List of Germanic deities facts for kids
Long ago, the ancient Germanic people in Europe had their own religion, which included many different gods and goddesses. We know about these deities from old stories, poems, writings, and even names of people and places. This article will tell you about some of the most important gods and goddesses from Germanic paganism.
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Gods of the Old Stories
In the old Germanic religion, many powerful gods were worshipped. Each god had special roles and powers. Here are some of the most well-known ones:
Odin: The Allfather
Odin was one of the most important gods. His name means "frenzy" or "inspiration." He was known as the leader of the gods, a god of wisdom, war, poetry, and magic. People believed he gave his name to Wednesday.
- Name Meaning: "Frenzy" or "Inspiration."
- Family: His main wife was Frigg. He also had many children, including Thor and Baldr.
- Stories: Odin is in almost all the old Germanic stories. He often seeks wisdom, sometimes by sacrificing something important, like his eye.
Thor: God of Thunder
Thor was a very popular god, known for his strength and his mighty hammer, Mjölnir. His name means "thunder," and he gave his name to Thursday. He was seen as the protector of gods and humans from giants and monsters.
- Name Meaning: "Thunder."
- Family: His wife was Sif. He had children named Móði, Magni, and Þrúðr.
- Stories: Thor is famous for his many battles against giants. He is often shown riding in a chariot pulled by goats.
Baldr: The Shining God
Baldr was known as the god of light, beauty, and purity. His name might mean "shining day." He was loved by everyone.
- Name Meaning: "Shining day" (Old English).
- Family: His wife was Nanna, and his son was Forseti.
- Stories: The most famous story about Baldr is his tragic death, which brought great sadness to the gods.
Freyr: God of Fertility
Freyr was a god connected to peace, good harvests, and wealth. His name means "Lord." He was often linked to prosperity and good fortune.
- Name Meaning: "Lord."
- Family: His wife was Gerðr. He had a sister named Freyja.
- Stories: Freyr is often shown with a magical ship and a golden boar. He was important for ensuring good crops and healthy animals.
Loki: The Trickster
Loki is a complex figure, known as a trickster god. He is clever and mischievous, sometimes helping the gods, and sometimes causing trouble.
- Name Meaning: The meaning is debated.
- Family: He had children with different beings, including the giant wolf Fenrir, the world serpent Jormungandr, and the goddess Hel.
- Stories: Loki plays a big role in many myths, often using his cunning to create problems or solve them in unusual ways.
Other Important Gods
- Alcis: Mentioned by the Roman writer Tacitus.
- Bragi: The god of poetry and music.
- Forseti: The god of justice and fairness.
- Heimdallr: The guardian of the gods, who watches over the rainbow bridge Bifröst.
- Njörðr: A god of the sea, winds, and wealth. He was the father of Freyr and Freyja.
- Týr: A god of war and justice, known for his bravery. He gave his name to Tuesday.
- Ullr: A god associated with archery, hunting, and skiing.
- Váli: A god of vengeance.
- Viðarr: A strong god who survives the end of the world (Ragnarök).
Goddesses of the Old Stories
Just like the gods, many goddesses were important in Germanic paganism. They had roles related to love, protection, healing, and fate.
Freyja: Goddess of Love and War
Freyja was a powerful goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, and death. Her name means "Lady." She was also linked to magic and prophecy.
- Name Meaning: "Lady."
- Family: She was the sister of Freyr. Her husband was Óðr, and she had daughters named Hnoss and Gersemi.
- Stories: Freyja rides in a chariot pulled by cats. She claims half of the warriors who die in battle for her hall.
Frigg: Queen of the Gods
Frigg was the wife of Odin and the queen of the gods. She was a goddess of marriage, motherhood, and foresight. Her name is linked to "love" and she gave her name to Friday.
- Name Meaning: Related to "Love."
- Family: Her husband was Odin, and she was the mother of Baldr.
- Stories: Frigg knows the future, but she rarely speaks about it. She tried to protect her son Baldr from harm.
Sif: Golden-Haired Goddess
Sif was the wife of Thor, known for her beautiful golden hair. She was associated with the earth and fertility.
- Name Meaning: "In-law-relationship."
- Family: Her husband was Thor. She had a daughter named Þrúðr and a son named Ullr.
- Stories: One famous story tells how Loki cut off her golden hair, and Thor made him get new hair made of gold.
Iðunn: Keeper of Youth
Iðunn was the goddess who kept the magical golden apples that kept the gods young. Without her apples, the gods would grow old and weak.
- Name Meaning: Possibly "ever young."
- Family: Her husband was Bragi, the god of poetry.
- Stories: She was once kidnapped by a giant, causing the gods to age until she was rescued.
Other Important Goddesses
- Ēostre: An Old English goddess linked to spring and dawn. She gave her name to Easter.
- Fulla: A goddess who served Frigg and carried her secrets.
- Gefjun: A goddess associated with plowing and land.
- Hel: The ruler of the underworld, where some of the dead go.
- Nanna: The wife of Baldr.
- Norns: Three powerful goddesses (Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld) who decide the fate of all beings.
- Rán: A sea goddess who collected drowned sailors in her net.
- Sól: The goddess of the Sun, who rides a chariot across the sky. She gave her name to Sunday.
Related Deities
- List of Anglo-Saxon deities
- Common Germanic deities
Images for kids
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A scene from one of the Merseburg Incantations: gods Wodan and Balder stand before the goddesses Sunna, Sinthgunt, Volla, and Friia (Emil Doepler, 1905)
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Odin (Wodan) by Emil Doepler.jpg
Odin, the Allfather, often shown with his two ravens.
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Thor's Fight with the Jötnar by Mårten Eskil Winge.jpg
Thor fighting giants with his hammer, Mjölnir.
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Freyja by Emil Doepler.jpg
Freyja, often shown with her necklace Brísingamen.
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Dioses germánicos para niños
