The Norse Connection

Since your host here is of Norse decent (my great grandfather came to Canada from Iceland) I thought it'd be interesting to know that Oh My Goddess is actually based on Norse Mythology

The Goddesses

The Oh! My Goddess Goddesses are actually demi-gods in Norse mythology. They are known as the Norns (or Nornir); they are the fates which determine the life of every child that is born. Legend has it that a Norn is present at the birth of every child. Maybe Belldandy was at Keiichi's birth ^_^.

In Norse mythology the Goddesses are known as Urd (Urdur), Verdandi (I think the difference in names is because there is no V sound in the Japanese language), and Skuld(no change ^_^). They live in a beautiful hall at the base of their "World Tree" Ygdrassil near Urdarbrunner (The Well of Fate) in the realm of Asgard. They guard the well of fate and tend to Yggdrassil by pouring mud water from the well of fate on the branches to keep it from aging.

Even today in Norse cultures every woman that has a child eats a dish called Nornagrautur (Nornir's-porridge)

Yggdrassil

Yggdrassil ("The terrible one's horse") is a giant ash that shelters and links all the realms, beneath it's roots lay Asgard, Jotunheim, and Niflheim. There are three wells at the base; The Well of Wisdom (Mímisbrunnr) guarded by the Mimir, The Well of Fate guarded by our lovely Nornir and the Hvergelmir (roaring kettle) from which all the great rivers flow.

Four deer run across the tree representing the four winds while other inhabitans such as the squirrel Ratatosk live in it's branches. The golden cock perches on it's topmost bough. On the day of Ragnarok, the fire giant Surt will set the tree on fire.

The tree is also called:Ask Yggdrasil, Hoddmimir's Wood, Laerad and Odin's Horse.

Credit Where Credit is Due

I got most of this information from a few great links:

  • The Encyclopedia Mythica
  • Norweigen Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Back to the Goddess Main Page