Nerthus - Goddess of Norse Mythology
Nerthus is a fertility deity in Norse mythology and attested in the Germania (an ethnographic work of Germanic tribes written by Tacitus around the year 98). She is a member of the Vanir linage and is referred to as "Goddess of the Earth."
According to Tacitus, Nerthus was worshiped by Germanic tribes and described as "Terra Mater" (Latin for "Mother Earth").
The name Nerthus (pronounced "NUR-thus") is often identified with the Vanir deity Njörðr. Due to the reconstructed Njörðr is Nerþus. This has led to various theories about the relationship between the two. Including that their names indicated brother and sister deities, such as the Vanir gods Freyr and Freyja.
The role of Nerthus in Norse mythology is unclear, and researchers have long been puzzled by the fact that Nerthus is not mentioned in the Edda (the main source of Norse mythology).
| Name | Gender | Group | God of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baduhenna | Goddess | war and storms | |
| Baldur (Baldr, Balder) identified with the Old English bealdor = 'lord' or 'prince' | God | Æsir | beauty, love, purity, peace, righteousness |
| Beyla a younger form of Old Norse Baunila = 'little bean' | Goddess | earth | |
| Bil | Goddess | Ásynjur | waining moon |
| Borr (Bor, Bör, Bur, Burr) | God | Other | |
| Bragi (Brage) connected with Old Norse Bragr = 'poetry' | God | Æsir | knowledge, poetry, eloquence, and the patron of skalds |
| Buri (Búri, Bori, Bure) | God | Other | gods |
| Byggvir Old Norse = 'barley' | God | ||
| Dellingr (Delling) Old Norse = 'luminous' or 'shining one' | God | Æsir | personification of dawn |
| Eir (Eil, Eira, Eyr, Eyra) Old Norse = 'protection' or 'help' | Goddess | Ásynjur | healing |
| Eostre (Eastre, Ostara) | Goddess | spring, rebirth, and protectress of fertility | |
| Forseti (Forsete) Old Norse = 'presiding one' | God | Æsir | justice |
| Freyja (Freya, Freja, Frey'a, Gefion, Horn, Mardal, Mardoll, Menglad, Menglod, Moertholl, Sessrymner, Syr, Vanadis) | Goddess | Vanir | fertility, love, beauty, magic, war, and death |
| Freyr (Frey, Fraig, Fro, Fricco, Ingun, Ingunnar-Frey, Ingvi-Frey, Sviagod, Yngri, Yngvi) | God | Vanir | agriculture, prosperity, life and fertility |
| Frigg (Frigga, Frig, Fri, Frija, Frygga, Frea, Fria, Frige, and Holda) Old Norse = 'to love' | Goddess | Ásynjur | love, marriage, fertility, family, civilization, and a prophetess |
| Fulla (Abundantia, Abundia, Habone, Vol, Vola, Volla) | Goddess | Ásynjur | |
| Gefjon (Gefjun, Gefion) Old Norse = 'the giving one' | Goddess | knowledge | |
| Gersemi (Gersimi, Gerseme) Old Norse = 'gem' | Goddess | Ásynjur | love |
| Gerda (Gerd, Gerdhr, Gerðr) | Goddess | Vanir | |
| Gna (Gná, Gnaa) | Goddess | Ásynjur | |
| Gullveig (Gollveig, Gulveig, Golveig-Heid, Gulveig-Hoder, Angerboda, Angerbohda, Aurboda, East Wind Hag, Heid, Heidr, Ljod, Midgard, Orboda, The Volva) | Goddess | Vanir | |
| Henir (Hoeni, Hœnir, Hone, Honer, Honir) | God | Æsir | |
| Hariasa | Goddess | war | |
| Heimdall (Heimdal, Heimdallr, Heimdalr, Heimdali) | God | Æsir | guardian |
| Hel (Heimdal, Heimdallr, Heimdalr, Heimdali) | Goddess | the dead | |
| Hermod (Hermóðr, Heremod) Old Norse = 'war spirit' | God | Æsir | messenger of the gods |
| Hlin (Hlín, Hlina) Old Norse = 'protectress' | Goddess | Ásynjur | |
| Hodr (Höðr, Hod, Hothenus, Hodar, Hoder, Hodhr, Hodir, Hodur) | Goddess | Æsir | |
| Idun (Iðunn, Iduna, Idunn, Idunna, Ithun, Ydun) | Goddess | Ásynjur | spring and rejuvenation |
| Irpa Old Norse = 'brown' | Goddess | Other | earth |
| Lofn Old Norse = 'the comforter' | Goddess | Ásynjur | love |
| Lodurr (Lóðurr, Lodur, Lóður, Lódurr, Lódur, Lóthurr, Lóthur, Lódhurr, Lódhur, Lodur, Lothurr, Lothur, Lodhurr, Loðurr, Loður, Lodhur) | God | Æsir | life |
| Loki (Fjalar, Loder, Lodur, Loke, Lokkju, Lopter, Lopti, Sagloki, Suttung, Thok, Utgard-Loki) | God | Æsir | fire, magic, shape-shifting, trickster, chaos |
| Mani (Máni, Mane) | God | Æsir | personification of the moon |
| Mimir (Mim, Mímir, Mimar, Mime, Mimer-Nidhad, Baugreginn Jotunn, Hodd-Dropnir, Hodd-Mimer, Hoddrofnir, Naddgofugr) | Goddess | Other | wisdom |
| Meili Old Norse = 'the lovely one' | God | Æsir | |
| Nanna Old Norse name deriving from Ancient Germanic nanþi = 'daring' | Goddess | Ásynjur | |
| Nerthus (Nertous) | Goddess | Vanir | lakes and springs |
| Njord (Njörðr, Njörd, Niördr Niord, Njorth, Nordur) | God | Vanir | the sea, the wind, fertility, patron saint of fishermen and sailors |
| Njorun (Njörun, Niorun) | Goddess | Ásynjur | |
| Odin (Alfdaur, Alfadir, Bileygr, Glapsuidir, Othinn, Wodan, Wotan, Othin, Othinn, Othinus, Ouvin, Votan, Wode, Wodemus, Wodhen, Woden, Wodin, Wotam, Woutan, Wuotan) | Goddess | Æsir | wisdom, war, magic, poetry, prophecy, victory and death |
| Odr (Óðr, Od) | Goddess | Vanir | |
| Ran Old Norse Rán = 'theft' | Goddess | Ásynjur | the sea and death |
| Saga Old Norse Sága = 'seeing one' | Goddess | Ásynjur | wisdom and treasure |
| Sandraudiga | Goddess | ||
| Sif Old Norse = 'wife' | Goddess | Ásynjur | harvest and land |
| Sigyn (Siguna) | Goddess | Ásynjur | earth |
| Sinthgunt | Goddess | ||
| Sjofn (Sjöfn, Sjofn) | Goddess | Ásynjur | relationships, love, and marriage |
| Skadi Old Norse Skaði = 'death' | Goddess | Vanir | hunting and winter |
| Snotra Old Norse = 'clever' | Goddess | Ásynjur | wisdom |
| Sol (Sól, Sunna) | Goddess | personification of the sun | |
| Syn Old Norse = 'refusal' | Goddess | Ásynjur | defense and truth |
| Thor (þórr, þunor, Thunaer, Donar, Thur, Tor, Tror) | God | Æsir | strength, protection, war, storms, thunder and lightning |
| Thrud (þrúðr, Thrúd, þrúðr) | Goddess | ||
| Thorgeror Holgabruor (þorgerðr Hölgabrüðr) | Goddess | Other | |
| Tyr (Týr, Tiw, Tig, Ziu, Teu, Thingsus, Tiwaz, Ty, Tyw, Zio, Ziv, Ziw) | God | Æsir | war, justice in battle, victory and heroic glory |
| Ullr (Auler, Holler, Oller, Ollerus, Uller, Ullerus, Ullr, Wuldor) | Goddess | Æsir | justice and winter |
| Vali Old Norse Váli = 'the slain' | Goddess | Æsir | vengeance |
| Var (Vár, Vara, Vór) | Goddess | Ásynjur | |
| Ve (Vé) | God | Æsir | earth |
| Vili | God | Æsir | earth |
| Vor Old Norse Vör = 'the careful one' | Goddess | Ásynjur | wisdom |
| Zisa (Cisa) | Goddess | harvest |