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Like all mythology Teutonic and Norse myths try to explain
the beginning ('Ginnungagap') and the end ('Ragnarok' - the
twilight of Gods) of the world. In between it has its fair
share of fighting, betrayal and romance.
Main figures are Gods called 'Aesir' ('Odin', 'Baldur', 'Loki',
'Thor', etc. living in 'Asgard'), 'Vanir' (another set of
Gods), giants, humans (living in 'Midgard'), elves and dwarfs
and some fable beings, like dragons, 'Midgard' serpent or
'Fenrir' wolf.
Obviously, heroes have their own graveyard called 'Valhalla'
with a special escort service of 'Valkyries'. 'Hel' denotes
the Goddess of the underworld and underworld itself, an ambivalent
dwelling at best.
The whole of the earth is interconnected by 'Yggdrasil', the
tree of life guarded by a trinity of wise women, the sisters
of fate called 'Norns'.
Compared to its Greek and Roman counterparts, Nordic mythology
is relatively little known. Its reverberations are still strong
though, it served as inspiration for later German mythology
like the Nibelung saga and even for J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord
of the Ring".
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