The story of Norse
The Norse cosmos grows from the primordial void Ginnungagap, flanked by the fiery realm Muspell and the icy Niflheim. From the melting frost emerges the primeval giant Ymir, whose body the gods Odin, Vili, and Vé slay to fashion the world: his blood becomes the seas, his flesh the land, his bones the mountains, his skull the sky, and his brains the clouds. The world-tree Yggdrasil binds nine realms, including Asgard, home of the Æsir gods; Midgard, the world of humans; Jötunheim, land of the giants; and Hel, realm of the dead.
The chief god Odin sacrifices an eye at Mímir’s well in exchange for wisdom and hangs himself on Yggdrasil to learn the runes. His son Thor, wielding the hammer Mjöllnir, defends the ordered cosmos against chaotic giants. The gods are neither omnipotent nor eternal; they are subject to wyrd, the weight of fate, and must prepare for Ragnarök, the final battle in which most of them will die. After the flames consume the world, the earth rises again, green and fertile, to be repopulated by surviving gods and humans.
Norse myth was not a fixed scripture but a living repertoire recited by poets, remembered by farmers, and inscribed on rune stones. It encoded values of courage, loyalty, hospitality, and grim humor in the face of inevitable doom. Seiðr, a form of shamanic sorcery associated with Odin and the goddess Freyja, mediated between human and supernatural realms. Kinship and honor bound society, and the dead might rest in burial mounds, journey to Valhalla, or sail to Hel depending on their conduct and social role.
Medieval Iceland became the great repository of Norse myth after the island’s conversion to Christianity. Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda and the anonymous Poetic Edda compiled poems and stories that would otherwise have been lost. Today Norse mythology influences fantasy literature, popular media, and neo-pagan reconstruction, while scholars continue to debate the extent of Christian interpolation and the regional diversity of the tradition.
Themes
Featured temples
7 restored names to explore.
Valhǫll
Younger Futharkᚢᛅᛚᚼᚢᛚ
Hall of the Slain
valhǫll.com → xn--valhll-zcc.com
Tier 1
Ragnarǫk
Younger Futharkᚱᛅᚴᚾᛅᚱᚢᚴ
Doom of the Gods
ragnarǫk.com → xn--ragnark-fnc.com
Tier 1
Miðgarðr
Younger Futharkᛘᛁᚦᚴᛅᚱᚦᛁ
Middle Enclosure (Earth)
miðgarðr.com → xn--migarr-qwad.com
Tier 1
Álfheimr
Younger Futharkᛅᛚᚠᚼᛁᛘᚱ
Realm of the Light Elves
álfheimr.com → xn--lfheimr-gwa.com
Tier 1
Jötunheimr
Younger Futharkᛁᚢᛏᚢᚾᚼᛁᛘᚱ
Land of the Giants
jötunheimr.com → xn--jtunheimr-07a.com
Tier 1
Helheimr
Younger Futharkᚼᛁᛚᚼᛁᛘᚱ
Realm of the Dead
helheimr.com → helheimr.com
Tier 2
Jǫrmungandr
Younger Futharkᛁᚢᚱᛘᚢᚾᚴᛅᚾᛏᚱ
World Serpent
jǫrmungandr.com → xn--jrmungandr-ejd.com
Tier 1Sacred texts
Primary sources behind the Norse pantheon.
Poetic Edda
The thirty-five lays of the Elder Edda — Völuspá’s creation and doom, Hávamál’s wisdom, the adventures of Thor and the counsel of Odin. The foundation text of the entire Norse pantheon.
Prose Edda
Snorri Sturluson’s handbook of myth — Gylfaginning’s systematic account of the gods from creation to Ragnarök, and Skáldskaparmál’s catalogues of poetic speech. The scholar’s companion to the Poetic Edda.
Völsunga Saga
The saga of the Völsung line — the sword in the Branstock, Sigurd's slaying of the dragon Fáfnir, the cursed hoard of Andvari, and the fall of the Giukings. The heroic prose companion to the Eddic lays, and the home scripture of the Sigurðr and Fáfnir temples.
Browse all Norse temples
75 restored flagship temples.
Álfheimr
Younger Futharkᛅᛚᚠᚼᛁᛘᚱ
Realm of the Light Elves
álfheimr.com → xn--lfheimr-gwa.com
Tier 1
Andvari
Younger Futharkᛅᚾᛏᚠᛅᚱᛁ
Dwarf, Guardian of Gold
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Angrboða
Younger Futharkᛅᚾᚴᚱᛒᚢᚦᛅ
Monster Mother, Sorcery
angrboða.com → xn--angrboa-1za.com
Tier 1
Auðhumla
Younger Futharkᛅᚢᚦᚢᛘᛚᛅ
Primeval Cow, Nourisher of Creation
auðhumla.com → xn--auhumla-xza.com
Tier 1
Baldr
Younger Futharkᛒᛅᛚᛏᚱ
Light, Beauty, Purity
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Baugi
Younger Futharkᛒᛅᚢᚴᛁ
Giant, Brother of Suttungr
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Bestla
Younger Futharkᛒᛁᛋᛏᛚᛅ
Mother of Odin, Giantess
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Bifrǫst
Younger Futhark runesᛒᛁᚠᚱᚬᛋᛏ
Rainbow Bridge, Passage, Heimdallr's Watch
bifrǫst.com → xn--bifrst-zcc.com
Tier 1
Bragi
Younger Futharkᛒᚱᛅᚴᛁ
Poetry, Eloquence
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Brokkr
Younger Futharkᛒᚱᚢᚴᚴᚱ
Dwarf Smith
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Brynhildr
Younger Futharkᛒᚱᚢᚾᚼᛁᛚᛏᚱ
Valkyrie, Shieldmaiden
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Búri
Younger Futharkᛒᚢᚱᛁ
First God of the Norse Pantheon, Progenitor of the Æsir
búri.com → xn--bri-8na.com
Tier 1
Draupnir
Younger Futharkᛏᚱᛅᚢᛒᚾᛁᚱ
Odin's Ring, Wealth
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Eggþér
Younger Futharkᛁᚴᚴᚦᛁᚱ
Watchman, Ragnarök Herald
eggþér.com → xn--eggr-dpa9j.com
Tier 1
Eir
Younger Futharkᛁᚱ
Healing, Mercy, Medical Skill
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Fáfnir
Younger Futharkᚠᛅᚠᚾᛁᚱ
Dwarf turned Dragon
fáfnir.com → xn--ffnir-xqa.com
Tier 1
Fenrir
Younger Futharkᚠᛁᚾᚱᛁᚱ
Wolf, Destruction, Binding
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Fjǫrgyn
Younger Futharkᚠᛁᚢᚱᚴᚢᚾ
Earth, Mother of Thor
fjǫrgyn.com → xn--fjrgyn-xcc.com
Tier 1
Forseti
Younger Futharkᚠᚢᚱᛋᛁᛏᛁ
Justice, Mediation
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Freyja
Younger Futharkᚠᚱᛅᚢᛁᛅ
Love, Fertility, Seiðr
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Freyr
Younger Futharkᚠᚱᛅᚢᚱ
Fertility, Sunshine, Rain
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Frigg
Younger Futharkᚠᚱᛁᚴᚴ
Marriage, Motherhood, Queenship
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Fulla
Younger Futharkᚠᚢᛚᛚᛅ
Abundance, Secrets
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Garmr
Younger Futharkᚴᛅᚱᛘᚱ
Guardian, Underworld Hound
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Gefjun
Younger Futharkᚴᛁᚠᛁᚢᚾ
Fertility, Agriculture
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Ginnungagap
Younger Futharkᚴᛁᚾᚾᚢᚾᚴᛅᚴᛅᛒ
Primordial Void
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Gná
Younger Futharkᚴᚾᛅ
Messenger of Frigg
gná.com → xn--gn-nia.com
Tier 1
Gunnr
Younger Futharkᚴᚢᚾᚾᚱ
Valkyrie of War
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Hati
Younger Futharkᚼᛅᛏᛁ
Moon-Chaser, Chaos
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Heimdallr
Younger Futharkᚼᛁᛘᛏᛅᛚᛚᚱ
Foreknowledge, Watchman, Bifrost
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Hel
Younger Futharkᚼᛁᛚ
Death, Underworld, Souls
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Helheimr
Younger Futharkᚼᛁᛚᚼᛁᛘᚱ
Realm of the Dead
helheimr.com → helheimr.com
Tier 2
Hermóðr
Younger Futharkᚼᛁᚱᛘᚢᚦᚱ
Messenger, Courage
hermóðr.com → xn--hermr-ltau.com
Tier 1
Hrungnir
Younger Futharkᚼᚱᚢᚾᚴᚾᛁᚱ
Giant, Duel with Thor
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Hymir
Younger Futharkᚼᚢᛘᛁᚱ
Giant, Owner of Cauldron
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Jǫrð
Younger Futharkᛁᚬᚱᚦ
Earth, Mother of Thor
jǫrð.com → xn--jr-xja61h.com
Tier 1
Jǫrmungandr
Younger Futharkᛁᚢᚱᛘᚢᚾᚴᛅᚾᛏᚱ
World Serpent
jǫrmungandr.com → xn--jrmungandr-ejd.com
Tier 1
Jötunheimr
Younger Futharkᛁᚢᛏᚢᚾᚼᛁᛘᚱ
Land of the Giants
jötunheimr.com → xn--jtunheimr-07a.com
Tier 1
Logi
Younger Futharkᛚᚢᚴᛁ
Fire, Flame, Giant
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Loki
Younger Futharkᛚᚢᚴᛁ
Trickery, Chaos, Shape-shifter
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Magni
Younger Futharkᛘᛅᚴᚾᛁ
Strength, Son of Thor
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Máni
Younger Futhark runesᛘᛅᚾᛁ
Moon, Night, Time
máni.com → xn--mni-ela.com
Tier 1
Miðgarðr
Younger Futharkᛘᛁᚦᚴᛅᚱᚦᛁ
Middle Enclosure (Earth)
miðgarðr.com → xn--migarr-qwad.com
Tier 1
Mjǫllnir
Younger Futharkᛘᛁᚢᛚᚾᛁᚱ
Thunder Hammer
mjǫllnir.com → xn--mjllnir-bnc.com
Tier 1
Móði
Younger Futharkᛘᚢᚦᛁ
Wrath, Son of Thor
móði.com → xn--mi-wjal.com
Tier 1
Muspellheimr
Younger Futharkᛘᚢᛋᛒᛁᛚᛚᚼᛁᛘᚱ
World of Fire
muspellheimr.com → muspellheimr.com
Tier 2
Nanna
Younger Futharkᚾᛅᚾᚾᛅ
Joy, Wife of Baldr
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Niflheimr
Younger Futharkᚾᛁᚠᛚᚼᛁᛘᚱ
Mist World, Realm of Ice
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Njǫrðr
Younger Futharkᚾᛁᚢᚱᚦᚱ
Sea, Wind, Fishing, Wealth
njǫrðr.com → xn--njrr-dqa81m.com
Tier 1
Óðinn
Younger Futharkᚢᚦᛁᚾ
Allfather
óðinn.com → xn--inn-2mao.com
Tier 1
Ragnarǫk
Younger Futharkᚱᛅᚴᚾᛅᚱᚢᚴ
Doom of the Gods
ragnarǫk.com → xn--ragnark-fnc.com
Tier 1
Ratatoskr
Younger Futharkᚱᛅᛏᛅᛏᚢᛋᚴᚱ
Squirrel of Yggdrasil
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Reginn
Younger Futharkᚱᛁᚴᛁᚾᚾ
Dwarf Smith, Fafnir's Brother
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Sif
Younger Futharkᛋᛁᚠ
Earth, Harvest
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Sigurðr
Younger Futhark runesᛋᛁᚴᚢᚱᚦᛦ
Victory, Dragon-Slaying, Heroism
sigurðr.com → xn--sigurr-twa.com
Tier 1
Sigyn
Younger Futharkᛋᛁᚴᚢᚾ
Loyalty, Wife of Loki
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Sindri
Younger Futharkᛋᛁᚾᛏᚱᛁ
Dwarf Smith
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Skaði
Younger Futharkᛋᚴᛅᚦᛁ
Winter, Mountains, Hunting
skaði.com → xn--skai-dqa.com
Tier 1
Skuld
Younger Futharkᛋᚴᚢᛚᛏ
Valkyrie / Norn of Future
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Sleipnir
Younger Futhark runesᛋᛚᛅᛁᛒᚾᛁᛦ
Eight-Legged Steed, Journey, Offspring of Loki
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Suttungr
Younger Futharkᛋᚢᛏᛏᚢᚾᚴᚱ
Giant, Guardian of Mead
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Syn
Younger Futharkᛋᚢᚾ
Refusal, Defense
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Týr
Younger Futharkᛏᚢᚱ
War, Law, Oaths
týr.com → xn--tr-0ka.com
Tier 1
Ullr
Younger Futharkᚢᛚᛚᚱ
Archery, Hunting, Skiing
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Uppsala
Younger Futharkᚢᛒᛒᛋᛅᛚᛅ
Temple, Freyr, Sacred Grove
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Valhǫll
Younger Futharkᚢᛅᛚᚼᚢᛚ
Hall of the Slain
valhǫll.com → xn--valhll-zcc.com
Tier 1
Váli
Younger Futharkᚢᛅᛚᛁ
Vengeance, Son of Odin
váli.com → xn--vli-ela.com
Tier 1
Vanaheimr
Younger Futharkᚢᛅᚾᚼᛁᛘᛁᚱ
Home of the Vanir
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Vár
Younger Futharkᚢᛅᚱ
Oaths, Marriage Agreements
vár.com → xn--vr-mia.com
Tier 1
Vǫr
Younger Futharkᚢᚢᚱ
Wisdom, Oaths, Knowledge
vǫr.com → xn--vr-f5a.com
Tier 1
Wyrd
Anglo-Saxon Futhorcᚹᚣᚱᛞ
Fate, Destiny
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Yggdrasill
Younger Futharkᚢᚴᚴᛏᚱᛅᛋᛁᛚᛚ
World Tree
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Ymir
Younger Futharkᚢᛘᛁᚱ
Primordial Giant, Chaos
undefined → undefined
Tier 2
Þórr
Younger Futharkᚦᚢᚱ
Thunder, Storms, Oak
þórr.com → xn--rr-4ja7b.com
Tier 1
Þrúðr
Younger Futharkᚦᚱᚢᚦᚱ
Strength, Daughter of Thor
þrúðr.com → xn--rr-wja3bs.com
Tier 1