Week 5

 So, Genius hour is coming to a close. I've learned so much over these past few weeks! There are some questions I'm required to answer, so I will list my answers below:

1) My favorite part of my topic were the different worlds. I loved learning about the 9 Worlds of Yggdrasil, because it sort of adds a fantasy feeling to the rest of the myths. The ability to travel between dimensions make the gods seem more powerful.
2) My least favorite of my topic was learning about Ragnarok. After all this time, I've grown to love all the characters in Norse Mythology, and to hear about how they were destroyed horrified and fascinated me at the same time!
3) The best thing about Genius Hour is the ability to choose your own topic! This sort of freedom is rare when it comes to school projects, so tart of Genius Hour.
4) My least favorite part about Genius Hour was that we only got to research in class once a week. I wish we could have spent more time in class and take advantage of the technology provided.
5) I think the most important thing to take away from this entire experience was what I learned about myself. I am now considering being a mythologist as a future career! Not only Norse or Greek, but Roman, Asian, as well as a majority of Native American mythology.

 I hope you've all enjoyed learning about this topic as I share what I had discovered. It's been a great few weeks and I cannot wait until next year, when we'll do this again!

Other Beings

 I've been digging deeper into the relationships between humans, dwarves, and humans. It's really interesting because many mythologists are confused on this topic of Norse Mythology. They use Eddas, or old Nordic poems, to determine whether or not there is any relationship between these beings.

 Elves are often described as demi-godlike humans, with pointed ears and long, slender, unnaturally beautiful faces. They are capable of inflicting illnesses on humans, as well as healing. Humans and elves could interbreed, causing hybrids who looked like humans but had the magical powers of elves. In many Eddas, they are potrayed as close to the Vanir gods, and there are times when there are no distinction between the two beings. Some mythologists believe that humans supposedly turned into elves after death. 

 Surprisingly, dwarves were never actually described as short humanoids. In Norse Mythology, they were described as pitch black giants with amazing craftsmanship skills. If caught in the sun, they immedietly turned to stone. They arer also described of giant human corpses. They are responsible for the many magical items of the gods, and are wise and magically strong. They are also called dark elves, as they dwell in an underground labrynth and are notable for their blood-thirsty characteristics.

 Though this may be a short post, it's important to understand that there are other beings the old Nordic people worshipped. The Aesir gods, though they are the most important, aren't the only ones who humans credited with the way things functioned.

Cool Pictures Part 2

Another cool picture of Loki and Fenrir

Cool Pictures

Below is a map of the Nine Worlds of Yggdrasil!

Week 3

 I cannot believe how much I've learned already! So many tales and gods/goddesses, it's hard to keep track. I would go into full detail on the fables, but I'm saving it for my presentation. I have yet to find a video, but I'm still looking. This has become a more and more popular subject across the nation, so it shouldn't take long. In order to entertain all 4 of my current followers, though, I will describe the different worlds found in Norse Mythology.

The first world I've learned about, and have mentioned many times, is Asgard. This is where the Aesir gods live, like Thor and Odin.
 The second one is Vanaheim, the home of the Vanir tribe. This tribe isn't as well known as the Aesir gods. They include Freya and Freyr, Njord, and Gullveig.
 The third most important world is Midgard, the home of the humans. Unlike Greek Mythology, the gods don't dwell in the same place. They prefer to stay in Asgard and rule from there. The humans are seen as pawns, soldiers to use during intense, tension-filled, situations between them and giants, or, in other cases, themselves. It seems to be the home of the only creatures unable to travel between worlds. It's made inside of Ymir's skull, held up by 4 dwarves. the clouds are made of his brains, oceans his blood, dirt his muscles, and vegetation his hair.
 The world Jotunheim is the home of the giants, either described as ruthless, bloodthirsty, beings or helpful, strong friends of the gods. They are the main characters besides the gods themselves.
 Svartalfheim, the world of dwarves, is where most of the god's most symbolic items were created. The are the craftsmen of the Nine Worlds.
 Aflheim, the land of the elves, is the least mentioned place in Norse Mythology (at least, on the website I am using). From what I can concur, the elves are in an everlasting era of peace.
 Hel, the land of the dead, is the domain of Hel, Loki's daughter. She is the queen of the dead, and controls the coming's and going's of the dead souls. This is interesting, because this is the first Mythology I've heard of with a female figure as the ruler of the dead.
 Niflheim, the world of ice, is one of the two worlds that combined to create Ymir.
 Muspelheim, the world of fire, is the second world of the two combined to create Ymir.

  It's interesting to think about how it would be for the Nordic people. Imagine having to keep in mind all these worlds (not to mention how to pronounce them). They understood that they were not the most important beings in the universe. That's what I love about mythology. The most fanatical things can happen, and the people will just accept it as a mystery, something out of their power to control. That idea humbles me and surprises me, that humans used wonder about things, that while science may have played a huge part in their life, they didn't really understand it.

Thank you so much for reading, guys!

Week Two

 This week, I've really been going more into the dynamics of the gods. Many people are familiar with Odin, Thor, and Loki, ever since The Avengers came out in 2012. Even before then, the movie Thor was produced. Many Marvel fans have been focused on Loki and Thor's relationship. Today, I will be describing the gods and the roles each one plays.

 There are two seperate tribes of gods, each one with their own worlds. Odin, Loki, and Thor belong to the Aesir tribe. These gods dwell on Asgard, as portrayed on Marvel's Thor. There is also the Vanir tribe. These gods aren't as focused on, and live on Vanaheim.

 Odin, the king of the Aesir gods, is the son of Bolthom. He and his brothers, Vili and Ve, destroyed Ymir. He always yearned for knowledge, and in many places, the Nordic people called him Odin the Wanderer. He's a war-god, but would often travel far distances into the universe to gain knowledge. 

 Thor, the god of storms, is the son of Odin. His strenghth and courage inspired many young Scandinavians. Known for his hammer Mjollnir (Old Norse for Lightning), he protects Asgard and defends the Midgardians (in other words, humans).

 Loki, my personal favorite, was never adopted by Odin or raised to believe he was an Aesir God. He is part of the Aesir tribe, his father being the giant Farbouti and his mother the mysterious Laufey. He is a troublemake, trickster, and literally the father of Hel (the goddes of the underworld). And yet, the gods depend on Loki to fix many of the problems they have with giants (though many of the problems are caused by Loki himself). Loki is also helps put Ragnarok into action.

 Baldur, the god of happiness and light, is a young and youthful. All gods and goddesses adored him, and Odin himself is his father. He plays an important role, because when he is killed (more on that later), it symbolizes the beginning of Ragnarok.

 Tyr, the god of justice and war, plays another important role. The binding of Fenrir couldn't have happened without Tyr. (Again, more on that later) 

 All of these gods are from the Aesir tribe, and but they're not the only ones involved in the creation of the world, not to mention the end of it.

Week One

 How can I go more in depth with Norse Mythology?

 That is my Genius Hour driving question. For awhile now, I've wanted to begin learning about Norse gods, myths, and tales. When my teachers announced that we would be doing Genius Hour for the last nine weeks of school, I was excited to begin. On this blog, I will be posting most of what I learn, questions, and/or comments that I will have (and I most certainly have many). 

 I've already begun looking for a few simple myths to read about, and I've learned quite a lot all ready. For instance, the Nordic tribes believed that time went in a full circle. The birth of the gods, the reign of the gods, and then Ragnarok, the death of the gods and end of the world. After all this, though, the cycle begins again with the creation of the giant Ymir.

 Ymir was created when two worlds, one of ice and one of fire, merged. From his glands, more and more giants were born, as well as a giant cow. The cow licked the ice of the world Niflheim to replenish her strength, and uncovered Buri, the first god. He, in turn, married Bolthorn, and together they had Odin and his brothers.

 I find this interesting, because it signifies the combining of elements, which creates life. It also proves that the Nordic people understood genetic science enough to understand that some organisms could reproduce asexually. It also shows that the Nordic tribes understood the importance of livestock, so much so that they included a cow to explain the creation of their gods!

 I've always been fascinated by mythology and fables, particularly Greek, Egyptian, and Native American.

I'm excited to learn more about Norse mythology because I love to learn about other people's views on how things were created. Don't get me wrong, I love science class, but hearing the ingenuity of people who had never heard of any science equipment always amazes me. It just proves that us humans have always wondered about the impossible and told stories that people have yearned to hear, until the 21st century.