The Mythology Book

EUROPE 139 to report what they had discovered. Yggdrasil was also a source of knowledge for Odin. Key to this was Odin’s knowled ...

140 THE FIRST WAR IN THE WORLD WAR OF THE GODS T he Norse described their gods collectively as the Aesir, from which Asgard, the ...

NORTHERN EUROPE 141 See also: The war of the gods and Titans 32–33 ■ A complex god 164 ■ The twilight of the gods 150–57 ■ The g ...

142 THEY MIXED HONEY WITH THE BLOOD AND IT TURNED INTO MEAD THE MEAD OF POETRY O din was primarily a god of kingship, war, and w ...

NORTHERN EUROPE 143 See also: Pandora’s box 40–41 ■ The many affairs of Zeus 42–47 ■ Odin and the world tree 134–39 ■ Nanga Baig ...

144 T he most important of the Norse gods were often closely identified with magical possessions, all crafted by dwarves, who we ...

145 See also: Odin and the world tree 134–39 ■ War of the gods 140–41 ■ The Mead of Poetry 141–42 ■ The adventures of Thor and L ...

146 A lthough Thor’s strength, bravery, and dependability were renowned, the Norse god was also portrayed as rather slow-witted ...

NORTHERN EUROPE 147 See also: Prometheus helps mankind 36–39 ■ Hermes’s first day 54–55 ■ Creation of the universe 130–33 ■ The ...

148 THE UNLUCKIEST DEED EVER DONE AMONG GODS AND MEN THE DEATH OF BALDUR T he Norse myths recount a complete history of the worl ...

NORTHERN EUROPE 149 See also: Creation of the universe 130–33 ■ War of the gods 140–41 ■ The adventures of Thor and Loki in Jötu ...

BROTHER WILL FIGHT BROTHER AND BE HIS SLAYER THE TWILIGHT OF THE GODS US_150-157_Ragnarok.indd 150 05/12/17 4:15 pm US_150-157_R ...

US_150-157_Ragnarok.indd 151 05/12/17 4:15 pm ...

152 T ime was cyclical in Norse mythology; nothing lasted forever, not even the gods. This universe would one day come to an end ...

153 The Aesir god Heimdall blows his Gjallarhorn. The vigilant watchman was known for his acute vision and hearing. He was the f ...

154 The seeress saw an eagle fishing near a waterfall, and other bucolic images. Some of the Aesir gods (the poem didn’t say how ...

155 Odin visited the head of Mímir for advice and guidance during the gods’ final battle with the giants during Ragnarök. Drinki ...

156 across the sea and sky. To add to the turmoil, the sky would split apart and the fire giants of Muspelheim, led by Surt, wou ...

NORTHERN EUROPE 157 the waves, where crops would grow without having been sown. The surviving Aesir would begin to gather on Ida ...

158 WHEN THE WORM COMES TO THE WATER, SMITE HIM IN THE HEART SIGURD THE DRAGON SLAYER S igurd Fafnisbane was one of the most pop ...