Can You Defeat This Norse Mythology Quiz?

The valkyries were well respected by the Norsemen for their role on the battlefield, but that didn't make these ghastly spirits any less intimidating. Following one Nordic tale, valkyries would sit above a battleground and weave the fate of a warrior if they preferred the warrior's death.

Thor held an important role in Viking society, as he was the protector of the people living on Midgard. His hammer was his most powerful method of defense, using it to crush entire armies. However, the weapon wasn't always used to destroy, as it also provided blessings to those in need.

Yggdrasil is not only the center of the cosmos, but it also holds the entire thing together, according to Nordic lore. The stories tell that eventually the tree will tremble, a signal that the world is ending, which could be true if a global earthquake takes out humanity.

Norsemen viewed Midgard as the civilized part of the cosmos that was surrounded by a wild and chaotic wilderness. This association between the civilized and the chaotic became known as innangard and utangard, with the Nordic people preferring to live within the realm of the law-abiding innangard.

Though the Norsemen gave no time frame for when the events of Ragnarok would occur, they did detail how the occurrence would play out. During one of the main events of Ragnarok, the ship Naglfar will sail over the flooded earth, carrying an army of giants who are captained by Loki.

Though Loki is portrayed as a coward, he is quite cunning, particularly when it comes to protecting himself. He's been known to sacrifice other gods, like when he handed Idun over to Thiazi, only to receive her back once the gods threatened to have him killed.

The Great Winter will arise at the discretion of the Norns, as only fate can decide when it comes to fruition. At that point, the sun will no longer provide heat, and winter will arise from all directions, killing off sources of food and pitting families against one another.

As with many perceptions of the afterlife, like those found in Greek mythology, Hel was located underground according to the Nordic lore. For those cast into the underworld, life did not change much, as they continued on eating, drinking and fighting. Clearly, that's all Vikings cared about.

Odin has made many sacrifices in his search for knowledge around the cosmos, including his eye. Another well known story from Nordic lore is when Odin hung himself from Yggdrasil where, on the brink of death, he discovered the runes.

Knowing they could not change their fate, the Vikings had an indifferent view of the Norns and their place within Norse society. These deadly raiders went into battle with the understanding that it was not up to them if their death was to come that day.

After the conversion of the Germanic people to Christianity, laws forbidding the worship of the elves lasted for centuries. The fact that the elves remained prevalent even as the Christian society grew shows how important they were to those who worshipped them.

The two wolves, Skoll and Hati, represent the darkness that will overtake the earth once again during Ragnarok. Until then, Sol and Mani, the sun and moon, ride their chariots across the sky, evading their eventual captors.

Odin was one of three children born to the god Bor and the giant Bestla. Playing a central role in creating the first humans, Odin was hailed as the Allfather, meaning he belonged to everything as the central force of the cosmos.

For the Norse warriors who make it to Valhalla, they will find a dinning hall built for soldiers of battle. Not only are the ceilings made of shields, but the rafters are built from spears and the seats, of course, are crafted from breast plates.

The nine worlds, for the most part, are not described in detail in the source material, leaving their exact configuration up to the imagination. However, certain beings, such as elves and giants, are attributed to each of the worlds, which constructs a general idea of how the Norsemen viewed these worlds.

Nordic beliefs often taught about that which can be seen and that which can't. However, these worlds often overlapped, as the Nordic people saw the actions of the gods within the natural occurrences of the world around them.

Known for their fierce skills in battle, the Vikings lived a violent life full of bloodshed and war. Much of their violent nature can be tied to their belief that only the best of them will be honored to dine with Odin, where they will receive all of the mead and food they want.

After the defeat and death of Ymir, Odin and his brothers tore apart the giant's body, which they used to create the world. Ymir's blood was used to flood the oceans, his skin and muscles made the soil, his hair created the plants, his brains became the clouds and his skull encompassed the sky.

Because of the use of weaving, the magic associated with seidr was typically reserved for women in Viking society. Men who engaged in the practice received the title of "argr," which seemingly meant to lack manliness.

Fenrir is one of the many sons of Loki who will play a central role during the end of times when he battles against Odin and his warriors from Valhalla. Odin will accept the task of defeating Fenrir, even though he knows that he will lose, as that is his fate.

Kvasir was a famous and wise traveler who gave his counsel to those who needed it, but he was murdered by two dwarves, Fjalar and Galar, after they invited him into their home. Those dwarves then used his blood to make a mead that contained all of his knowledge. Odin would later pursue this mead for himself.

The term "giants" is actually misleading in Norse mythology because it doesn't describe the creatures as the Norsemen saw them. Instead, the term seems to have been applied by Christians from Normandy, who used their understanding of giants in Greek mythology to grasp the the views of their Norse counterparts.

If you're looking for Asgard, you'll have to search upward, as the fortress of the Aesir gods is located in the sky. Perhaps on a rainy day when the storm clears, you can find the fortress by following the rainbow bridge known as Bifrost.

One of the fiercest creatures in Norse mythology, Jormungand has a fated duel against Thor when Ragnarok arrives. During the clash, the two mortal enemies are destined to kill one another.

The driftwood used to create Ask and Embla was found by Odin while he was walking around the coast of the world. Though already shaped like humans, the wood was lifeless, inspiring Odin to breathe life into them, and thus, humans were born.

The son of Odin and Frigg, Baldur was one of the most celebrated gods in Aesir, giving off a graceful light everywhere he went. After Loki convinced Hodr to accidentally kill Baldur, the gods sent Hermod to the underworld to retrieve him, but Loki once again intervened, sealing Baldur's fate.

As the ice from Niflheim melted further, another creature, Audhumla, came into being. While Ymir used the cow to nurse himself, Audhumla, in turn, relied on the salt from the ice of Niflheim to keep herself healthy. Beneath this ice, the first of the gods, Buri, appeared.

The truce between Vanir and Aesir involved the exchange of hostages, with Mimir and Hoenir being sent to Vanir in exchange for Freya, Freyr and Njord. However, after it was revealed that Mimir wasn't as smart as he seemed, Vanir sent his severed head to Odin, who preserved it with magic and herbs.

The goddess Freya served as a representation of "volva," a term used to describe those who engaged in the practice of seidr professionally. Much like Freya, these practitioners traveled around, performing their magic in towns and on farms in exchange for food and housing.

As viewed by the Norsemen, dwarves were invisible creatures who lived underground. In the mythology, they were skilled smith workers, creating powerful items in Norse lore like the spear of Odin and Freyr's ship.

The Norsemen believed that Jotunheim lay beyond the fence in a world full of chaos and disorder. The metaphor for this fence came from the agrarian-based society in Scandinavia, where fences were placed around crops to separate them from the wilderness beyond.

The before creation story in Norse mythology has similar counterparts in other religions around the world. The Bible provides a familiar example, as Genesis describes the beginning as starting with nothingness.

The fire giants of Muspelheim are only one group of giants who exist in Norse mythology. However, they are some of the most fierce and play a critical role in both the creation and the eventual destruction of the world.

Any knowledge of Niflheim comes from the Christian Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson. Therefore, one can assume that he invented the word, which is similar to Niflhel, a word that can be found in Old Norse poems prior to Sturluson's histories.

Ymir was the first giant ever created, making him the father of all other giants and an ancestor to the gods. As a hermaphrodite, Ymir was capable of reproducing children on his own, sprouting other giants from his legs and armpits.