, together, manufactured Gullenbursti which had bristles in its mane that glowed in the dark.

I'm not going to detail every single mythical creature within Norse mythology, but I will select a good amount that I'm interested in.​

Nidhogg

Nidhogg is the dragon within the roots of Yggdrasil. He gnaws upon the roots, hoping to destroy it.

Nidhogg is the primary proponent in beginning Ragnarok where, once the event begins, he will fly out from the roots to oversee the destruction.

Giants/Jotunn

Ymir's corpse was used by the gods to shape the universe.

There isn't much of an actual difference between the giants and gods, considering that some gods were born from giants - so the difference seems to be more cultural than biological. The Eddas suggests the giants typically have similar power to that of the gods.

Giants reside within Jotunheimr, one of the nine Norse realms. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B6tunn)

Surtr is a giant who is foretold to rise with a 'flaming sword' to fight the gods during Ragnarok, and that his flames will engulf the Earth. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surtr)

Norns

Norns are exclusively female entities that create and control fate, even that of the gods. They appear at the birth of every living thing, weaving a thread that would decide fate. The Norns could be anywhere from malevolent to benevolent, allowing for both tragic and prosperous events to occur.

Árvakr and Alsviðr/Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi

Árvakr and Alsviðr are the two horses that pull the sun, A.K.A Sol's chariot across the sky. The chariot itself produced immense heat, but no light - the light emitted from the sun was actually Árvakr and Alsviðr's manes.

It is foretold that Árvakr and Alsviðr cannot stop drawing the sun, otherwise the wolf Skoll would consume it. It is said Skoll will consume the sun during Ragnarok. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81rvakr_and_Alsvi%C3%B0r)

Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi were the counterparts, as they drew the moon (Dagr's chariot) across the sky, with their manes lighting up the sky.

Skolls brother, Hati, chases the moon, and is said to catch up and consume the moon during Ragnarok.

I find Ratatoskr quite interesting since he is a weak and small creature who is quite playing beings of godlike power for pawns, stirring turmoil for his own amusement; something far above his actual power and significance.

I did find Surtr's sword interesting too, I didn't initially think to research the different weapons of Norse beings, but that is now something I want to stack on top of my research into artefacts.

What Gods/Deities are there?

Ymir (The First Giant)

Ymir was the first being to exist within Norse mythos. He was created from the drops of water that formed when the ice of Niflheim met the heat of Muspelheim.

It is written that Ymir was killed by Odin, Vele, and Vi after tensions grew between gods and giants.

The gods used Ymir's body to form the world.

Ymir birthed many giants from all over their body, many of whom seem to be insignificant within Norse mythos. The giants of significance however are: Farbauti, Laufey, Aegir, Ran and Angrboda.

Buri (The First God)

Buri was freed from salty rime stones by Audumbla over three days. By way of an unknown process, Buri had a son, Bor.

There is not much additional information about Buri however, which I'm personally a fan of. Sometimes the lack of explanation gives a character a lot more weight and mystery. To me, it makes me feel like Buri would've had power far beyond that of his descendants.

Borr (God)

Farbauti and Laufey (Giants)

Farbauti is a descendent of Ymir and is known as the father of Loki, alongside Laufey.

Farbauti's role within Norse mythos remains largely unclear, unfortunately.

Laufey is also a descendent of Ymir, and is known as the mother of Loki, alongside Farbauti.

Just like Farbauti, we don't really know much about Laufey.

Loki (God)

Loki is the son of Farbauti and Laufey, and is somehow a god but not a giant?

Loki is considered to be the god of trickery and mischief, possessing the ability to shapeshift.

Loki is married to Sigyn, with whom he had the children Narfi and Vali.

Loki is also the father of Fenrir, Jörmungandr and Hel whom he had with the giantess Angrboda.

Loki is also the father of Sleipnir, who he gave birth to after shapeshifting into a mare and allowing a stallion to impregnate him.

Loki was once a well respected member of the Aesir, but after playing a role in the death of Baldr, Vali (Odin's son) uses the entrails of Loki's son Narfi (who was killed by Loki's son Vali) to bind Loki.

It is foretold that Loki will slip loose of his bindings upon the initiation of Ragnarok, and will fight against the gods - in which he will encounter Heimdallr, and the two will slay eachother.

It is theorised that Loki may be another name for Lodurr, who was involved alongside Odin and Hoenir in creating the first humans. There are also theories stating that Lodurr is another name for Vili or Ve, but it seems more generally accepted that Lodurr is Loki.

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loki) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%B3%C3%B0urr)

Hoenir/Vili/Lodurr (God)

Hoenir may have been the son of Borr, and brother of Odin, Vili and Ve. This is unclear, however.

Voluspa stats that Hoenir would be one of the few gods to survive Ragnarok.

Hoenir played a role in an attempt to seal a true after the Aesir-Vanir war, serving as a hostage along with Mimir. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%B3%C3%B0urr)

Aegir and Ran (Giants)

Aegir and Ran are descendants of Ymir. The pair are married to eachother.

Aegir and his wife Ran are both personifications of the sea, and command the power of it.

Aegir and Ran had nine daughters (Blodughadda, Bylgja, Drofn or Bara, Dufa, Hefring, Himinglaeva, Hronn, Kolga, Udr) , who personify waves, and one son (Snaer), who personifies snow.

Borr is the son of Buri, and the husband of the giant Bestla.

Borr had three children with Bestla, Odin, Vili and Ve.

Odin (God)

Odin is the son of Borr, and the brother of Vili and Ve.

I'm not going to detail every single mythical creature within Norse mythology, but I will select a good amount that I'm interested in.