Aesir Vanir War

[JohnnyCageRock]

Mentions Mimir, someone being set on fire?
*Flashback* "You're on fire Kratos! It will pass!"

[dylanjones]

This myth should always be told with an asterisk because it is very probably an invention of Snorri Sturluson centuries after the Norse gods were no longer worshipped. None of the oldest poems seem to distinguish between the Aesir and the Venir. The Venir are only mentioned when it alliterates with another V word, and Aesir only appears when it alliterates with another vowel. Other synonyms for Aesir such as Godir likewise only appear when they alliterate with another word. This is in keeping with the Norse poetic tradition of emphasizing alliteration and using numerous synonyms to fit with that, and it suggests that Venir is just another synonym for Aesir. Also, there's a chance Snorri may have made it up as a political allegory to forward his agenda in Norway.

[johnbarker]

My favourite Norse characters are Ratatosk the squirrel that lives on Yggdrasil and basically causes shit by relaying messages from the eagle at the top and, my other fave, Niddhog, the dragon that gnaws at the roots. Niddhog translates to corpse sucker

[Daemonik]

"But... But Hel is still Thor's sister and half sister to Loki, right? Marvel wouldn't lie to me, would they? Right? *RIGHT?* "

[DevonRex]

Somehow this is less frightening than your story about the Tooth Fairy.

[FredrikHaugen]

Not to forget that Freya (a title, not a name) taught Odin sejd magic. Her hall is Folkvang (The Field of the Host) and is to pick half of the slain on the battlefield, BEFORE Odin!

[burpingcricket]

Reading the poetic Edda at the moment and I have not gotten to this part but I was quite amused by Odins list of self help tips. One I remember was about about how people who have got ”cold knees” from been outside should warm up by the fire. Sound advice.

[ericasandberg]

Swedish person here 😉 Love your dive into out mythology 🧡

[MalcontentFlower]

Another aspect I like about this is that Odin spends a lot of time learning Freya's magic, seiðr, which was a feminine thing.

Just a fun fact.

[Isrjisoneavalable]

When you revealed who the sorceress’s they set on fire three time was, I was genuinely expecting it to be Loki.

[sushi]

Another thing to note, is that it is theorised, the war between the Vanir and Aesir is a left over story from the time of the Indo-European migrations, where the Vanir, were the gods of the native pre-indo-european Scandinavians, and the Aesir were the God's of the migrating indo-Europeans, that fought and eventually integrated themselves.

[whillmusic]

How I remember the difference between the groups is the Aesir are typically symbols of abstract concepts and fleeting things, and the Vanir are the symbols of solid, tangible elements and nature.

[MlleMab]

PLEEEEAAASE MORE!! Norse Mythology is an EXCELLENT DIRECTION

[bohahn]

I love that you’re covering Norse mythology, please do more! You’re cheeky, dashing presentation makes it all the better.

[brianponyboymccollough]

He basically pickled the head and brought the spirit back into it. Epic.

[fossgrim-el]

I know that the interpretation exists that the soceress was Freya. However, a vanir goddess named Gullveig (shes very discussed as a possible version of freya or even frigga) was the one causing the war and after her third death she changed her name to heiðr and invented a new type of magic called seiðr which is basically a 'women-only'-magic. Some theorize that odin learned seiðr nontheless which basically means that he had to have had something "female" about him (so fruity king of gods ig).
From Gullveig/Heiðr is never heard about again which i find very unsatisfying as she peaks my ineterest

[superluigi]

And that literal HEAD advisor turns out to be the smartest, funniest, and charming individual around. At least when he had the perspective of being trapped in a tree for 109 winters and being dangled from a burly god’s waste.

[Gemmyrose]

Excuse me, who allowed you to be strikingly good looking (those eyes, that smile; swoon!) and fascinatingly loquacious?
Which gods did you trick? It must be magic

[Onyxblade]

Freya sounds like a diva who lives for the chaos and getting it started 🔥HOT🔥!!

[its-beady-eyes]

I would listen to this man read the entire poetic eddas collection.