What is Norse mythology? In its simplest form, it is the foundation of the pre-Christian faith that was once shared by many nations across northern Europe. These common beliefs were descended from the same Indo-European roots as classical mythology but they evolved into a form unique to themselves.

The primary Norse myths are found in two manuscripts, commonly titled the Elder Edda and Younger Edda, also known as the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. Together, these contain nearly all of the surviving stories of Norse mythology, but there are also a number of additional poems and stories that may be considered supplemental to them. While most of these were recorded in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, these texts were based upon oral traditions dating back over several centuries. The myths and legends remain true to the spirit of the Vikings and they may even represent a refinement of the old oral system.