Who's Who in Norse Mythology

• Balder (bol-dur)
  Son of Odin and Frigg, the wise and beautiful Balder was the most beloved of the gods. All things, save a sprig of mistletoe, swore not to hurt him. Through Loki's malice, Balder was slain with this mistletoe by his blind brother, Hoder. After the final battle of Ragnarok, Balder will return to lead mankind.
• Fenris-wolf
  The ferocious Fenris-wolf was tied up with a magic chain by Tyr, the Norse god of war. It will break free at Ragnorok.
• Freyja (fray-yah)
  Freyja, the goddess of love, fertility, and of seeressess, is the most beautiful of the gods. Her most precious possession is the necklace Brisingamen, which she won from the dwarfs. She can turn herself into a falcon and often travels in a carriage drawn by two cats.
• Freyr (frayr)
  God of fertility and plenty and the brother of Freyja, Freyr owned a magic ship, Skidbladnir, that could hold all the gods, yet could be folded up small when not in use. He fell in love with Gerd, a giant's daughter. Wooing her cost him his sword, which will leave him weaponless at the battle of Ragnarok.
• Frigg
  Frigg is the goddess of childbirth and the wife of Odin. Like him, she can see into the future
• Heimdall (haym-dahl)
  Heimdall is the watchman of Asgard and the guardian of the rainbow bridge Bifrost. His eyesight and hearing are very acute. Heimdall will blow the horn Gjall to signal Ragnarok, the last battle between gods and giants.
• Loki (lo-kee)
  The trickster Loki is the son of two giants, Farbauti and Laufey, and is Odin's foster brother. Loki's playfulness often causes harm to the gods, and in the end his tricks led to the death of Balder. Imprisoned by the gods for this crime, Loki will break free to lead the giants against the gods at the battle of Ragnarok. Loki's children include the Fenris-wolf, the Midgard serpent, Hel, and Sleipnir, Odin's eight-legged steed.
• the Midgard Serpent
  One of Loki's and the giantess Angrboda's monstrous children, this menacing sea serpent (also known as Jormungand) encircles the world of human beings. At Ragnarok, it will be killed by Thor, who will die from its poison.
• the Norns
  The Norns - Fate, Being, and Necessity - are the three maidens who guard the spring of fate at one of the roots of Yggdrasil, the world tree.
• Odin (oh-din)
  The oldest and highest of the gods, Odin is the god of battle. He gave one of his eyes to drink from the spring of Mimir, which brought wisdom. He won the mead of poetry from the giants and it is his gift to man.
• Thor
  Son of Odin and the Earth, Thor is the sky and thunder god. He carried a hammer, Miollnir, which is his most precious possession; when he throws it, it always comes back to his hand. Many Vikings wore hammer amulets in his honor. Thor often had battles with the giants, and once triied to fish up the Midgard serpent. His wife is golden haired Sif, a fertility goddess.
• Tyr (teer)
  Tyr is the god of war. He sacrificed one of his hands when the Fenris-wolf was bound with the magic fetter Gleipnir.