The Norse gods are divided into two major groups, the Aesir and Vanir, in addition to the giants who came first. Some believe the Vanir gods represent an older pantheon of the indigenous people whom the invading Indo-Europeans encountered. In the end, the Aesir, the newcomers, overcame and assimilated the Vanir.
Andvari
CC Flickr User gwdexter
In Norse mythology, Andvari (Alberich) guarded treasures, including Tarnkappe, a cape of invisibility, and gave Loki the magic ring of the Aesir, which is called Draupnir.
Balder
18th century Icelandic manuscript SÁM 66 in the care of the Árni Magnússon Institute in Iceland.
Balder was an
Aesir god and a son of Odin and Frigg. Balder was the husband of Nanna, father of Forseti. He was killed with mistletoe thrown by his blind brother Hod. According to Saxo Grammaticus, Hod (Hother) did it on his own; others blame Loki.
Forseti
Forseti is the Norse god of justice. He is the son of Balder and Nanna.Freya
CC Flickr User Thomas Roche
Freya was a
Vanir goddess of sex, fertility, war, and wealth, daughter of Njord. She was taken in by the Aesir, perhaps as hostage.
Freyr
Public Domain. 12th-Century Tapestry of the Skog Church, Hälsingland, Sweden
Freyr was a Norse god of weather and fertility; brother of Freya. The dwarves built Freyr a ship, Skidbladnir, that could hold all the gods or fit in his pocket. Freyr went as a hostage to the Aesir, along with Njord and Freya. He courted the giantess Gerd through his servant Skirnir.
Frigg
Frigg was a Norse goddess of love and fertility. In some accounts she was Odin's wife, making her foremost among the Aesir goddesses. She was the mother of Balder. Friday is named for her.Hod
Hod was a son of Odin. Hod was the blind god of winter who killed his brother Balder and was in turn killed by his brother Vali.Loki
18th century Icelandic manuscript SÁM 66 in the care of the Árni Magnússon Institute in Iceland.
Loki is a giant in Norse mythology. He is also a trickster, the god of thieves, possibly responsible for Balder's death. Adopted brother of Odin, Loki was bound to a rock until Ragnarok.
