![]() There are interesting similarities between the Norse creation myth and other worldwide creation myths. Niflheim in Norse Mythology: Land of the Dead and Home to Lady Hel.Ymir in Norse Mythology: A Cosmic Creation Story.There are also the myths of Cronus and Uranus, where this theme is present. This is something that happens in Norse mythology, as well as in other European myths, like the Irish Tuatha De Dannan, who conquers the Fir Bolgs and Fomorians. ![]() Norse mythology depicts Ymir being nursed by a cow, while in Greek mythology, Zeus is nursed by a goat.Īnother common theme is murder of the previous ruler. The Egyptian goddess Hathor was often pictured with a cow, similar to the goddess Hera from ancient Greek myths. While these similarities may very well be the product of medieval writers making their own additions to the original Norse stories, scholars are fairly confident that the similarities demonstrate a shared origin of all these myths.įor example, there are figures similar to the Christian Adam and Eve in the Norse creation myth. Not only have they assumed so because of physical evidence left, like artwork, but also from the similarities between Norse myths and other European and Near East creation myths. Later authors could have easily added information themselves, or because many of these stories were not ever written down but rather passed on through word of mouth, they may have changed multiple times as they were passed down.ĭespite this, scholars tend to assume the myths that we have today share many of the same elements and basic structures of the originals. Thus, they must be taken with a pinch of salt. The most useful of these were created in the medieval period, and therefore do not come from the time when Scandinavian people were telling these myths. Our understanding of the Norse creation myth comes from a small number of sources. Like many other ancient communities, they had their own ideas about how the earth and the universe were created. The Norse people were the ancient tribal communities of Scandinavia, who in the modern day are often referred to or thought of as the Vikings (who were actually a subset of them).
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