Realms of Norse Cosmology
Norse mythology describes a universe of interconnected worlds, each home to different races of beings, all bound by the roots and branches of Yggdrasil.
Asgard
Realm of the Aesir gods, home of Valhalla where fallen warriors feast
Jotunheim
Land of the frost giants, enemies of the gods yet bound to them by blood
Muspelheim
Realm of fire and flame, ruled by the giant Surtr who will burn the world
Yggdrasil
The World Tree connecting all Nine Worlds, tended by the Norns of fate
ᚅ
Featured Creatures
The mighty creatures of Norse mythology—beasts that will play their part in Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods.
🐺
Fenrir
The monstrous wolf, son of Loki, bound by magical chains until Ragnarök when he will devour Odin himself.
🐍
Jörmungandr
The World Serpent encircling Midgard, locked in eternal enmity with Thor. Their final battle will end them both.
🦛
Sleipnir
Odin's eight-legged steed, fastest of all horses, born of Loki and able to traverse all Nine Worlds.
🦅
Valkyries
Choosers of the slain who select worthy warriors from battlefields to join Odin's army in Valhalla.
🐦
Huginn & Muninn
Odin's ravens, Thought and Memory, who fly across the worlds each day to bring the All-Father news.
🐉
Níðhöggr
The dragon gnawing at Yggdrasil's roots in Niflheim, devouring the corpses of oath-breakers.
🌊
Kraken
The colossal sea monster that drags ships to their doom in the cold northern waters.
💀
Draugr
Undead warriors who guard their burial mounds with supernatural strength and deadly curses.
⚜
The Viking Worldview
Norse mythology reflects the harsh world of the Vikings—a universe where even the gods are not immortal, and all things must end. This acceptance of fate (wyrd) and emphasis on courage in the face of inevitable doom shaped a warrior culture that both raided and traded across Europe.
The creatures of Norse myth often embody chaos threatening cosmic order. Fenrir, Jörmungandr, and Hel—all children of the trickster Loki—represent the forces that will destroy the gods at Ragnarök. Yet even this destruction is not truly the end, as a new world will rise from the ashes.
These myths were preserved in the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, written in medieval Iceland. The Norse influence on fantasy literature is immense—Tolkien drew heavily on these myths, and dragons, dwarves, and elves as we know them owe much to Scandinavian tradition.
Explore Norse Mythology
Discover the complete bestiary of Norse creatures—from trolls and draugr to the mighty frost giants.
