Old Norse Terminology, Gods, and Mythic Creatures
Drekkar—A long, narrow warship with a shallow draft. A drekkar would have space for up to eighteen pairs of oarsmen. It was agile and fast in the water. It was distinct from other light warships in that it always bore a carved prow depicting beasts such as dragons or snakes.
Forseti—The god of justice, revenge, and reconciliation. Forseti belongs to the Aesir gods and is the ceremonial head of the legal court.
Gulltoppr—Mentioned in the Prose Edda as the preferred mount of Heimdallr. His name translates to “golden mane.”
Haust—The autumn season.
Heimdallr—Known as the guardian of the Aesir gods and the god of foreknowledge or prediction. In myth, Heimdallr has nine mothers and is blessed with exceptional eyesight and hearing. The Prose Edda predicts that Loki and Heimdallr will kill each other at the Ragnorak.
Hjarta—Heart.
Húskarl—A bodyguard or warrior in the personal service of a lord or thegn. The actual status of the húskarl varied along with their patron’s status. Those attached to nobility could command considerable influence in their own right.
Jarl—A member of the nobility, translated into English as earl. They were the chieftains of a territory; their influence related to the amount of land under their holdings. In some cases, members of the royal family held the title of jarl before ascending to the position of king or queen.
Jotunn—A strong deity that dwells in an alternative realm from the Aesir gods. In early mythology, the Jotnar took many forms, but in later myths, they appear as trolls or giants.
Knarr—A large vessel with a deeper draft, often used by merchants. The knarr had a large sail that allowed it to sail with less dependence on oarsmen.
Loki—The trickster god in Norse mythology. Loki is often portrayed as an instigator or betrayer. In all legends, Loki is shown caring about self-preservation of above all. They can help or hinder, depending on their whim. Loki is genderfluid by canon. Shown in a male form in many legends, they are also described as the birth mother of the Sleipnir and Fenrir.
Norns—Female deities who control human destiny and, in some myths, time. They are usually represented as a trio of giantesses.
Odin—The ruler of the Aesir gods and a being that Vikings considered full of contradictions. He was considered a god of war as well as poetry. He was a ruler who often journeyed far from his kingdom in search of knowledge. He is sometimes referred to as Alfaðir or “Allfather” and considered the father of the gods.
Óðinsdagr—Literally “Odin’s day” in Old Norse. The Old English equivalent was “wōdnesdæg” which became Wednesday.
Ragnorak—An “end of days” event for many Norse gods. It is predicted to culminate in a great battle that will result in the death of several major gods.
Skuld—One of the trio of Norns. Her name means “debt” or “fate.”
Sleipnir—An eight-legged, white horse. The Sleipnir is portrayed in the Prose Edda as Odin’s steed. Loki is described as giving natural birth to the creature.
Snekke—The smallest type of warship and the most common in a Viking fleet. Like the drekkar, it was small and narrow with a very shallow berth. In some cases, its draught was only 0.5 meters. It could carry up to twenty men. They were so light that they could easily be sailed directly onto the beach.
Styrimaðr—A title similar to “captain” that was conferred on the leader of a ship. It means “steer-master” in Old Norse. Unlike the modern role of captain, the styrimaðr often was involved in the physical construction of the ship and was responsible for its maintenance.
Thegn—or þegn, was a title given to the retainers of a king or a lord.
Vár—The season of spring. Could also refer to the minor goddess Vár, who was associated with pledges and oaths.
Vaskr—Bold or brave.
Verðandi—Part of the trio of Norns. She is a goddess of time. Her name means “present” or “happening.”