Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 15
Odin, also known as Othin, Wotan, or Woden -god of magic, the runes, poetry,
death, strategy, and cunning remembered in the word Wednesday for ―Woden‘s
Daeg‖
Vili and Ve, also known respectively as Hoenir and Lodur (Othin‘s brothers),
Thor (Othin‘s son by the giantess Jord) -god of the storm, berserker rage, and
protector of the common folk remembered in the word Thursday for ―Thor‘s Daeg‖
Balder (Othin‘s son by Asynjor Frigga) -the beautiful god
Forseti (son of Balder) -god of justice and mediation
Tyr (Othin‘s son by Asynjor Frigga) -god of war and oath solemnity remembered in
the word Tuesday for ―Tyr‘s Daeg‖
Heimdall (son of Othin) -guardian of the kingdom of the Aesir
Hermod (Othin‘s son by Asynjor Frigga) -the god of speed
Hoder (Othin‘s son by Asynjor Frigga) the blind god whose actions will bring about
the prophesized apocalyptic battle of Ragnarok
Bragi (Othin‘s son adopted from the giantess Gunnloth) -god of poetry and
eloquence
Vidar (Othin‘s son by the giantess Grid) -god of strength
Vali (Othin‘s son by the giantess Rinda) -god of youth.
Among the Vanir pantheon are:
Njord -god of the sea, who becomes an Aesir as a peace-hostage of sorts
Freyr (also known as IngFreyr) -Njord‘s son and a god of the Elves and fertility.
Many of the Asynjor were of the Vanir race, including:
Frigga (Othin‘s wife, Van Fjorgyn‘s daughter) -goddess of motherhood and a
feminine form of prophetic magic called seithr
Freya (a wife of Odin, Njord‘s daughter) -goddess of beauty and leader of the
Valkyr.
The above is only a brief description of Ásatrú lore, presented both to clarify definitions of
terms and to give the reader an overview of the pantheon. A full exploration of Norse or
Icelandic lore is beyond the scope of this discussion. For a more thorough search into the
mythology, it is suggested that the reader begin by pursuing both the Poetic Edda
(Hollander, 1996) and the Prose Edda (Young, 1966).
Vinland
Lastly, the term Vinland needs to be defined. In 986 A.D., Norse trader Bjarni Herjolfsson
was blown off course while traveling between Iceland and Greenland. He brought back with
him reports of a heavily wooded coastline. Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson (975-1020), also
known as Leif the Lucky, son of Erik the Red
later bought Bjarni‘s ship and, based on his description, retraced the voyage.
As he sailed, he touched Helluland (perhaps Baffin Island), Markland
(perhaps Labrador), and finally Vinland. The precise identity of Vinland
remains controversial among scholars...in 1963, however, archeologists
found ruins of a Viking-type settlement at L‘Anse-aux-Meadows, in northern
Odin, also known as Othin, Wotan, or Woden -god of magic, the runes, poetry,
death, strategy, and cunning remembered in the word Wednesday for ―Woden‘s
Daeg‖
Vili and Ve, also known respectively as Hoenir and Lodur (Othin‘s brothers),
Thor (Othin‘s son by the giantess Jord) -god of the storm, berserker rage, and
protector of the common folk remembered in the word Thursday for ―Thor‘s Daeg‖
Balder (Othin‘s son by Asynjor Frigga) -the beautiful god
Forseti (son of Balder) -god of justice and mediation
Tyr (Othin‘s son by Asynjor Frigga) -god of war and oath solemnity remembered in
the word Tuesday for ―Tyr‘s Daeg‖
Heimdall (son of Othin) -guardian of the kingdom of the Aesir
Hermod (Othin‘s son by Asynjor Frigga) -the god of speed
Hoder (Othin‘s son by Asynjor Frigga) the blind god whose actions will bring about
the prophesized apocalyptic battle of Ragnarok
Bragi (Othin‘s son adopted from the giantess Gunnloth) -god of poetry and
eloquence
Vidar (Othin‘s son by the giantess Grid) -god of strength
Vali (Othin‘s son by the giantess Rinda) -god of youth.
Among the Vanir pantheon are:
Njord -god of the sea, who becomes an Aesir as a peace-hostage of sorts
Freyr (also known as IngFreyr) -Njord‘s son and a god of the Elves and fertility.
Many of the Asynjor were of the Vanir race, including:
Frigga (Othin‘s wife, Van Fjorgyn‘s daughter) -goddess of motherhood and a
feminine form of prophetic magic called seithr
Freya (a wife of Odin, Njord‘s daughter) -goddess of beauty and leader of the
Valkyr.
The above is only a brief description of Ásatrú lore, presented both to clarify definitions of
terms and to give the reader an overview of the pantheon. A full exploration of Norse or
Icelandic lore is beyond the scope of this discussion. For a more thorough search into the
mythology, it is suggested that the reader begin by pursuing both the Poetic Edda
(Hollander, 1996) and the Prose Edda (Young, 1966).
Vinland
Lastly, the term Vinland needs to be defined. In 986 A.D., Norse trader Bjarni Herjolfsson
was blown off course while traveling between Iceland and Greenland. He brought back with
him reports of a heavily wooded coastline. Icelandic explorer Leif Eriksson (975-1020), also
known as Leif the Lucky, son of Erik the Red
later bought Bjarni‘s ship and, based on his description, retraced the voyage.
As he sailed, he touched Helluland (perhaps Baffin Island), Markland
(perhaps Labrador), and finally Vinland. The precise identity of Vinland
remains controversial among scholars...in 1963, however, archeologists
found ruins of a Viking-type settlement at L‘Anse-aux-Meadows, in northern
