Norse Mythology Modernized
In 1500 B.C., when Norway was first inhabited, settlers brought culturally rich stories and religious beliefs, passed down from generation to generation. Now those stories have evolved into the comic books, movies, and “pop” culture that we know today. Stan Lee and the People at Marvel took such a rich culture and turned it into a franchise that everyone can relate to. In order to understand why these stories are so influential on today’s society, it is essential to go back to the roots. To discover each character and how they all relate to the character they are associated with now in today’s culture.
ORIGINAL NORSE MYTHOLOGY
These characters are not just superheroes that set out to save the world and protect against evil. These characters come from legend, a whole religion and belief system was based off of them. To the people of the 9th and 10th centuries these figures were more than just stories, they were gods. Thor, the god of thunder who rides in his chariot pulled by his two goats, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, using is belt and gloves to wield his powerful hammer Mjolnir, is commonly portrayed as “a fierce warrior with a violent temper, who seems to revel in the slaughter of any who would challenge him” (Marvel vs. Norse mythology). He is married to Lady Sif but, he often has affairs with many women. He is believed to have fathered 3 children out of affairs. Odin, Thor’s father is the All-father; he has omnipotent sight and practices magic and sorcery. He is said to have lost an eye trying to learn more spells. Odin often liked to take on human form and travel with men on a mission to teach or be taught. Loki is Odin’s sworn blood brother. Loki, in the original myths often goes along with people such has Thor and Balder on their adventures and actually becomes helpful. He uses his cleverness and wit to get them out of harmful situations, but he takes his tricks too far and becomes jealous of Odin’s fondness for Balder. This causes Loki to be a direct cause of Balder’s death. This creates a rift in the relationship between him and the people of Asgard. Loki feels resentful and becomes an enemy off Asgard and fights against them in Ragnarok. These myths have such a deep history and heritage with roots that go so far back just like yggdrasil (the tree of life) The complex characters and deep stories made it easy for the modern culture to take them and use them to entertain generation after generation.
MODERN INFLUENCE
ORIGINAL NORSE MYTHOLOGY
These characters are not just superheroes that set out to save the world and protect against evil. These characters come from legend, a whole religion and belief system was based off of them. To the people of the 9th and 10th centuries these figures were more than just stories, they were gods. Thor, the god of thunder who rides in his chariot pulled by his two goats, Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder, using is belt and gloves to wield his powerful hammer Mjolnir, is commonly portrayed as “a fierce warrior with a violent temper, who seems to revel in the slaughter of any who would challenge him” (Marvel vs. Norse mythology). He is married to Lady Sif but, he often has affairs with many women. He is believed to have fathered 3 children out of affairs. Odin, Thor’s father is the All-father; he has omnipotent sight and practices magic and sorcery. He is said to have lost an eye trying to learn more spells. Odin often liked to take on human form and travel with men on a mission to teach or be taught. Loki is Odin’s sworn blood brother. Loki, in the original myths often goes along with people such has Thor and Balder on their adventures and actually becomes helpful. He uses his cleverness and wit to get them out of harmful situations, but he takes his tricks too far and becomes jealous of Odin’s fondness for Balder. This causes Loki to be a direct cause of Balder’s death. This creates a rift in the relationship between him and the people of Asgard. Loki feels resentful and becomes an enemy off Asgard and fights against them in Ragnarok. These myths have such a deep history and heritage with roots that go so far back just like yggdrasil (the tree of life) The complex characters and deep stories made it easy for the modern culture to take them and use them to entertain generation after generation.
MODERN INFLUENCE