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Norse Gods and Goddesses Facts & Worksheets

The Norse Gods and Goddesses were part of Norse Mythology of the Viking Culture from the 8th to the 11th Century.

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The Norse Gods and Goddesses were part of Norse Mythology of the Viking Culture from the 8th to the 11th Century. The people of Scandinavia – Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland – believed that their gods lived at the center of the Earth in a place called Asgard. Their gods were also split into three ‘clans’, called the Æsir, the Vanir and the Jötnar.

See the fact file below for more information on the Norse Gods and Goddesses or alternatively, you can download our 28-page Norse Gods and Goddesses worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

THE MYTHOLOGY

  • Tracing the mythology was a bit challenge as most of its history was passed orally.
  • However, genuine pre-Christian sources that preserve elements were then identified such as the Poetic Edda and Skaldic poetry.
  • The Codex Regius found in the Poetic Edda contains an anonymous collection of older Eddic poems, including ten about gods and nineteen about heroes.
  • Scholars have also discovered and translated some runic inscriptions, such as the Rök Runestone and the Kvinneby amulet, that make reference to Nordic mythology.
  • Numerous runestones and image stones were also found that depict scenes from Norse mythology, such as: Thor’s fishing trip, scenes from the Völsunga saga, Odin and Sleipnir, Loki with curled dandy-like mustaches and lips that are sewn together, Odin being devoured by Fenrir, and Hyrrokkin riding to Balder’s funeral.
  • Ancient Scandinavia was a world in which belief in divine powers abounded, and all of these had their own attributes and functions.
  • In the early viking society, gods were venerated and called upon by the whole community.
  • A great temple at Uppsala in Sweden with images of Thor, Odin, and Freyr, who were sacrificed to in times of famine or disease, war, or when weddings happened, were found.
  • There were four phases in the Norse mythological view: the process in which the world was created; a phase in which time is started; the destruction of the world in the Ragnarök; and the arising of a new world from the sea.
  • The Norse worldview only changed with the emerging influence of Christianity, which became apparent by the second half of the 11th century CE.

Æsir Gods – The Main Gods of Norse Mythology

  • ODIN
    • The God of war and death and the King of the Æsir.
    • He is married to Frigg, the goddess of motherhood and domesticity.
    • Famously rode an 8-legged horse called Sleipnir, who was the son of Loki when he had shapeshifted into the form of a mare.
    • Odin is heavily associated with practising magic. He has one eye because he sacrificed the other to drink from the fountain of wisdom.
    • He had 2 ravens, Hugin and Munin, which told him what was happening in the world.
    • He gives his name to the weekday ‘Wednesday’.
  • BALDUR
    • He is the God of love, peace and forgiveness and the Son of Odin, the king of the Æsir.
    • Twin brother of the blind God of darkness, Höðr.
    • The death of Baldur is believed to have lead to the famous battle of the Gods, known as Ragnarok.
  • FRIGG
    • She is the Goddess of motherhood, marriage and domesticity and the wife of Odin, the king of the Æsir.
    • She has the power of prophecy and the weekday ‘Friday’ is named after Frigg.
  • HEIMDALL
    • A guardian God who watched over the Bifrost Bridge: the path to Asgard.
    • Had a horn that he blew if Asgard was ever in danger.
    • The last of the gods to die at Ragnarok.
  • HöðR
    • The blind God of darkness and winter also known as Hodor.
    • Twin brothe of Baldur, who he accidentally killed.
  • IDUNN
    • The Goddess of youth and a guardian.
    • Guards the golden apples that the gods must eat in order to survive until Ragnarok. She is the wife of Bragi, the God of poetry.
  • SIF
    • The Goddess of homes and crops and is married to Thor, the God of thunder.
    • Famous for having hair made of gold. Her hair was chopped off by Loki as a prank, and Thor made him get the hair re-made.
  • THOR
    • The God of thunder and a guardian of Asgard and the son of Odin.
    • One of the most powerful gods. It was believed that Thor travelled in a chariot pulled by goats.
    • Famous for causing thunderclaps using his hammer, Mjolnir.
    • The weekday ‘Thursday’ is named after Thor.
  • HEIMDALL
    • The God of mischief and trickery. He was also known as the Lord of Lies because of his ability to shapeshift.
    • He often got himself into trouble and was responsible for cutting off Sif’s hair, helping Thor to rescue his hammer, stealing Freyja’s necklace and tricking a giant into building huge walls around Asgard.
    • As punishment, Loki was bound to a rock until Ragnarok.
  • TYR
    • The God of single-handed combat.
    • Týr is famous for only having one hand, which was bitten off by the wolf Fenrir.
  • ULL
    • He is the God of hunting and winter and the son of Sif and stepson of Thor.
    • Married to Skadi, the Goddess of winter and associated with skiing, and was famous for leaving trails across the sky.
  • VIDARR
    • The God of revenge and silence.
    • Son of Odin and a giantess named Grid.
    • Responsible for killing the wolf, Fenrir, at Ragnarok.

Vanir Gods – The Peace-Loving Gods of Norse Mythology

  • FREYJA
    • The Goddess of love, beauty, and fertility.
    • A warrior goddess who collects the souls of heroes when she goes into battle. Daughter of Njord and twin sister of Freyr and the most loved Norse goddess.
    • Is responsible for deciding where the souls of heroes, collected by the Valkyries, will sit in the Room of Seats.
  • Examples of Norse giants and giantesses include:
    • Atla
    • Baugi
    • Bestla
    • Brimir
    • Dröfn
    • Gangr
    • Grid
    • Hati
    • Hel
    • Hrímgrímnir
    • Kraka
    • Leikn
    • Norfi
    • Skalli
    • Ulfrun
    • Váli
    • Vanargand
  • Other Significant Norse Gods and Goddesses include:
    • Auðr – the God of prosperity.
    • Dagr – the God of days.
    • Dellingr – the God of dawn.
    • Hel – the Goddess of Helheim (the underworld).
    • Jörð – the Goddess of the Earth.
    • Magni – the God of strength.
    • Máni – the God of the moon.
    • Nótt – the Goddess of night.
    • Ran – the Goddess of storms at sea.
    • Sjöfn – the Goddess of love.
    • Vili and Vé – brothers of Odin and creators of the world.
    • Vör – the Goddess of wisdom.
  • VALKYRIES
    • In Norse mythology, a valkyrie “chooser of the slain” is one of a host of female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live.
    • Selecting among half of those who die in battle, the valkyries take their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin.

Norse Gods and Goddesses Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Norse Gods and Goddesses across 28 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Norse Gods and Goddesses worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Norse Gods and Goddesses which were part of Norse Mythology of the Viking Culture from the 8th to the 11th Century. The people of Scandinavia – Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland – believed that their gods lived at the center of the Earth in a place called Asgard. Their gods were also split into three ‘clans’, called the Æsir, the Vanir and the Jötnar.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Nordic World
  • Yggdrasil
  • The Aesirs
  • The Vanirs
  • Comparison
  • The Jotuns
  • Midgard Deities
  • Ragnarok
  • Deity Roles
  • Norse Runes

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Link will appear as Norse Gods and Goddesses Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 30, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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