REVIEWER ON MYTHOLOGY AND LITERATURE
Group 1
Mythology and Literature
Myths differ from fables, legends, folktales, fairy tales, anecdotes, and fiction.
Romanticism (19th century) viewed folktales and fairy tales as remnants of older mythology (e.g., Brothers Grimm).
Mythological themes have influenced literature since Homer (e.g., “Cupid and Psyche”).
Euhemerism: Rationalizes myths by placing mythological motifs in realistic settings, often after cultural shifts.
Historical/literary material can acquire mythological traits (e.g., King Arthur, Matter of Britain/France).
Mythopoeia: Conscious creation of myths (e.g., J.R.R. Tolkien’s works).
Formation of Myths
Myths fulfill cultural needs and validate cultural institutions.
Often explain history, religion, heroes, and connect with universal truths.
Joseph Campbell’s Monomyth: Universal hero’s journey involves leaving the ordinary world, encountering challenges,
and returning with newfound power (e.g., Buddha, Moses, Christ).
Claude Lévi-Strauss: Myths structure understanding of the universe, focusing on relationships rather than content.
Modern Mythology
Myths exist in modern media (e.g., “Superman,” “Titanic”).
Carl Jung: Myths reflect archetypes—universal psychological ideas shared by humanity.
Mythic themes persist in modern films and literature, fulfilling psychological needs (e.g., “Star War
Folklore and Folktales
Folklore: Traditions, customs, and fictional tales with superstitions, often shared orally.
Legend: Semi-historical stories (e.g., King Arthur, Robin Hood).
Fairy Tale: Stories involving fantastical elements like fairies, giants, or dragons (e.g., “Cinderella”).
Differences:
Mythology: Larger in scale, often sacred, involving divine beings and cosmic events.
Folklore: Localized, intimate, with smaller-scale characters and events.
Key Elements of Mythology
1. Tension Between Opposing Forces: Light vs. dark, good vs. evil.
2. Struggle for Power: Conflicts between supernatural forces or mortals, often ending in punishment or death.
3. Origins of Life/Nature: Explains creation and existence.
4. Fate and Prophecy: Central themes; fate is unavoidable.
5. Supernatural Characters: Gods, goddesses, and beings with human traits.
6. Quests and Tasks: Characters completing missions, often traveling between worlds.
The Great Themes of Myth
1. Creation: Stories of the universe’s origin, often involving creator deities.
2. Gods and Goddesses: Represent idealized beings, reinforcing leadership and power.
3. Heroic Figures: Semi-divine heroes achieving greatness through deeds or divine help.
4. Monsters and Demons: Opposed by heroes, often deformed or hideous.
5. Animals: Symbolic roles, often embodying traits or serving gods.
6. The Underworld: Represents death and renewal, often a source of fear or wealth.
7. Journeys and Trials: Tests of loyalty and strength, often involving the underworld.
8. The Afterlife: Depictions of judgment, paradise, or punishment.
9. Worlds Destroyed: Myths of the world’s end due to divine will or human misdeeds.
Types of Myths
1. Aetiological Myths: Explain the origins of nature, words, or religious rituals.
2. Historical Myths: Narratives based on historical events, often distorted for meaning.
3. Psychological Myths: Explore emotions and their divine influences.
Classifications by Scholars
1. Morford and Lenardon:
Pure Myth: Explains natural phenomena or religion.
Saga/Legend: Primitive history based on facts.
Folk-tale/Fairy-tale: Primitive fiction for entertainment.
2. Alexander Eliot:
Primitive, Pagan, Sacred, and Scientific myths.
3. David Adams Leeming:
Cosmic, Theistic, Heroic, and Place/Object myths.
Common Genres of Folklore
1. Verbal Folklore:
Encompasses narrative stories orally transmitted across generations.
2. Musical Folklore:
Narrates stories through musical forms.
Common Folklore Genres
1. Fairy Tale
Features magical events and characters.
Often stylized and associated with happy endings or children’s stories.
2. Legend
Semi-true narratives passed down by tradition.
Explores human values and events within historical or recent time-frames.
3. Myth
Explains phenomena like creation, religion, or natural events.
Involves supernatural beings or forces.
4. Tall Tale
Greatly exaggerated stories told for comedic or narrative effect.
Commonly associated with American frontier humor.
5. Fables
Short tales with moral lessons.
Often feature animals as characters.
6. Religious Stories/Parables
Stories that communicate spiritual values and lessons.
Purposes of Myth
Explain the creation of the universe.
Offer insights into human conditions and natural phenomena.
Depict divine behavior and religious rituals.
Teach moral and ethical lessons.
Four Functions of Myth (Joseph Campbell)
1. Mystical Function
Evokes awe and wonder about the universe.
Group 2
Ancient Theories
1. Rationalism
Emphasizes the use of reason to understand myths.
Myths should be logically examined rather than taken literally.
2. Allegorical Theory
Views myths as symbols conveying deeper meanings about real-world issues.
Often involves personification of abstract concepts.
3. Etymological Theory
Explores the origins and evolution of words in myths.
Links mythological names and terms to linguistic roots.
4. Euhemerism
Suggests that myths are based on historical facts, stripped of their supernatural elements.
Example: Zeus may have been modeled on a powerful historical figure.
Weakness: Insufficient evidence to confirm mythological figures existed.
Modern Theories
1. Naturalism
Links myths to environmental and social conditions shaping human behavior.
Highlights the deterministic role of natural forces in human actions.
2. Ritualism
Argues that myths and rituals are interconnected and necessary for spiritual or societal purposes.
Rituals may coexist, separate from, or evolve alongside myths.
3. Diffusion
Focuses on how myths and cultural elements spread across regions through interaction.
4. Evolutionism
Suggests that myth-making is a developmental stage of human culture.
Cultural similarities in myths arise from shared developmental experiences.
5. Freudianism
Proposes that myths symbolize repressed desires or traits.
Myths can be compared to dreams, revealing unconscious conflicts.
6. Jungian Archetypes
Carl Jung’s theory focuses on inherited “collective unconscious” motifs found across myths.
Common archetypes include:
Persona: Social masks individuals wear.
Shadow: Repressed, dark aspects of the personality.
Anima/Animus: Feminine/masculine traits within the opposite gender’s unconscious.
Self: Represents the integration of opposites and personal wholeness.
7. Structuralism
Introduced by Claude Lévi-Strauss.
Myths function like language, consisting of structural units called mythemes.
Explains myths as a mediation of binary oppositions (e.g., good/evil, life/death).
Comparisons and Contrasts
Ancient Theories tend to interpret myths through symbolic or historical lenses.
Modern Theories delve into psychological, cultural, and structural dimensions, emphasizing broader human
experiences and cognitive patterns.
GROUP 3
Creation Myths: Overview and Key Themes
Creation myths form the backbone of cultural and spiritual beliefs worldwide, explaining the origins of the earth, life,
and the cosmos. While specific details vary, they often share universal themes and motifs.
Significance of Creation Myths
1. Cultural Foundation: They define a culture’s worldview and its people’s relationship with their environment.
2. Symbolism: Myths often use symbolic narratives to convey deeper truths about existence, nature, and
humanity.
3. Universal Elements: Despite geographical and cultural differences, creation myths show recurring themes that
highlight shared human concerns about origin and purpose.
Common Themes and Types of Creation Myths
1. Creation by Ex Nihilo (“From Nothing”)
Concept: The universe is created out of nothing by a divine being.
Example:
Genesis (Bible): God creates the heavens and earth from nothing, highlighting omnipotence and divine will.
Philosophical Implication: Questions the nature of existence and challenges human comprehension of “nothingness.”
2. Creation by Birth (Seed or Cosmic Egg)
Concept: The world or beings are birthed from an egg or through divine reproduction.
Examples:
Greek Mythology: Nyx lays an egg, hatching Earth, Sky, and Eros.
Japanese Mythology: Izanami gives birth to deities representing natural elements.
Iroquois Mythology: Sky Woman’s descent and birth are pivotal to the creation of North America.
Symbolism: The egg represents potential, life, and unity of opposing cosmic forces.
3. Creation by Chaos
Concept: The cosmos emerges from a primordial, formless void.
Examples:
Greek Mythology: Chaos precedes the emergence of order and deities like Gaia.
Norse Mythology: Fire and ice meet in Ginnungagap, forming the world.
Egyptian Mythology: Nun’s primordial waters give rise to land and creation.
Theme: Transformation and the progression from disorder to order, reflecting the dynamic nature of creation.
4. Creation by World Parents (Mother and Father)
Concept: A union of divine male and female forces creates the world or its inhabitants.
Examples:
Greek Mythology: Gaia (Earth) and Uranus (Sky) birth the Titans.
Hindu Mythology: Shiva and Shakti represent the cosmic balance of creation and destruction.
Egyptian Mythology: Nut (Sky) and Geb (Earth) create life between their union.
Symbolism: Emphasizes balance, harmony, and the generative power of duality.
5. Creation by Earth Diver
Concept: A being dives into primordial waters to retrieve materials for creation.
Examples:
Ojibwe Mythology: Nanabozho retrieves mud to form the earth.
Ainu Mythology: A diver bird creates land from underwater soil.
Theme: Emergence of life and order from submerged, chaotic depths.
6. Creation by Sin
Concept: The world’s state or its elements emerge due to transgression or disobedience.
Examples:
Christianity: Adam and Eve’s sin introduces suffering and mortality.
Greek Mythology: Pandora opens a forbidden box, unleashing troubles upon the earth.
Symbolism: Highlights human fallibility and the consequences of moral choices.
7. Creation by Opening of the Earth
Concept: Life or land emerges as the earth physically opens.
Examples:
Maori Mythology: Ranginui and Papatuanuku’s separation brings light and life.
Aztec Mythology: Quetzalcoatl’s descent into the underworld creates humanity.
Hawaiian Mythology: Papahānaumoku and Wakea’s union births the Hawaiian islands.
Theme: Earth as a creative and nurturing force, representing transformation and growth.
Shared Elements in Creation Myths
1. Supreme Beings: A divine presence orchestrates creation, sometimes as a solitary figure or a pair.
2. Primordial Waters or Chaos: Symbolize the unformed potential of the universe.
3. Human and Animal Relationships: Often, an initial harmony is disrupted by sin or divine intervention.
4. Cosmic Structure: Myths describe the organization of the heavens, earth, and underworld.
Cultural and Philosophical Importance
Connection to Nature: Reflects humanity’s reverence for the environment and its forces.
Moral Lessons: Teaches about virtues, vices, and the consequences of human actions.
Philosophical Inquiry: Prompts questions about existence, origins, and humanity’s place in the cosmos.
Reviewer on Greek Mythology: Creation of Titans, Gods, and Goddesses
Creation of the Titans
Primordial Beings:
Chaos: First being, primeval goddess of air and the space between heaven and earth.
Nyx: Goddess of Night, daughter of Chaos.
Erebus: God of Darkness, son of Chaos, and husband of Nyx.
Gaia: Mother Earth, appeared from light and married Uranus.
Uranus: Father Sky, husband of Gaia.
Children of Uranus and Gaia:
1. Ugly Monsters: 50 heads and 100 hands, imprisoned by Uranus.
2. Cyclopes: One-eyed giants, clever and skilled, also imprisoned.
3. Titans: Six males and six females, well-behaved and good-looking.
Conflict:
Cronus overthrew Uranus, who cursed him with betrayal by his own children.
Blood of Uranus gave rise to the Giants and Erinyes (Furies).
Cronus swallowed his children to avoid the curse.
Rhea, his wife, hid their youngest, Zeus, who later rescued his siblings.
Titanomachy:
War between Titans and Olympians.
Zeus, advised by Prometheus, freed Uranus’ imprisoned children.
Titans were defeated, and Zeus divided the kingdom:
Poseidon: Ocean.
Hades: Underworld.
Zeus: Sky, King of the Gods.
The Primordial Gods
1. Chaos: Primeval air and gap.
2. Erebus: God of Darkness, husband of Nyx.
3. Nyx: Goddess of Night.
4. Gaia: Mother Earth.
5. Uranus: Father Sky.
6. Tartarus: Darkest pit.
7. Phanes: God of procreation.
8. Anemoi: Gods of winds.
The Titans
Original Twelve Titans:
1. Hyperion: God of Light.
2. Iapetus: God of Mortal Lifespan.
3. Coeus: God of Intellect.
4. Crius: God of Leadership and Constellations.
5. Cronus: King of Titans, God of Time.
6. Mnemosyne: Goddess of Memory.
7. Oceanus: God of Salt Water.
8. Phoebe: Goddess of Intellect and Prophecy.
9. Rhea: Goddess of Fertility and Motherhood.
10. Tethys: Goddess of Fresh Water.
11. Theia: Goddess of Sight and Gems.
12. Themis: Goddess of Divine Law and Order.
Other Titans:
Prometheus: God of Forethought, gave fire to humanity.
Atlas: Forced to carry the sky.
Epimetheus: God of Afterthought.
Metis: Goddess of Wisdom.
The Twelve Olympians
1. Zeus: King of Gods, God of Sky, Thunder, and Lightning.
2. Hera: Goddess of Marriage and Queen of Gods.
3. Poseidon: God of the Sea.
4. Demeter: Goddess of Harvest and Fertility.
5. Athena: Goddess of Wisdom and Warfare.
6. Apollo: God of the Sun, Music, and Prophecy.
7. Artemis: Goddess of the Hunt and Moon.
8. Ares: God of War.
9. Hephaestus: God of Fire and Forge.
10. Aphrodite: Goddess of Love and Beauty.
11. Hermes: God of Thieves and Messenger of Gods.
12. Hestia: Goddess of Hearth and Home (later replaced by Dionysus).
Minor Gods
Hecate: Goddess of Magic.
Nike: Goddess of Victory.
Iris: Goddess of Rainbow and Messenger.
Thanatos: God of Peaceful Death.
Nemesis: Goddess of Revenge.
Epithets
Zeus: Cloud-Gatherer.
Athena: Bright-Eyed.
Poseidon: Earth-Shaker.
Ares: Curse of Men.
Apollo: Far-Shooting.
Hera: Ox-Eyed.
This reviewer highlights the key figures, relationships, and events in Greek mythology for focused study.
GROUP 4
Philippine Mythology Reviewer
Overview
Philippine mythology: Body of myths, tales, and superstitions originating from pre-Hispanic beliefs, influenced by
Hinduism.
Passed through oral traditions; few pre-colonial written accounts survive.
No unified mythology due to diverse cultures in the archipelago.
Explains the nature of the world through gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical creatures.
Luzon Deities
Tagalog Deities
1. Bathala: Chief deity of the Tagalogs.
2. Lakampati: Genderless fertility deity; spouse of Mapulon, parent of Anagolay.
3. Lakambakod: Phallic god protecting crops and houses; healer of diseases.
4. Idiyanale: Goddess of labor and good deeds; married Dimangan.
5. Amansinaya: Patron goddess of fishermen.
6. Amanikable: Patron god of hunters; sometimes identified as god of the sea.
7. Diyan Masalanta: Goddess of love, fecundity, and childbirth; daughter of Anagolay and Dumakulem.
Pangasinense and Kapampangan Deities
1. Apolaki: Supreme deity of Pangasinenses; associated with the sun.
2. Mayari: Worshipped by Negritos of Zambales; associated with the moon.
Zambal Deities
1. Anitong Tawo: God of wind and rain; received significant sacrifices for good crops.
Cordillera Deities
1. Kabunian: God to Ibaloi, Kalanguya, and Kankana-ey tribes; believed to reside in Mt. Kabunian or Mt. Pulag.
Other Deities and Spirits
1. Ginoong Ganay: Goddess inhabiting the calumpang tree; advocate of single women.
2. Sitan: Ruler of Kasanaan (place of punishment); associated with Islamic Saitan.
3. Mangkukutod: Obscure patron god of a specific Tagalog class.
Mythical Creatures and Evil Entities
1. Mangangaway: Shapeshifter with a skull necklace; could kill, heal, or prolong death using magic.
2. Mansisilat: Goddess of broken homes; disguised as a beggar to destroy relationships.
3. Mankukulan: Witch appearing at night as if burning; caused sickness and death.
The Story of Bathala (Tagalog Mythology)
Characters:
Bathala: Caretaker of the earth and a central god.
Ulilang Kaluluwa: A serpent living in the clouds.
Galang Kaluluwa: A winged god who loved to travel.
Plot:
Bathala slays Ulilang Kaluluwa after a fight for dominance.
Bathala befriends Galang Kaluluwa, but the latter falls ill and dies. Galang asks to be buried where the serpent’s
remains were burned.
From this burial site grew the first coconut tree, which symbolizes both gods. Bathala used it to create tools and shelter
for humanity.
Bathala creates the first humans and the world’s vegetation and animals, fulfilling his vision for a thriving earth.
Visayan Divinities and Myths
The Visayan pantheon does not center on a single creator deity like Bathala but includes many gods and spirits
associated with natural phenomena and human experiences.
Tungkung Langit and Alunsina
Setting: The universe is divided into:
Ibabawnun (upper world),
Pagtung-an (middle world),
Idadalmunun (underworld).
Deities:
Tungkung Langit: Supreme male deity.
Alunsina: Supreme female deity of the eastern skies.
Assistants: Each deity had helpers for managing time, seasons, and natural elements.
Kaptan and Magwayen (Origin Myths)
Kaptan: Supreme god of the sky world.
Magwayen: Goddess of the sea and ferrier of souls.
Creation of Humanity:
Kaptan plants bamboo, which splits open to reveal the first humans, Sicalac (male) and Sicabay (female).
Conflict:
Kaptan’s grandchildren (Licalibutan, Liadlaw, Libulan, and Lisuga) attempt a coup.
Their rebellion ends with their transformation into land (Licalibutan), the sun (Liadlaw), the moon (Libulan), and stars
(Lisuga).
Other Visayan Deities
Varangao: God of the rainbow, associated with warriors and war.
Ynaguinid and Macanduc: Gods of war.
Bulalakaw: A fiery deity causing illness, appeased through rituals.
Dalikmata: Goddess of healing, especially eye ailments.
Lalahon: Goddess of harvest and volcanoes, believed to send locusts when angered.
The Epic of Labaw Donggon
A Visayan epic recounting the adventures of the demigod Labaw Donggon, son of the goddess Alunsina.
Labaw Donggon battles deities and conquers challenges in his quest for love and adventure.
Comparative Observations
1. Tagalog vs. Visayan Creation Myths:
Tagalogs attribute creation to Bathala, a singular, dominant figure.
Visayans offer multiple origin myths with a variety of deities playing roles.
2. Nature and Afterlife:
Tagalogs emphasize the tangible aspects of creation (e.g., coconut trees).
Visayans focus on moral lessons, such as the consequences of rebellion, with no dichotomy of heaven or hell.
3. Deity Specializations:
Tagalogs consolidate power in Bathala, while Visayans assign distinct roles to multiple deities.
I. Visayan Account of Creation
1. The Beginning:
World initially consisted only of water (Maguayan’s kingdom) and sky (Kaptan’s domain).
2. Marriage of Lidagat and Lihangin:
Lidagat (sea) and Lihangin (wind) married, producing:
Likalibutan (body of rock, strong and brave).
Liadlao (body of gold, happy).
Libulan (body of copper, weak and timid).
Lisuga (body of silver, sweet and gentle).
3. Conflict:
Likalibutan attacked the sky, convincing brothers Liadlao and Libulan to join.
Kaptan struck them with lightning:
Libulan melted into copper (moon).
Liadlao melted into gold (sun).
Likalibutan’s rocky body formed land.
4. Lisuga’s Fate:
Struck by Kaptan’s lightning, her silver body became the stars.
5. Creation of Humanity:
Kaptan gave Maguayan a seed.
Bamboo tree grew; man (Sikalak) and woman (Sikabay) emerged from it.
6. Pandaguan’s Disobedience:
Invented a trap and caught a shark, worshiped it as a god.
Gods punished humanity by scattering them across the earth.
II. Deities of Mindanao Tribes
1. Pamulak Manobo (Bagobo Mythology)
Creator of the world and first humans (Tuglay and Tuglibon).
Controlled natural phenomena, e.g., rain and clouds.
Assisted by lesser deities:
Mandaragan (god of war).
Darago (goddess of war).
Tigyama (protector of families).
Tarabumo (god of agriculture).
2. Tuglay and Tuglibon (Bagobo Mythology)
Prominent figures in Bagobo culture:
Creators or assistants to Pamulak Manobo in creating the world and humans.
Tuglibon is linked to moving the sky higher.
3. Mebuyan and Lumabat (Bagobo Mythology)
Siblings and opposites:
Lumabat: Hunter and god of the sky.
Mebuyan: Goddess of the underworld (Banua Mebu’yan).
Spirits pass through her domain for cleansing (pamalugu).
4. Tagbusan (Manobo Mythology)
Supreme deity ruling over gods and men.
Assisted by deities like:
Kakiadan (goddess of rice).
Taphagan (goddess of harvest).
Tagbanua (rain god).
5. Magbabaya (Bukidnon Mythology)
Highest deity, assisted by:
Domalongdong (Northwind).
Ognaling (Southwind).
Tagaloambung (Eastwind).
Magbaya (Westwind).
Respected deities: Tigbas (most revered), Busao (feared god of calamity).
III. Other Mindanao Deities
1. Tiruray Beliefs:
Sualla (or Tullus-God): Creator of first humans.
2. Gianges of Cotabato:
Tigianes (creator of the world).
Manama (her governor).
3. Subanun Deities (Upper Zamboanga):
Diwata-sa-langit (god of heaven).
Tagma-sa-dagat (lord of the sea).
Tagma-sa-yuta (lord of the earth).
GROUP 5
Odin (Óðinn): The one-eyed Norse god of wisdom, battle, magic, death, and knowledge; known by many names.
Frigg: Wife of Odin, goddess of motherhood and fertility, and one of the most powerful Norse gods.
Loki: Trickster god, master of shape-shifting, mischief, and unpredictability. Father of Hel, Fenrir, and Jörmungandr.
Thor: God of thunder, protector of mankind, and a fierce warrior against the giants. Married to Sif.
Baldr: Son of Frigg, known for his brightness and goodness. Killed by a mistletoe spear manipulated by Loki.
Tyr: God of bravery and war. Sacrificed his hand to bind Fenrir, delaying Odin’s death at Ragnarök.
Idun: Guardian of the magical apples that preserved the youth of the gods. Married to Bragi.
Heimdall: Guardian of Bifrost, the rainbow bridge. Known for keen senses and vigilance. Kills Loki at Ragnarök, dying in
the process.
Ullr: God of winter and skiing. Associated with Ýdalir and possibly replaced Odin during winter months.
Bragi: God of poetry and song, married to Idun. Gentler than his warlike brothers.
Vithar: God of vengeance. Kills Fenrir during Ragnarök and survives to live in the new world.
Vili: God of wit and brother of Odin.
Hodr: Blind Norse god of the night. Tricked by Loki into killing Baldr with a mistletoe spear.
Vanir Gods
Frigg: Wife of Odin and the most famous of all Norse goddesses.
Njord: God of the sea, winds, and prosperity.
Freyr: Son of Njord, a god of fertility, fair weather, and ruler of Alfheim.
Freyja: Goddess of fertility and daughter of Njord. Married to Óðr.
Gullveig: Goddess and practitioner of seiðr (magic).
Kvasir: God of wisdom. Killed by dwarves, who used his blood to create the mead of poetry.
Nerthus: Fertility goddess, sometimes identified as the sister and wife of Njord.
Summary of Norse History: Ragnarök and the Nine Worlds
Ragnarök: The Doom of the Gods
Ragnarök foretells a series of catastrophic events leading to the destruction of many gods, natural disasters, and the
submersion of the world in water.
Major figures such as Odin, Thor, Týr, Freyr, Heimdall, and Loki perish in the final battle.
After the destruction, the world resurfaces, fertile and new, with surviving gods and humans rebuilding.
Key Events of Ragnarök
The Signs:
The murder of Baldr marks the beginning.
Three uninterrupted winters (Fimbulwinter) without summer follow, bringing wars and chaos.
Wolves swallow the sun and moon, plunging the world into darkness.
Roosters (Fjalar, Gullinkambi) warn giants, gods, and dishonorable dead of the impending battle.
Heimdall blows his horn to signal the final war.
The Battle:
Gods and einherjar (fallen warriors) face giants and Hel’s dishonorable dead at Vigrid.
Key duels:
Odin vs. Fenrir: Odin dies.
Thor vs. Jörmungandr: Both perish.
Heimdall vs. Loki: Both kill each other.
Týr vs. Garm: Both die.
Freyr vs. Surtr: Freyr dies.
Surtr sets the nine worlds ablaze, sinking them into the sea.
Aftermath:
A new world rises from the sea, green and fertile.
Survivors include Lif and Lifthrasir (human couple) and gods like Vidar, Vali, Modi, and Magni.
New homes for gods are built, such as Gimli and Brimir.
A terrible hall called Náströnd punishes murderers and adulterers.
The Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology
1. Asgard: Home of the Æsir gods, including Odin and Frigg. Valhalla is located here for fallen warriors.
2. Midgard: Earth, home of humans, connected to Asgard by Bifrost (Rainbow Bridge).
3. Vanaheim: Home of the Vanir gods, known for magic and prophecy.
4. Jotunheim: Land of giants, enemies of the Æsir, with rugged landscapes and icy fortresses.
5. Niflheim: A cold, dark world of mist, home to the well Hvergelmir and the dragon Nidhogg.
6. Muspelheim: Fiery realm of fire giants and demons, ruled by Surtr.
7. Alfheim: Realm of light elves, ruled by Freyr, associated with beauty and inspiration.
8. Svartalfheim: Home of dwarves, master craftsmen who created powerful artifacts.
9. Helheim: Underworld for the dishonorable dead, ruled by Hel. Náströnd is a place of torment here.
The Norse Concept of Self
1. Hugr: The mind or personality, capable of separating during dreams or trances.
2. Hamr: Physical shape, which could be altered by shapeshifters.
3. Fylgja: A spiritual companion, often an animal visible to some people.
4. Hamingja: A guardian spirit determining luck and happiness, passed through generations.
Life After Death
Warriors: Sent to Valhalla or Folkvangr.
Drowned sailors: Go to the Realm of Rán.
Most people: Sent to Hel, the “hidden place.”
Sinners: Sent to Náströnd in Hel for eternal suffering, with Nidhogg feeding on their corpses.
