Norse mythology in popular culture

The mythology of the Scandinavian peoples, preserved in such ancient Icelandic texts as the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, and other lays and sagas, was little known outside Scandinavia until the 19th century. With the widespread publication of Norse myths and legends at this time, references to the Norse gods and heroes spread into European literary culture, especially in Scandinavia, Germany, and England. In the later 20th century, references to Norse mythology became common in science fiction and fantasy literature, role-playing games, and eventually other cultural products such as Japanese animation.

Reintroduction to popular culture

Antiquaries of the 19th century such as George Webbe Dasent brought the mythology of Scandinavia back to the popular notice of many people in Germany and England; in both cases, Norse mythology was recognized as the latest surviving form of Germanic paganism. Germany and England were Christianized far earlier than the Scandinavian countries and much of their own traditions were lost. In England, William Morris composed poetry such as Sigurd the Volsung on Norse legendary subjects as well as translating Icelandic sagas into English. In Germany, Richard Wagner borrowed characters and themes from Norse mythology to compose the four operas that make up Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), though he also utilized medieval German sources and Germanized the names of the Norse gods.

Germanic neopaganism

Main article: Germanic neopaganism

More recent have been attempts in both Europe and the United States to revive the old Germanic religion as Germanic Neopaganism, variously under the names of Ásatrú, Odinism, Wotanism, Forn Sed or Heathenry. In Iceland, Ásatrú was recognized by the state as an official religion in 1973, which legalized its marriage, child-naming and other ceremonies. It is also an official and legal religion in all the Nordic countries, though it is still fairly new.

Depictions in modern popular culture

Although often barely recognizable to their source of inspiration, many references to Norse mythology appear in modern popular culture.

Comics

• In the Marvel Universe, the Norse Pantheon and related elements play a prominent part, especially Thor who has been one of the longest running superheroes for the company.
• The Norse Pantheon heroes are the main characters of the Japanese anime Matantei Loki Ragnarok.
• Odin, Thor and Loki, and several other beings and places in Norse mythology have recurring roles in Neil Gaiman's Sandman graphic novel series, most notably in the Season of Mists and The Kindly Ones story-lines.
• Sparkling Generation Valkyrie Yuuki is a webcomic featuring Yuuki, a boy turned into a Valkyrie by Hermod to stand against Surt and the Giants. It features many representations of Norse mythological figures in a modern-day setting.
• The three Norns, Urd, Skuld, and Verthandi (whose name is transliterated into "Belldandy") are three of the main characters in the popular manga series Aa! Megami-sama (aka "Oh My Goddess!") in Japan, which also features Yggdrasil as a computer program that runs the universe.
• The Danish comic book series Valhalla is based on the Norse myths.
• Brat-Halla is a webcomic featuring the Norse Gods as children in Elementary School BratHalla.
• The manga series Ragnarok, by Myung-Jin Lee, is based on Norse mythology and the events of Ragnarok, the prophesied fall of the gods.
• The upcoming comic book from Heroes star Milo Ventimiglia and Top Cow comics called "Berserker" is based on Norse mythology
• The manga series Vinland Saga (manga) takes place in Iceland, and 11th century Europe, which makes many references to Norse mythology

Literature

• The Victorian adventure writer H. Rider Haggard wrote an epic adventure in the style of the Nordic sagas, "Eric Brighteyes" (1890).

• Various Norse gods are referenced in the book The Ballad of the White Horse (1911) by G. K. Chesterton. Odin and Thor are portrayed there in a negative light. The ballad portrays Catholicism as the true religion and the Norse religion as pagan.

• In the novel, The Incomplete Enchanter (1941) by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt, the protagonist finds himself in Asgard, where he allies himself with the Æsir as Ragnarök approaches.

• The Broken Sword (1954) by Poul Anderson is inspired by Norse sagas, and feature numerous Norse gods, elves and trolls as characters.

• J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings (1955), and The Silmarillion (1977) were admitted by its author to be heavily influenced by the myths of the Northern Europeans. As that work became popular, elements of its fantasy world moved steadily into popular perceptions of the fantasy genre. In nearly any modern fantasy novel today can be found such Germanic creatures as elves, dwarves, and frost giants.

• Children's writer Alan Garner borrowed many Norse concepts, such as the tale of Freyja's necklace Brisingamen and the hard winter (Fimbulwinter) which portends the end of the world, Ragnarok in his classic story, The Weirdstone of Brisingamen (1960).

• Diana Wynne Jones's novel, Eight Days of Luke (1975) is an allegory of the Norse gods. Loki, Thor, Odin, Frey and Freya are characters in the story. Several other characters from Norse mythology such as Siegfried, Brunhilde, Baldur and Sigyn are mentioned as well (though not all by name).

• The Book of the Dun Cow (1978) by Walter Wangerin, Jr. combines Norse legends with biblical themes.

• Douglas Adams referenced to the Norse god, Thor in his book Life, the Universe and Everything (1982). Thor was very large, and threw lightning bolts. Odin and Thor also appear in The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, one of two novels by Adams about protagonist Dirk Gently. In the subsequent, sixth, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy novel (And Another Thing), by Eoin Colfer, Thor appears in a prominent role.

• David Drake's Northworld (1990) trilogy retells stories from Norse mythology in a science fiction setting.

• Nick Perumov involves Norse gods, creatures and events in his fantasy novel Godsdoom (1995), as well as in its sequels and prequels.

• Various characters from Norse mythology inspire the naming and characterization of those in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, for example the werewolf Fenrir Greyback.

• Norse mythology plays heavily into the Everworld series of fantasy by K.A. Applegate, Loki and Hel being perhaps the two most notable Norse characters.

• The novels Bloodtide (1999) and Bloodsong (200) by children's author Melvin Burgess are loosely based on the Volsunga saga legend. He also wrote a short story about pagan sacrifice in the 2008 short story collection Centuries of Stories

• Odin, Loki, and several other Norse mythological figures are major characters in Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods (2001). Gaiman returned to such Nordic inspirations when he wrote Odd and the Frost Giants as a World Book Day publication in 2008. This story is loosely based on the Master-Builder narrative found in the Gylfaginning (Old Norse: 'The tricking of Gylfi') section of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda.

• "The Sea of Trolls" (2004) by Nancy Farmer is heavily influenced by Norse mythology. Also its sequel "The Land of the Silver Apples" (2007) is based on Norse mythology.

• Runemarks by Joanne Harris (2007) is based on the Norse legends, and creates a post Ragnarok world in which the gods have been scattered and their powers diminished.

• Greg van Eekhout's debut novel Norse Code, released May 2009, retells the story of Ragnarok set in a quickly-deteriorating Los Angeles.

Music

Illustration to a Wagner's Opera

Norse mythology influenced Richard Wagner's use of literary themes from it to compose the four operas that make up Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung).

Mats Wendt based his neo-romantic 16-hour symphonic suite Eddan – the invincible sword of the elf-smith on the chronological reconstruction of the Norse myths by Viktor Rydberg

Norse mythology is a recurring theme in the Heavy metal music lyrics.

• Heavy Metal band Manowar has numerous releases referencing Norse Mythology. Besides the 2006 concept album Gods of War, there are songs "Gates of Valhalla" and "Secret of Steel" (Into Glory Ride, 1983), "Thor (The Powerhead)" and "Sign of the Hammer"(Sign of the Hammer, 1985), "The Crown and the Ring" (Kings of Metal, 1987) and "Swords in the Wind" (Warriors of the World' 2002).

• Swedish Symphonic metal band Therion based many of its lyrics on Norse mythology, including the whole 2001 concept album Secret of the Runes.

• The Viking metal music genre focuses on Viking age and Norse Mythology as inspiration for lyrics. Examples of Viking metal include Bathory, Turisas, Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, Finntroll, Týr, among others.

• Norwegian symphonic metal band Leaves' Eyes released Vinland Saga concept album (2006), based on Saga of Erik the Red.

• German Heavy metal band Rebellion recorded three Norse-based albums, called The History of the Vikings trilogy.
• Other bands and songs include Led Zeppelin - "Immigrant Song", Jethro Tull - "Cold Wind to Valhalla", several songs by Blind Guardian, Ginnungagap, Doomsword.

Television

• Several of the Norse gods feature prominently in the Danish miniseries, "Jul i Valhal," and many of the Norse myths are referenced as well. Loki, in particular, is a major character.
• Miniseries Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King, aka Niebelungen, is based on Nibelungenlied.
• The TV series Stargate SG-1 regularly features the Asgard race, which is a powerful, yet friendly alien species who, according to the series, are the original source of the Norse gods having portrayed them to help humanity. Thor, a member of the Asgard High Council, is a regularly returning character on the show. Their spaceships, as seen from below, are shaped like Mjolnir, Thor's hammer. In Stargate Atlantis, it is revealed that there is a sub-group of Asgard called the Vanir, opposed to the agenda of the other Asgard, and analogous to the Vanir of Norse mythology.
• In the 5th Season of tv series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, the episodes "Norse by Norsevest" and "Somewhere over the Rainbow Bridge" depict Hercules traveling to Asgard and being thrust in to a major conflict among the Viking Norse Gods.
• Odin and the Valkyries appear several times in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess.
• In Metalocalypse, Skwisgaar Skwigelf and Toki Wartooth both seem to show some belief in Norse Mythology.
• The television series Doctor Who has referenced the Norse twilight of the gods in the story, The Curse of Fenric.
• The television series Supernatural has referenced the Norse Vanir in a Season One episode, as gods that locals of Scandinavian decent brought with them. Supernatural also has three episode that involves Loki the Trickster.

Film

• The titular characters in the 1958 film, The Vikings, are active Odin-worshippers. Some characters share parallels with Norse gods, like Kirk Douglas' Einar losing and eye or Tony Curtis' Eric losing a hand.
• Erik the Viking featuring Tim Robbins is based loosely on the myths.
• A ship in the film The Matrix Reloaded is called the Mjolnir.
• The film Son of the Mask features a mischievous Loki as the antagonist, who is repeatedly scolded by an omnipotent Odin.
• Upcoming 2011 film Thor, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Chris Hemsworth, is based on the Marvel Comics version of Thor, and will focus on him and the other Norse gods.
• Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring (1960) provides a meditation on the persistence of the old religion in medieval Christian Sweden when the dark energy of Odin is unleashed by a character's secret worship of the god. Iconographic details such as an eye patch and ravens are used to equate a hermit with Odin.

Video game

• Tomb Raider: Underworld uses the Norse mythology keystones, names and artifacts as its main plot basis. Lara Croft in pursuit of finding her mother visits the Neiflheim and other mythical places. Thor's hammer Mjollnir is used as her weapon.
• In StarCraft, four of the six Zerg Broods are named Fenris, Garm, Jormungand, and Surtur. There is also an overlord hero unit called Yggdrasil.
• Both Worms:Armageddon and Worms 3D have single player missions based on Norse mythology, with the mission in Worms 3D entitled 'Ragnarok and Roll'.
• Robot Wars: Arenas of Destruction featured robots called Odin, Thor, Loki and Ragnarok.
• The role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons has included Norse gods as optional elements since the publication of its Deities and Demigods sourcebook.
• The tri-Ace role-playing game Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is based on Norse mythology, though it does deviate at some points. The main character is a valkyrie named Lenneth, whom many have thought represents Brynhild. Lenneth has been commanded by Odin to gather souls of dead warriors for the upcoming battles of Ragnarok. Depending on the path the player chooses, Lenneth will face either Surt, lord of the fire giants, or Loki in combat.
• Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne both have several references to Norse mythology, including characters named Balder and Woden, Aesir Corporation, the drug Valkyr, and the Ragnarock nightclub.
• The Konami vampire series Boktai takes many things from Norse mythology, such as names and weapons. For example, the Queen of the Vampires is named Hel
• In the Final Fantasy series, various characters and items are named after elements of Norse mythology. Final Fantasy VII's world features cities named Nibelheim and Midgar. Several of the games include weapons (Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy Tactics) or airships (Final Fantasy VIII) named Ragnarok.
• The Ragnarok Online universe contains many references to Norse Mythology.
• The Norse are a playable faction in Ensemble Studio's Age of Mythology.
• In Halo, the player's character Master Chief (Halo) wears a special type of armor called MJOLNIR.
• Too Human has a story based on Norse Mythology where it is interpreted that the Gods are actually Cybernetically-Enhanced Humans.
• Viking: Battle for Asgard is set in Midgard where the forces of Hel and Freya battle for dominance.
• In Eve Online, many advanced ships and items associated with the Minmatar race have names based on Norse mythology. These include the Ragnarok-class Titan, the Sleipnir-class Command Ship, the Einherji fighter drone, the Fenrir-class Freighter, and the Nidhoggur-class Carrier.
• In Castle of the winds, the freeware/shareware RPG for windows, many of the characters/place names/weapons are named after Norse mythology.
• A Neverwinter Nights and Neverwinter Nights 2 persistent world called Markshire NWN1 version | NWN2 version is influenced heavily by Norse mythology. They incorporate the pantheon directly into their world and take the culture into a renaissance period. The world is highly roleplaying oriented. Markshire is listed as a Hall of Fame world and has been reviewed with the highest rating of any world for NWN on the NWVault.
• In Odin Sphere one of the five warlords is the 'Demon Lord Odin', who commands an army of Valkyrie warriors. The game depicts many aspects of Norse mythology, such as the Armageddon - standing for the Ragnarök, the Haljas (guardians of the Netherworld), the Aesir and the Vanir (Valkyries and Fairies) fighting over the control of the land.
• Rune is a 3rd person hack-and-slash game featuring a young Viking warrior on a fantasy quest, based around Norse mythology.
• In Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones several weapons are named after figures and objects in Norse Mythology, including the weapons Garm, Gleipnir, and Fenrir.
• Many places, quests, and weaponry in World of Warcraft is based around Norse mythology and stories.

• In the video game Tomb Raider: Underworld, many references to Norse mythology is made. In fact, most of the plot centers around Lara searching for Thor's Hammer to help her in her quest to find her mother.

• In the video game series Final Fantasy there are many references to the Norse mythology, such as FFVII where Cloud's bike is named Fenrir, and many Norse places, such as Midgar are used as main locations in the world map.
• The Final Fantasy series' quite often draw upon Norse mythology for story lines, characters, and locations.

• In the video game series Soulcalibur the character "Siegfried" is from Norse mythology. However, he is in shining crystal armor in Soulcalibur and in mythology, he is wearing only leggings.

• In the video game Age of Empires: Mythologies the Norse are a playable nation.

• In the popular PC based MMORPG game World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, much of the storyline, characters, locations and monsters are named after and or based on popular parts of Norse Mythology.

• In the video game Tales of Symphonia, Heimdall, Ymir, Fenrir, and Yggdrasil were taken from Norse Mythology.

• In the video game Halo 3, there is a mulitplayer map named Valhalla.

• In the video game series Boktai, many aspects of the plot are based on Norse mythology, such as the final bosses Hel, Jormungandr, and Vanargand, and the ultimate weapons Gram, Gungnir, and Mjollnir, to name a few.

See also

• Viking revival