There have been dozens of amazing and fascinating cultures that have existed throughout history, many still exist today, while others fell or faded in the past. Cultures all across the globe introduce people to unique and diverse traditions, social norms, laws and belief systems. Religion has always played a huge role within cultures. Some are more familiar than others. The Ancient Greeks are remarked for their art, architecture and philosophy, but their Gods have, also, been adopted into the modern paradigm. The Greek pantheon of Gods has been popularized in literature, television and film. However, there are other pantheons that are quite similar in the nature and structure in the presentation of their deities. One such religion is the Norse, or Viking, faith. That said the similarity between the Ancient Greek and Ancient Nordic religions and their pantheons are highly indicative that the two cultures have some things in common as well.
The Greeks were, for their time, highly sophisticated via there mathematics, political ideas and philosophical studies (The History Channel 1). The Norse, or the Vikings, is often underappreciated for their arts, philosophy and culture. They were not warrior brutes, but had a rich culture responsible for some of the first sea voyages with the purpose of exploration and conquest (Sedgwick 1). Given the differences in the people’s lifestyles how could they develop belief systems so similar? When mankind first began to look to religion as real and tangible aspect of human existence, it served a very real purpose. All faiths seem to share many core and fundamental elements all across the world. Human beings all want certain things. They want to know their purpose and goals, they want to have security and safety from threats and they want answers to the things they do not understand and cannot explain (Geertz 1). Religion provides all of those things to the people that share the faith. In Greek mythology the Gods live high above mankind on a mountaintop called Olympus. Similarly the Norse Gods resided together in a higher realm called Asgard (Sedgwick 1).
Both faiths feature a massive battle between the old “beings” that came before them and the Gods that would take over these locales. In Greek Myth it was the Titans that stood in the way of the Olympians and the Giants stood in the way of the Norse Gods. In the case of polytheistic faiths different Gods represent different aspects of existence, generally associated with nature or realities within their environment. These Gods often are very human in their wants and attitudes, something that is very different from many modern perspectives on faith and Gods (Geertz 1). In the case of the Greeks and the Norse there are similarities in the mythology and the individual Gods and Goddesses, as well.
Zeus and Odin: The Greek King of the Gods is Zeus, a bearded and powerful man that controls the greater pantheon. He was the controlling factor over the Olympians. Was perceived as both a powerful God, but also as a paternal character (The History Channel 1). Odin served the same purpose to the Norse and he even is similarly represented as a man with a beard. Odin was a paternal character, as well, and was even referred to as the “All Father,” or Father of All. (Sedgwick 1).
Poseidon and Njord: Poseidon was given dominion over the seas. He was responsible for everything, both, good or bad, that happened on the sea, including hurricanes, tidal waves and ships lost at sea (The History Channel 1). Njord served the same purpose in the Nordic faith. He is who the Vikings would pray to in order to receive pleasant seas while on their journey (Morrow 2).
Ares and Thor: Ares is remembered as the Greek God of warfare and war strategy. Ares would help to guarantee the most faithful with victory in battle and was, both, feared and respected (The History Channel 1). The Vikings had a number of war Gods; the most popular and renowned is Thor, God of thunder and battle, he was, also, feared and respected by the faithful. (Sedgwick 1).
Aphrodite and Freyja: Aphrodite is the goddess of love and beauty. She is regarded as the most beautiful and most desirable of all the Goddesses in the Greek pantheon, Prayers to Aphrodite would be to find mates, primarily. It is noted to be either the mother of or consort of Eros, also known later as Cupid among the Romans, is the origins of the cherubic babies shooting people with arrows of love. (The History Channel 1). Freyja is the Nordic equivalent to Aphrodite. She is believed to be beautiful and brave. She is responsible for the love that exists in the world and is who one should pray to if they wish for love and fertility (Sedgwick 1).
Hades and Hel: Hades was the God responsible for overseeing the Greek underworld. He monitored all the souls that enter the afterlife. He would usher deserving souls to the Elysian Fields, the good side of the underworld, or those who have done wrong to Tartarus, a place of punishment. Hades was neutral favoring neither side (The History Channel 1). The Norse Goddess, called Hel, is very similar. She is not a punisher, but a guardian of the dead. She was required to provide for the needs of all those that entered the underworld, both those who had done right and those that had done wrong (Sedgwick 1). Both figures are specially similar because both establishes a figure guarding the afterlife, but that character is not evil or needing to be feared, which is different from many modern philosophies that perceive “death” as an evil representation and that death is a “punishment.”
Demeter vs. Sif: Demeter was the Goddess responsible for the harvest and seasons. When her temper is subdue humanity experiences mild weather and new growth, and change, hence spring and fall, however when she is unhappy then humanity experienced harsh winters and scorching summers. (The History Channel 1). Sif, the wife of Thor, was the Norse Goddess of the harvest. She had dominion over the forests, mountains and planted harvests. If one wanted a successful growing season then it is Sif that one must please. Both are likely the inspiration for the concept of “Mother Nature” (Sedgwick 1).
The Fates and Norns: In both Greek and Nordic Mythology there is a high belief in the concept of fate and that fate plays a significant role in the lives that are lived among both people and Gods. In fact, we get the word “fate” from the concept of the Fates in Greek Mythology. Three women who spin thread or twine and stitch the tapestry of fate, the course of the world. Similarly, the Norse referred to these beings as the Norn. There were more than three Norns, but the three most significant are also, like the Greeks, three female giants who are responsible for each and every person’s life, cut the thread and the life ends. In both systems they are represented by three women who have power and knowledge that is even above the Gods themselves. This implies, in both belief systems, that Fate is a proactive force in nature and that those who possess that knowledge are mysterious and possibly to be feared (The History Channel 1).
In fairness it would be inappropriate, while celebrating similarities, to ignore the things that made them very different when it came to their beliefs and pantheon of Gods. There are a number of important areas where the two cultures are antithetical to other and yet still manage to have so much in common (Geertz 1-2). This similarity is no doubt another astounding example that people, human beings, no matter where in the world, what lifestyle they live are all asking similar questions and finding similar answers. Human beings are not so different; hence their Gods and Goddess are similar to. However, the differences, again, deserve acknowledgment.
Immortality: While both faiths allowed for the existence of an afterlife, where ones sins or worthiness is determined, the details are quite different. In Greek mythology the Gods are immortal and nearly omnipotent. They do not age; they do not change and therefore are larger than life (Geertz 92). Humans were mortal and fragile; in many instances their lives were forfeit in the battles and issues between the Gods. However, among the Norse, humanity was mortal and could be injured and die and so to could their Gods. In fact, one of the most famous of Norse tales regards how another God; a trickster called Loki, tricked and poisoned the healer God Baldur killing him (Sedgwick 1).
Apocalypse: In Greek myth the Olympic Gods were untouchable and along with their immortality would last forever, regardless of what happens to mankind. However, for the Norse, the existence of the Gods and the world as they knew it was temporary. The Norse was taught that the Gods lived under the weight of an apocalyptic prophecy of an event known as Ragnarok. Ragnarok would see the death of all of the Gods, the fall of Asgard and an end to the existence of the Viking Gods (Sedgwick 1).
Heroics: This one of the “glass half-full vs. half-empty” concept. In Greek myths mortals sought to be like the Gods, powerful, strong and successful. It was all about gain, achievement and conquest in many cases. Nordic heroes were a bit different. Again, the Norse Gods were mortal, like mankind, so when human beings or Gods attempted to be heroes they knew that they could die, that they may be asked to sacrifice themselves and fight in situations where success is unlikely (Morrow 2).
In the end, it is impossible to look at the Greek pantheon and the Nordic pantheon and not see the distinct similarities between their religions and overseeing deities. They may not be exactly the same in their philosophies, perspectives and faiths, but the similarities still far outweigh the differences that may exist between them. The truth is that these kinds of similarities can be found in many other cultures all across the globe. There seems to be some core and foundational beliefs and ideas that seem to transcend culture and religion. Many scholars and historians have argue that many of the religious similarities between all of these diverse peoples shows that the religion as we know it may share common origins Ultimately, understanding the similarities within ancient religions and culture is a worthwhile field of study, people can never cease to learn from our collective past.
WORK CITED
Geertz, A.W. “Origins of Religion, Cognition and Culture: Religion, Cognition and Culture.”
Routledge. (2014): 1-488.
Morrow, A.” Of Monster and Men: A Comparison of Greek and Norse Mythology in Western
Cannon.” Virginia Commonwealth University. (2013): 1-2.
Sedgwick, M. “From Thor to Odin: A Guide to the Norse Gods. The Guardian. (2015): 1. Web.
<http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/04/thor-odin-norse-gods-guide-iceland-temple-vikings-deities>.
The History Channel. “Greek Mythology.” The History Channel. (2016): 1. Web.
<http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/greek-mythology>.
