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Family Tree of the Norse gods

The Æsir and Vanir: the Complete Norse Gods Lineage

Discover the intricate family tree of the Norse gods in Norse mythology, including the Æsir and Vanir gods, primordial giants (Jötnar), and legendary figures like Odin, Thor, and Loki. Explore their origins, descendants, and mythological roles in this comprehensive guide.

Primordial Beings and the First Giants

Ymir (Jötunn)

The primordial giant from whom all jötnar descend.

Þrúðgelmir (Jötunn)

Son of Ymir.

Bergelmir (Jötunn)

Son of Þrúðgelmir and survivor of the great flood following Ymir’s death.

Giants and the Line of Bestla

Bölþorn (Jötunn)

A giant and father of Bestla.

Bestla (Jötunn)

Daughter of Bölþorn and mother of the first Æsir gods.

The First Gods

Búri (Æsir)

The first god, freed from ice by the cow Auðumbla.

Borr (Æsir) – Bestla (Jötunn)

Children:

  • Odin (Æsir)
  • Vili (Æsir)
  • Vé (Æsir)

Odin and His Line

Children of Odin by Various Mothers

  • Odin (Æsir) – Gríðr (Jötunn): Víðarr (Æsir)
  • Odin (Æsir) – Rindr (Æsir): Váli (Æsir)
  • Odin (Æsir) – Jörð (Æsir/Jötunn): Thor (Æsir)
  • Odin (Æsir) – Frigg (Æsir): Baldr (Æsir), Höðr (Æsir), Hermóðr (Æsir, possibly Odin’s son)
  • Odin (Æsir) – Nine Mothers: Heimdallr (Æsir)

Other children often attributed to Odin:

  • Týr (Æsir) (paternity debated)
  • Bragi (Æsir) (possibly a deified skald, later considered Odin’s son)

Thor and His Line

  • Thor (Æsir) – Sif (Æsir): Móði (Æsir), Þrúðr (Æsir)
  • Thor (Æsir) – Járnsaxa (Jötunn): Magni (Æsir)
  • Sif (Æsir) from previous union: Ullr (Æsir)

Baldr and His Line

  • Baldr (Æsir) – Nanna (Æsir): Forseti (Æsir)

Gefjon and Royal Lineages

  • Gefjon (Æsir) – Skjöldr (Æsir): The Scyldings (royal Danish lineage)
  • Gefjon (Æsir) – Unnamed Jötunn (Jötunn): Four sons

Night, Earth, and Day

  • Narfi (Jötunn): Father of Nótt
  • Nótt (Æsir) – Naglfari (Æsir): Auðr (Æsir)
  • Nótt (Æsir) – Annar (Æsir): Jörð (Æsir/Jötunn)
  • Nótt (Æsir) – Dellingr (Æsir): Dagr (Æsir)

Royal descendants: The Döglingar

Sea and Elemental Beings

  • Fornjót (Jötunn): A primordial giant associated with natural forces
  • Ægir (Jötunn) – Rán (Æsir): Nine Daughters (the wave maidens)

Additional Figures

  • Fjörgynn (Æsir): Earth-associated deity, sometimes conflated with Jörð
  • Nepr (Æsir): Father of Nanna

Family Tree of the Vanir

Primordial Ancestors

  • Alvaldi (Jötunn): Father of several jötnar
    Children: Þjazi (Jötunn), Iði (Jötunn), Gangr (Jötunn)

The House of Gymir

  • Gymir (Jötunn) – Aurboða (Jötunn): Gerðr (Jötunn)

Njörðr and the Vanir Core

  • Njörðr (Vanir) – Unnamed sister-wife (Vanir): Freyr (Vanir), Freyja (Vanir)

Freyr and His Line

  • Freyr (Vanir) – Gerðr (Jötunn): Ynglings (royal Swedish lineage)
  • Beli (Jötunn): Brother of Gerðr; slain by Freyr

Freyja and Her Line

  • Freyja (Vanir) – Óðr: Hnoss, Gersemi

Njörðr and Skaði

  • Njörðr (Vanir) – Skaði (Jötunn): Marriage without children

Loki’s Origins

  • Fárbauti (Jötunn) – Nál/Laufey: Loki (counted among the Æsir, but of jötunn descent)

Loki and His Brothers

  • Býleistr
  • Helblindi

Loki and Sigyn

  • Children: Narfi (also called Nari), Váli (distinct from Odin’s son Váli)

Loki and Angrboða

  • Children: Fenrir (wolf), Jörmungandr (Midgard Serpent), Hel (ruler of the dead)

Fate of the Children

  • Fenrir: Bound by the gods; destined to devour Odin at Ragnarök
  • Jörmungandr: Cast into the sea; will kill Thor (and be killed by him)
  • Hel: Cast into Niflheim; ruler of those who die of sickness or old age

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