SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES,

covers Norwegian, Swedish, Danish

and Icelandic peoples
Vikings (from Old Norse vkingr) were the people of the Norse culture,
during the Viking Age. They were a seafaring people of north Germanic
descent, based in Scandinavia, who raided, traded, explored, and settled
in wide areas of Europe, Asia, and the North Atlantic islands, from the late
8th to the mid-11th centuries.
This period of Viking expansion, known as the Viking Age
is the body of mythology of the North
Germanic people stemming from Norse
paganism and continuing after
the Christianization of Scandinavia and
into the Scandinavian folklore of the
modern period.

Norse mythology or Scandinavian mythology
Trolls
A troll is a supernatural being in Norse
mythology and Scandinavian folklore.

In Old Norse sources, beings described as trolls dwell in isolated
rocks, mountains, or caves, live together in small family units, and
are rarely helpful to human beings.
Elves
Elves are creatures of Norse
mythology. The elves were
originally imagined as a race
of minor nature and fertility
gods, who are often pictured
as youthful-seeming men and
women of great beauty living
in forests and underground
places and caves, or in wells
and springs. They have been
portrayed to be long-lived or
immortal and as beings of
magical powers.
Goblins
A goblin is a legendary evil or
mischievous creature; a
grotesquely evil or evil-
like phantom.
Wights
are nature spirits in
the Norse religion.
Nisse
Household gods,
Traditionally each farm had
its own nisse living on the
loft or in a stable. Dressed
in grey with a pointed red
cap, he was no taller than
a 10-year-old boy.
Insights to Danish
Myth and Legends
King Dan
The story of King Dan is part of
the legendary underpinnings of
the Danish national self-image.
Essentially, it is the story of the eponymous hero
(King Dan), and of how Denmark (or Danmark, as
the country is named in Danish) acquired its
name.

King Skjold
The story of King Skjold is a typical example of
the classical topos: divinely sent hero, given
unto a desperate people,
restores order and justice.

Holger Danske
European mythical figure, with special
significance as national hero of Denmark. Like
so many other national heroes, he is said to be
sleeping in some secluded spot, waiting for
the time when he will be needed once more,
to defend his homeland.

Wild Hunt
The Wild Hunt came to represent the
destructive power of nature and death itself.
The Nordic Wild Hunt carried off the souls of
the dead.
In Christian times the Wild Hunt carried off
unbelievers and unbaptised children

Nkke
In Nordic mythology and folklore, nkken is a
male supernatural creature, which lives in
a stream or river.
In Danish folk tradition, he also sometimes
called manden ("the river man").
Danish folk tradition has had it that
the nkke calls for human sacrifice with the
words "Tiden er kommen, men manden er endnu
ikke kommen" ("The time has come, but the man
has not yet come").
Birkabegn
A king of Denmark. Father of
Havelock. In some lore,
occasionally referred to
as Birkabegn,Birkabeen or Bir
kabeen
Colbrand
A giant killed by Guy of
Warwick. Sometimes known
as Colbrand, Colbronde, C
olbronde,Coldbrand or Cold
brand.
Ebissa
Son of Hengist. At times, identified
as Ebissa.
Ellerkonge
The alder-king who abducted
children to the Otherworld.
Occasionally referred to
asEllerkonge, German Erl-
king, German Erl-
king, Erlkonig, Erlkonig, Erl-
king or Danish Ellerkonge.

Gesta Danorum
A book by Saxo Grammaticus.
Dealing with myths, legends and
religious rites. Occasionally known
as Gesta Danorum.

Godard
A usurper of the Danish
throne. He seized the throne
from Havelock's father and
ordered that the young
Havelock be killed. Sometimes
called Godard.

Hartwaker
Son of Hengist. On occassion,
called Hartwaker.
Heorot
The palace of Hrodgar.
Occasionally
called Heorot.
Hnaef
A clan-chief.
Brother of
Hildeburh. His
sister married
another clan-
chief, Finn,
causing
resentment which
led to war in
which Hnaef
was killed. Also
known
as Hnaef.

Horsa
Brother of
Hengist. He and
his brother led
the Saxon
invasion of
Britain.
Occasionally
identified
asHorsa.

Hredel
A king of the Geats.
Grandfather of Beowolf.
Father of Haedcyn. Also
commonly known
as Hredel.

Marsk Stig
A hero who fought on
behalf of the people against
an oppressor. Also
commonly identified asMarsk
Stig.

Niels
Ebbeson
A hero who rid
his country of
foreign oppressors.
Also referred to
as Niels
Ebbeson.

Puge
A mischievous
goblin. Also
commonly
called puge, puk,
puk, Para, puki, p
uki, Puke, Pukje,
English puck, Irish
phooka or Welsh
pwca.

Sardoine
Daughter of Hengist. Sister of
Renwein. Also referred to
as Sardoine.

Saxo
Grammaticus
A writer. He was the author
of Gesta Danorum. Also
referred to as Saxo
Grammaticus.

skogsnufa
A female wood-spirit. Sometimes
known as skogsnufa, Norse
skogsfru, Norse
skogsfru,skogsra, Swedish
skogsra, Swedish
skogsra or skogsfru.

Yngona
A goddess. On occassion,
referred to as Yngona, Anna of
the Angles or Anna of the
Angles.

Other:
Aeschere
Finn
Focwalding
Hadding
Havelock
Hermod

Hildeburh
Olrik, Axel
Unferth
Wealtheow
Wiglaf