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) guards treasures, including Tarnkappe, a cape of invisibility, and gives 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 is 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 is 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 is a Norse god of weather and fertility; brother of Freya. The dwarves build Freyr a ship, Skidbladnir, that can hold all the gods or fit in his pocket. Freyr goes as a hostage to the Aesir, along with Njord and Freya. He courts the giantess Gerd through his servant Skirnir.
Frigg
Frigg is a Norse goddess of love and fertility. In some accounts she is Odin's wife, making her foremost among the Aesir goddesses. She is the mother of Balder. Friday is named for her.Hod
Hod is a son of Odin. Hod is the blind god of winter who kills his brother Balder and is 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 is bound to a rock until Ragnarok.
