It's pretty good timing. The newest Marvel Studios movie -- Thor: The Dark World -- is newly available through the Library Catalog this week. The film brings to life such characters as Thor, Odin, Frigga, and Loki -- the mythological figures from the Viking pantheon.
The DVD's been released just in time for Ragnarök -- the long-prophetized "Twilight of the Gods" that serves as the Viking apocalypse. According to mythology, Ragnarök comes about with the release of the wolf Fenrir and the giant snake Jörmungandr. The gods rise to fight the monsters and successfully defeat them -- though the gods themselves die in the process. (Norse mythology is not for the faint of heart.)
According to some experts, Ragnarök was predicted by the Vikings for this very Saturday, February 22. So in honor of the occasion, we're looking at the mythology behind some of our favorite Norse gods. (And be sure to check out Padraic Colum's take on the Twilight of the Gods for all the best Ragnarök coverage!)
Thor
Aside from being red-haired (not blonde), the mythological Thor is not so different from his comic book counterpart. A sky god, he wields the power of thunder and lightning when fighting his enemies (most often, the giants). He also has Mjölnir, the fancy-dancy hammer he can be seen wielding in his Chris Hemsworth incarnation. The defender of the gods, Thor also has a key role to play in Ragnarök, defeating the giant serpent Jörmungandr.
BEST MYTH:
How Thor Triumphed - To hear Loki tell it, Thor gets into almost as much trouble as Loki himself. Still, the thunder god does alright on his own -- as he does in this tale, when he saves the day (and the gods' feast) through his own strength and cunning.
Odin
Known as the Allfather, Odin is the king of the gods and the ruler of Asgard (the gods' home). He was known as both a warrior god as well as the god of wisdom: he loses his eye not in battle, but rather gives it up as a sacrifice in his quest to drink from the Well of Mimir, which contains great knowledge and wisdom. He has two ravens named Thought and Memory, and rides an eight-legged horse called Slepnir.
BEST MYTH:
Odin Goes to Mimir's Well - Read all about Odin's journey to the well of wisdom, the first of his adventures as Vegtam the Wanderer.
Frigga
The wife of Odin, Frigga was queen of Asgard and Thor's stepmom. As Odin was often away, Frigga often lived in a palace of her own and spent much of her time alone, working at her spinning wheel. She was said to often have a melancholy about her, as she had the power to see the future (and the eventual downfall of the gods) -- though she never revealed what she saw.
BEST MYTH:
Odin Faces an Evil Man - Frigga and Odin are spending some time living on earth in the guise of mere mortals when they take in two foster children. Though Odin favors the more adventurous boy, Frigga dotes on the kid who's quiet and compassionate. It's not hard to guess which god is proven to be the best judge of character.
Loki
In the Marvel movies and comics, Loki is the adopted brother of Thor -- but in the original mythology, Loki is actually Thor's uncle. A trickster god (who's really a descendant of the giants), Loki is generally neither good nor evil, but rather a mischief-maker who spends as much time causing trouble as he does fixing it. His alliances seem to depend on the particular tale you're reading, and scholars have debated for centuries on his true role in Norse mythology.
BEST MYTH:
Iduna and Her Apples - The gods of Asgard rely on the goddess Iduna, and the golden apples she grows, to maintain their youth and immortality. When Loki uses trickery to betray Iduna and save his own skin, it's only his wit and cunning that can rescue her -- making this story a good look into Loki's dual nature.
Asgard -- home of the gods
From the Catalog:
-- The Children of Odin: The Book of Northern Myths by Padraic Colum
Using an overarching narrative, Colum weaves together the various short stories of Norse mythology into a (mostly) cohesive whole. A highly recommended primer.
-- Gods and Heroes from Viking Mythology by Brian Branston; illustrations by Giovanni Caselli.
This fully-illustrated anthology offers some richer details on the myths and legends of the Norse gods and giants.
-- The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology by Snorri Sturluson; translated by Jesse L. Byock
The Poetic Eddas: The Mythological Poems translated by Henry Adams Bellows
Want the complete, uncut text of the original myths? Try these translations of the Prose and Poetic Eddas, which were compiled in the 13th century. Together, they comprise our primary sources of Norse mythological tales.
-- Favorite Norse Myths retold by Mary Pope Osborne; illustrated by Troy Howell.
Suitable for all ages, Osborne retells several tales from the Prose and Poetic Eddas. Her elegant prose is well-matched with lush illustrations from Howell.
Thor facing off against Jörmungandr, the "Midgard serpent"
From Around the Web:
-- Vikings Of The World, Unite In Battle: The Apocalypse Is Upon Us - from NPR. A look at the influences and inspirations for the Norse apocalypse.
-- The Apocalypse Starts Saturday, at Least According To The Vikings - Time Magazine offers some humorous advice for celebrating Ragnarök.
-- Save the Date: The Viking Apocalypse Ragnarok Happens This Weekend - Jezebel.com takes a look at the timing of Ragnarök.
-- Mythology Bookshelf - From Project Gutenberg. Check out an in-depth look at the Eddas online, as well as other mythological tales from cultures around the world.
-- Post by Ms. B
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