The völva

The völva and tales of gods and giants

The völva lives in a small wooden house on the edge of the sacrificial bog. She knows about the gods, she knows about herbs, she knows about healing. With the help of song she can enter a trance and give answers to questions about the future. With her runes she can give advice.

The völva is often on the move, perhaps to heal someone who is ill, perhaps to gather herbs. So you may not always find her at home, but if she is there, she will gladly answer your questions.

The völva has great knowledge of and a special connection to the old gods, the Æsir. She is also the one who leads the sacred ceremonies at, for example, solstice and midsummer. Do you have a question about Odin, Thor, Freya or one of the other gods? Then just ask the völva!

The Norse gods

All around Ribe VikingeCenter you will find several statues of gods. For instance, by the entrance to the Center you are greeted by the three Norns, who live by Urd’s well beneath the world tree. Each day they draw water from the well and pour it over the tree so that its branches will not dry out or rot. The Norns represent past, present and future. They visit people when they are born and determine their fate, as they do for the gods as well. It is said that they spin the thread of life, and that one can read in that thread how one’s life will unfold. The fewer the knots, the easier the life.

Apart from the Norns, who are utterly incorruptible, there are many different gods to whom sacrifices may be made. There are both Æsir and Vanir. The Vanir came to the gods as hostages when peace was made after the first war in the world.

ODIN is an Æsir and the god of the upper classes. Jarls and kings sacrifice to him. He is the god of war.

FRIGG is married to Odin and represents marital love.

THOR is Odin’s son and the farmers’ god. He brings thunder and rain when the summer is dry. He saves the harvest. He keeps the Jötnar, who symbolise the forces of chaos, in check.

BALDR is the son of Odin and Frigg, and he is so just that his judgements cannot be contested.

FREYR is a Vanir and the god of fertility.

FREYA is Freyr’s sister and the one to turn to with questions of love.

TYR sacrificed himself when the Fenris wolf had to be bound, and lost his hand.

LOKI is in fact a Jötunn, but he was taken into the company of the gods when he became Odin’s blood brother. He is a trickster, causes many disasters, but each time tries to make amends, so that renewal comes about. It is his fault that Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir, was made, but it is also his fault that Baldr was killed.