Vikings: Valhalla's Norse Myths Explained: Odin, Thor, Ragnarok ...

Warning: SPOILERS for Vikings: Valhalla

Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla makes quite a lot of references to Norse myths involving Odin, Thor, and Ragnarok, just to name a few. In fact, the pull between Christianity and Norse beliefs in Valhalla remains at the front and center throughout the entirety of the first season. While some characters are seen struggling with their Gods, like Leif Eriksson, his sister, Freydis Eriksdotter, doubles down on her Norse beliefs and makes a pilgrimage to Uppsala to take part in a pagan ritual. Whether it’s Christianity or Norse, the Gods they believe in are what drive the characters in their quests.

The Old Norse Religion, which is sometimes referred to as Norse Paganism, is a polytheistic religion that came to fruition when the North Germanic people separated from the Germanic people into their own group. Rituals were common in Norse Paganism, a practice Valhalla’s Freydis Eriksdotter participated in at Uppsala. Old Norse Religion centered around a world tree, Yggdrasil, as well as multiple realms that housed mythological races (giants, dwarves, elves, and land-spirits) that existed alongside the human realm, called Midgard. Sacrifices were not unusual, and there were several afterlife realms. By the twelfth century, Norse Paganism had pretty much disappeared during the Christianization of Scandinavia, a conversion process that had taken some five centuries to complete.

Related: Vikings: Valhalla True Story - Every Major Change To Real Life History

Vikings: Valhalla makes mention of several Norse Gods, including Odin, Thor, and Freyr. Valhalla is a realm of the Gods, ruled by Odin, and is a place where Vikings that died in battle go to prepare for the events of Ragnarok, a series of events that lead up to the end of the world cycle. To have a seat at Odin’s Table in Valhalla is a great honor for a fallen Viking. Valhalla also includes a Seer, whose hand Freydis licks, that had first shown up in the show’s predecessor, Vikings, and such Seers were actually prevalent in Norse Paganism.

Odin, Thor & Freyr - Vikings: Valhalla’s Gods Explained

The name “Odin” comes up quite a lot in Valhalla and for good reason; Odin helped to create the world and is the god of war, poetry, the dead, runes, and magic in Norse mythology. He resides in Asgard, the realm of Gods, and uses his Valkyries, supernatural warrior women that bring fallen Vikings to Valhalla to prepare for Ragnarok. While Odin was a significant God in Norse mythology, he was also one of many. The 11th-century historian Adam of Breman noted that the real-life Uppsala temple, featured in Valhalla, housed Odin’s statue alongside those of both Thor’s and Freyr’s.

In fact, it is Thor’s statue that Adam of Breman observed was at the center of the temple, with Odin and Freyr’s statues flanking him. As the son of Odin, Thor is the Norse God of thunder, the sky, and agriculture. Thor became quite popular during the Viking Age as he was often considered to be Christ’s greatest rival. As Christianity began to take hold in Scandinavia, amulets and charms of Mjölnir, Thor’s hammer, appeared now more than during any other time period.

Freyr, another God mentioned in both Vikings: Valhalla and its predecessor, Vikings, functions as the God of fertility not just for people, but in connection with the land. Whether it’s for the harvest, the sun, or the rain, Freyr is a God that is called upon when abundance is desired. While a God like Odin was important to Viking warriors, Freyr was often invoked by farmers trying to obtain a healthy harvest from their crops.

Related: Valhalla True Story: How Many Died At The St. Brice’s Day Massacre

Vikings: Valhalla’s Ragnarok Reference - What The Twilight Of The Gods Is

In Norse mythology, Ragnarok refers to the events that lead up to the death and eventual rebirth of the world. In the Prose Edda, which is a poem within the Poetic Edda written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th-century, refers to the event as “Ragnarøkkr,” Old Norse for “Twilight of the Gods.” In Valhalla, episode 2, Jarl Haakon, the Viking ruler, says, “Some say that Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods, will happen within our lifetime.” The phrase suggests that the event is cyclical, hence the usage of the word “twilight.” While “twilight” refers to the time right after sunset and full night, it also refers to the time right before the sun rises. In this case, it means that the world will be reborn. Ragnarok includes a great battle in which many Gods would perish and the land would sink into the oceans.

What Valhalla & Odin’s Table Are: Viking Afterlife Explained

The Vikings believed in the afterlife, and in fact, there were whole realms dedicated to the place. Odin ruled over Valhalla, a large hall in Asgard. It was believed that when Vikings fell in battle, Odin’s valkyries, supernatural warrior women, would bring those fallen fighters to Valhalla in order to prepare for Ragnarok. Valhalla’s Leif Eriksson speaks with a fellow Viking in episode 7 who refers to “Odin’s table.” To be invited to have a seat at Odin’s table is a reference to being in Valhalla with Odin himself and would be a great honor for any Norse Paganism practitioner. To die on the battlefield meant that one day, those Vikings would find themselves fighting during the Ragnarok alongside Odin and many other Gods.

Vikings’ Seer: Did They Exist In Norse Mythology?

Seers were also a real part of Norse mythology. While her brother travels to England with King Canute and the other Vikings to reclaim their stolen land, Freydis stays behind in Kattegat, but goes on pilgrimage to Uppsala. On the way, she encounters a Seer, who was also present in Valhalla’s predecessor, Vikings. In Old Norse, they were called a seiðr and practiced a form of magic that they believed helped them to tell and even shape the future. Again, like with other parts of Norse mythology, the practice declined after the Christianization of Scandinavia.

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Vikings: Valhalla has really aimed to immerse the audience in the culture of Norse mythology. While it is true that Valhalla has taken many creative liberties in its interpretation of the timeline of events during this era, its representation of Norse Paganism is pretty accurate. Perhaps with so many Vikings dying at the end of Valhalla, they will find themselves at Odin’s table, preparing to fight during Ragnarok.

Next: Everything We Know About Vikings: Valhalla Season 2