Danish Mythology

8/12/2019 Danish Mythology

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SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES,

covers Norwegian, Swedish, Danish

and Icelandic peoples



is the body of mythology of the North

Germanic people stemming from Norse

paganism and continuing after

the Christianization of Scandinavia andinto the Scandinavian folklore of the

modern period.

Norse mythology or Scandinavian mythology



TrollsA troll is a supernatural being in Norse

mythology and Scandinavian folklore.

In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolatedrocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and

are rarely helpful to human beings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythology


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_folklore

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Norse

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scandinavian_folklore





Elves

Elves are creatures of Norse

mythology. The elves were

originally imagined as a raceof minor nature and fertility

gods, who are often pictured

as youthful-seeming men and

women of great beauty living

in forests and underground

places and caves, or in wells

and springs. They have been

portrayed to be long-lived or

immortal and as beings ofmagical powers.

http://mythology.wikia.com/wiki/Norse_mythology






Goblins

A goblin is a legendary evil or

mischievous creature; a

grotesquely evil or evil-

like phantom.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/phantom

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/phantom

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend



Wights

are nature spirits in

the Norse religion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit



Nisse

Household gods,Traditionally each farm had

its own nisse living on the

loft or in a stable. Dressed

in grey with a pointed red

cap, he was no taller than

a 10-year-old boy.



Insights to Danish

Myth and Legends



King Dan

• The story of King Dan is part ofthe legendary underpinnings ofthe Danish national self-image.

•Essentially, it is the story of the eponymous hero(King Dan), and of how Denmark (or Danmark, asthe country is named in Danish) acquired its

name.



King Skjold

• The story of King Skjold is a typical example of

the classical topos: divinely sent hero, given

unto a desperate people,

restores order and justice.



Holger Danske

• European mythical figure, with special

significance as national hero of Denmark. Like

so many other national heroes, he is said to be

sleeping in some secluded spot, waiting for

the time when he will be needed once more,

to defend his homeland.



Wild Hunt

• The Wild Hunt came to represent the

destructive power of nature and death itself.

The Nordic Wild Hunt carried off the souls of

the dead.

• In Christian times the Wild Hunt carried off

unbelievers and unbaptised children



Nøkke

• In Nordic mythology and folklore, nøkken is amale supernatural creature, which lives ina stream or river.

•In Danish folk tradition, he also sometimescalled åmanden ("the river man").

• Danish folk tradition has had it thatthe nøkke calls for human sacrifice with the

words "Tiden er kommen, men manden er endnuikke kommen" ("The time has come, but the manhas not yet come").



Birkabegn A king of Denmark. Father of

Havelock. In some lore,

occasionally referred to

as Birkabegn,Birkabeen or Birkabeen Colbrand

A giant killed by Guy of

Warwick. Sometimes known

as Colbrand, Colbronde, C

olbronde,Coldbrand or Cold

brand.



Ebissa Son of Hengist. At times, identified

as Ebissa.

Ellerkonge The alder-king who abducted

children to the Otherworld.

Occasionally referred to

asEllerkonge, German Erl-

king, German Erl-

king, Erlkonig, Erlkonig, Erl-

king or Danish Ellerkonge.



Gesta Danorum

A book by Saxo Grammaticus.Dealing with myths, legends and

religious rites. Occasionally known

as Gesta Danorum.GodardA usurper of the Danish

throne. He seized the thronefrom Havelock's father and

ordered that the young

Havelock be killed. Sometimes

called Godard.



Hnaef

A clan-chief.Brother of

Hildeburh. His

sister married

another clan-

chief, Finn,

causing

resentment whichled to war in

which Hnaef

was killed. Also

Horsa

Brother ofHengist. He and

his brother led

the Saxon

invasion of

Britain.

Occasionally

identifiedasHorsa.



Hredel A king of the Geats.

Grandfather of Beowolf.

Father of Haedcyn. Also

commonly known

as Hredel.Marsk Stig

A hero who fought onbehalf of the people against

an oppressor. Also

commonly identified asMarsk

Stig.



Niels

Ebbeson A hero who rid

his country offoreign oppressors.

Also referred to

as Niels

Ebbeson.

Puge

A mischievousgoblin. Also

commonly

called puge, puk,

puk, Para, puki, p

uki, Puke, Pukje,

English puck, Irish

phooka or Welsh



Sardoine Daughter of Hengist. Sister ofRenwein. Also referred to

as Sardoine.

Saxo

Grammaticus A writer. He was the author

of Gesta Danorum. Also

referred to as Saxo



skogsnufa

A female wood-spirit. Sometimesknown as skogsnufa, Norse

skogsfru, Norse

skogsfru,skogsra, Swedish

skogsra, Swedish

skogsra or skogsfru.Yngona A goddess. On occassion,referred to as Yngona, Anna of

the Angles or Anna of the

Angles.



Other:

AeschereFinn

FocwaldingHadding

Havelock

Hermod

HildeburhOlrik, Axel

UnferthWealtheow

Wiglaf

Danish Mythology

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