Home > Numbers in Norse mythology
Numbers are significant in Norse mythology although not to the extent which they are in some traditions e.g. as in Jewish kabbalism.Particularly significant numbers are three, eight, and nine.
1 Three
The number three is both an invocatory and magic number:
The number three occurs with great frequency in grouping individuals and artefacts:
- There are three Norns.
- Odin had two brothers, Vili and Ve; i.e. there were three siblings.
- Yggdrasil has three roots, and three is the square root of the number of worlds on Yggdrasil, nine.
- In the Gylfaginning in the Younger Edda, King Gylfi is confronted by a triple throne at the false home of the gods, one being seated and occupied atop another.
- Loki has three malign progeny by the giantess Angerboda: the wolf, Fenrir; the world-serpent, Jormungand; and HelHel was the goddess of the underworlds, Helheim and Niflheim, in Norse mythology. Odin threw Hel there and gave her authority over those who do not die gloriously in battle but of sickness or of old age. She has a body which is half black, half flesh-cove.
- Prior to RagnarokFor the MMORPG see Ragnarok Online, for the manhwa see Ragnarok (manhwa In Norse mythology, Ragnarok ( "fate of the gods" 1) is the battle at the end of the world. It will be waged between the gods (the Aesir, led by Odin) and the evils (the fire giants, there will be three hard winters without an intervening summer, the FimbulwinterIn Norse mythology and Asatru (according to the Eddas), Fimbulwinter is the immediate prelude to the end of the world, Ragnarok. Fimbulwinter is three successive winters without any intervening summer. During this time, there will be innumerable wars and.
- The wolf Fenrir was bound by three chains, Lœding, Drómi, and Gleipnir, of which only the last held him.
- When Loki is bound with three bonds made from the entrails of his son through holes in three upright slabs of rock, one under his shoulders, one under his loins, and one under the backs of his knees.
2 Eight
- Odin's steed, SleipnirValhalla riding on Sleipnir ( Ardre image stone) In Norse mythology, Sleipnir is Odin's magical eight-legged steed, and the first of all horses. His name means smooth or gliding, hence the English word, slippery. Loki, in the guise of a mare, gave birth t, has eight legs.
- Odin's ring DraupnirDraupnir is a golden arm ring possessed by Odin, the ruling god of Norse mythology. The ring was a source of endless wealth, since each ninth morning it had spawned eight more gold rings just like itself (but apparently without the spawning ability). gives forth eight more similar rings every ninth night.
- In the guise of Grimnir in the GrimnismálThe Grimnismal also known as The Ballad of Grimnir is an Old Norse poem in the Codex Regius which is part of the Elder Edda''. It also appears in the Arnamagnaean Codex''. The poem which deals with many aspects of Norse mythology. It is spoken through the, Odin awaits the attention of King Geirroth for eight days before causing his death
3 Nine
The number nine is also a magically significant number:
- When Odin sacrificed himself to himself, he hung upon the gallows for nine days and nine nights. In return, he learned eighteen (twice nine) charms (or runes).
- There are nine worlds that are supported by Yggdrasil.
- Every ninth year, people from all over Sweden assembled at the Temple at Uppsala to sacrifice both male slaves and male animals.
- The god-guardian of the Bifrost Bridge, Heimdall is said to have been the son of nine mothers, possibly the nine daughter of Aegir identified as the waves of the sea.
- In the Skirnismal Freyr is obliged to wait nine nights to consummate his union with Gerd.
- In the Svipdagsmál, the witch Groa grants nine charms to her son Svipdag.
- In Fjolsvinnsmal Laegarn's chest is fastened up with nine locks.
