Norse mythology has tales of gods, goddesses, and legendary feats. This has made the culture one of the most popular in history, with the likes of Loki, Freya, Thor and Njord portrayed in modern culture as supernatural beings. We’ve explored how Norse mythology has influenced modernity, from TV shows to games with Nordic themes.
Origin of Norse Mythology
Nordic myth can be traced to the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse mythological and heroic poems written in 1270. These poems touch on various topics, including the world’s creation, destruction and rebirth. It also makes mention of how gods like Óðinn, Þórr and Loki dealt with giants.
Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic politician, poet and historian compiled the Prose Edda, which dates back to 1220 CE. The Prose Edda is segmented into four parts. These include the Prologue, which gives an account of the Norse gods; Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál and the Háttatal, which talks about traditional skaldic poetry. It was also called the “Younger Edda” as historians speculate that Sturluson’s sources may be linked to folkloric oral traditions that he may have heard.
Influence on Games
Nordic history and myths have played a significant role in the online and video games industry. The culture is explored in some titles, including titles “God of War: Ragnarok.”, “Power of Thor Megaways” and “Revenge of Loki Megaways.”
The God of War: Ragnarok story follows the lives of Kratos, a former Greek god, and his son as they adventure into the world of Norse gods and monsters. The game presents engaging storytelling and immerses players deeply in Norse mythological themes. Power of Thor Megaways and Revenge of Loki are also relatively recent Norse-themed games at online casino sites. The featured Nordic depictions in these Megaways slots include Loki, Thor and Asgard, placing them amongst the best Megaways slots games at casino sites online. Sites hosting the games also provide further information on how to play Megaways slots and how Megaways slots work.
Influence on TV Shows
Norse culture plays a significant role on the big screens. TV Shows such as Vikings, The American Gods, and Odin are all based on mythological characters. Vikings premiered in 2013 and talks about the legendary events of Ragnar Lothbrok, a hero from Norse legends, and his descendants. The series explores the adventures of the Viking warriors, including their raids and conquests and their gods’ influence on their daily lives.
The American Gods is based on a Neil Gaiman Norse myth novel. The show discusses an enraged war between the old and new gods, with the old gods representing ancient characters and the new ones representing contemporary society. Among the old gods is Odin, the god of war and the dead. The show cleverly gathers different aspects of the myths into a story, while sticking to the ancient tales.
Modernity of the Norse Culture
Despite the influence of Norse mythology in modern cultures, it is still subject to misconceptions, some of which believe that the Vikings were a barbaric and primitive society. However, in reality, the Viking culture was sophisticated, with a rich sense of literature, art, and storytelling, which has sustained the tales that are now regarded as myths.