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In Norse mythology, Baldur is killed by an arrow wrapped with mistletoe (Baldur's only weakness), which is shot by his blind brother Hodur. Hodur is tricked into doing so by Loki. When Baldur is sent to the Spirit World, Hela says she will give him back if everyone weeps for him. Loki dressed as an old woman refuses to weep so Baldur is lost to the Sprit World.

Loki as an Old Woman

In Norse mythology, Baldur is killed by an arrow wrapped with mistletoe (Baldur's only weakness), which…

Idun, the Norse goddess of youth carries a box of golden apples. Whoever eats the apples never grow old. Loki tells her that a crabapple tree's fruit is better than her golden apples when trying to obtain some for the giant Thiassi.

Loki Shows Idun a Crabapple Tree

Idun, the Norse goddess of youth carries a box of golden apples. Whoever eats the apples never grow…

The gods agree to hire a builder to build a wall around the Golden City. The builder asks for the sun, the moon, and Freya the goddess of beauty as payment. They agree if he could do it in one winter because they believed he would not be able to, therefore they could keep the sun, the moon, and Freya. With help from his horse, the builder was almost finished before the winter. So Loki turned into a pony to distract the horse. The builder was not able to finish.

Loki Turns into a Pony

The gods agree to hire a builder to build a wall around the Golden City. The builder asks for the sun,…

In Norse mythology, there is a war between the Winilers and the Vandals. Odin takes the side of the Vandals and his wife Frigga takes the side of the Winilers. Odin says he will help whoever he sees first the next morning. Frigga makes a plan that the women tie their long hair under their chins like a beard to disguise themselves as men and she moves the bed so Odin faces the window the women are standing near. He names them Long-Beards (Lombards) and helps them to victory.

Lombard Woman

In Norse mythology, there is a war between the Winilers and the Vandals. Odin takes the side of the…

Loreley, a water fairy, rides her chariot drawn by two goldfish. She was a siren, singing and distracting fishermen, until she fell in love with one of them.

Loreley in her Chariot

Loreley, a water fairy, rides her chariot drawn by two goldfish. She was a siren, singing and distracting…

A statue of Minerva, with a serpent depicted at the goddesses' feet.

Minerva

A statue of Minerva, with a serpent depicted at the goddesses' feet.

"On Minerva's side Varro tells us that Cecrops found an olive tree and a fountain, and that on consulting the oracle he was told that both Minerva and Neptune had a right to the guardianship of the city, and that the Senate decided in favor of the former; the name of the city was consequently changed from Poseidonus to Athens." —Bulfinch, 1897

Minerva

"On Minerva's side Varro tells us that Cecrops found an olive tree and a fountain, and that on consulting…

"According to ancient mythology, the aegis worn by Jupiter was the hide of the goat Amalthea, which has suckled him in his infancy. The following represents Minerva with the aegis." — Anthon, 1891

Minerva with aegis

"According to ancient mythology, the aegis worn by Jupiter was the hide of the goat Amalthea, which…

"Thesus and the Minotaur. (From a vase-painting in the Vatican Museum.) — The Delphian Society, 1913

Thesus and the Minotaur

"Thesus and the Minotaur. (From a vase-painting in the Vatican Museum.) — The Delphian Society,…

"Neptune, with the chlamys wound around his left arm for a defence." — Anthon, 1891

Neptune

"Neptune, with the chlamys wound around his left arm for a defence." — Anthon, 1891

"Nereid." —Bulfinch, 1897

Nereid

"Nereid." —Bulfinch, 1897

"Nike, or Victory." —Bulfinch, 1897

Nike

"Nike, or Victory." —Bulfinch, 1897

In the Norse myth of the Mead of Poetry, a giant, Suttung, stole the mead, which is magical and makes one who drinks it wise and scholarly. Odin takes it back by turning into a handsome man and taking it from Suttung's daughter, Gunlad.

Odin and Gunlad

In the Norse myth of the Mead of Poetry, a giant, Suttung, stole the mead, which is magical and makes…

In Norse mythology, Nornagesta was fated by the three Norns: Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld. Urd and Verdandi gave him a rich, heroic life. Skuld said he would live no longer than a burning candle. Nornagesta kept the candle safe and hidden and lived to be 300 years old. King Olaf found the candle, burned it, and Nornagesta died.

Olaf and Nornagesta

In Norse mythology, Nornagesta was fated by the three Norns: Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld. Urd and Verdandi…

"Osiris was worshipped as the god of the sun, the source of warmth, life, and fruitfulness, in addition to which he was also regarded as god of the Nile, who annually visited his wide Isis (the Earth), by means of an inundation." —Bulfinch, 1897

Osiris

"Osiris was worshipped as the god of the sun, the source of warmth, life, and fruitfulness, in addition…

"Epimetheus had in his house a jar in which were kept certain noxious articles, for which, in fitting man for his new abode, he had had no occaision. Pandora was seized with an eager curiosity to know what this jar contained; and one day she slipped off the cover and looked in." —Bulfinch, 1897

Pandora

"Epimetheus had in his house a jar in which were kept certain noxious articles, for which, in fitting…

"Pegasus and the Nymphs." —Bulfinch, 1897

Pegasus and the Nymphs

"Pegasus and the Nymphs." —Bulfinch, 1897

"Then Phaethon beheld the world on fire, and felt the heat intolerable. The air he breathed was like the air of a furnace, and full of burning ashes, and the smoke was of a pitchy darkness." —Bulfinch, 1897

Phaethon

"Then Phaethon beheld the world on fire, and felt the heat intolerable. The air he breathed was like…

"Phrinxus and Helle." —Bulfinch, 1897

Phrixus and Helle

"Phrinxus and Helle." —Bulfinch, 1897

"Mercury was sent, accompanied by Spring, to demand Persephone of Pluto. The wily monarch consented, but, alas! the maiden had taken a pomegranate which Pluto offered her, and had sucked the sweet pulp from a few of the seeds. This was enough to prevent her complete release, by which she was to pass half the time with her mother, and the rest with her husband Pluto." —Bulfinch, 1897

Pluto, Persephone, and Mercury

"Mercury was sent, accompanied by Spring, to demand Persephone of Pluto. The wily monarch consented,…

"Theocritus asserts that there is no rememdy for Love but the Muses. He then gives an account of the love of the Cyclops Polyphemus for the sea-nymph Galatea." — The Delphian Society, 1913

Polyphemus

"Theocritus asserts that there is no rememdy for Love but the Muses. He then gives an account of the…

"The story of Pygmalion and his statue is in all probability an allegory. Pygmalion was a virtuous and honorable man, who became disgusted with the vice of the women of Cyprus, and would have nothing to do with them; having brought up a ward with much care and virtue, he fell in love with her and married her." —Bulfinch, 1897

Pygmalion

"The story of Pygmalion and his statue is in all probability an allegory. Pygmalion was a virtuous and…

Sigmund and his wife Sieglinde are traveling with their son, Siegfried. They are attacked by robbers. The dwarf Regin helps Sieglinde and eventually raises Siegfried as his own.

Regin Helping Sieglinde and Siegfried

Sigmund and his wife Sieglinde are traveling with their son, Siegfried. They are attacked by robbers.…

"Sekos- Plan of the Great Hall of the Mysteries, Eleusis, as excavated in 1888." -Whitney, 1911

Sekos

"Sekos- Plan of the Great Hall of the Mysteries, Eleusis, as excavated in 1888." -Whitney, 1911

"Serapis or Hermes is sometimes represented as identical with Osiris, and sometimes as a distinct divinity, the ruler of Tartarus, and god of Medicine." —Bulfinch, 1897

Serapis

"Serapis or Hermes is sometimes represented as identical with Osiris, and sometimes as a distinct divinity,…

In Norse mythology, Siegfried is a brave young man who comes upon a hill filled with fire. He runs straight through the flames to find Brunhild, a shieldmaiden, sleeping until someone was brave enough to find her.

Siegfried Finds Brunhild

In Norse mythology, Siegfried is a brave young man who comes upon a hill filled with fire. He runs straight…

In Norse mythology, Siegfried is a brave young man who is raised by the dwarf, Regin. He decides that he wants to do something important and goes into the cave where the dragon lives. He battles and slays the dragon.

Siegfried Slays the Dragon

In Norse mythology, Siegfried is a brave young man who is raised by the dwarf, Regin. He decides that…

Sigmund, the son of Volsung, lived in a castle with a giant oak tree growing out of it. A disguised Odin thrusts a powerful sword in the oak and says that whoever can pull it out will be able to keep the mighty sword. No grown men could pull it out, but young Sigmund pulls it out with ease.

Sigmund and the Oak Tree

Sigmund, the son of Volsung, lived in a castle with a giant oak tree growing out of it. A disguised…

"The Sirens were sea nymphs who had the power of charming by their song all who heard them, so that the unhappy mariners were irresistibly impelled to cast themselves into the sea to their distruction." —Bulfinch, 1897

Siren

"The Sirens were sea nymphs who had the power of charming by their song all who heard them, so that…

Skadi is a giantess and daughter of Thiassi who was killed while chasing Loki because of a trick. Skadi asks the gods for something in return for the loss of her father. They let her choose a husband by looking at only the gods' feet. She chooses a pair of white, slim feet which belong to Niord, the wind god.

Skadi Chooses a Husband

Skadi is a giantess and daughter of Thiassi who was killed while chasing Loki because of a trick. Skadi…

Skidbladnir, a ship build by Dvalin the dwarf. "The first present was a magic ship, It was so small that it could be folded up and carried in the pocket when it was not needed. When the gods wished to use the ship, it would spread out large enough to carry them all. The most wonderful thing about the ship was that it made its own breezes." -Klugh, 1909

Skidbladner the Magic Ship

Skidbladnir, a ship build by Dvalin the dwarf. "The first present was a magic ship, It was so small…

Thor, Loki, and two children, Thialfi and Roska travel to Giant Land where they find what they think is a house. They sleep in the largest room. When they wake up, the sun's light shows that they were sleeping in the thumb of a giant's glove.

Sleeping in the Giant's Glove

Thor, Loki, and two children, Thialfi and Roska travel to Giant Land where they find what they think…

In Norse mythology, Ragnarok is the final battle of good and evil. During this battle, Surtur the flame giant sets the Golden City on fire.

Surtur's Fire in the Golden City

In Norse mythology, Ragnarok is the final battle of good and evil. During this battle, Surtur the flame…

"Castor and Pollux were the offspring of Leda and the Swan, under which disguise Jupiter had concealed himself. Leda gave birth to an egg, from which sprang the twins." —Bulfinch, 1897

The Dioscuri

"Castor and Pollux were the offspring of Leda and the Swan, under which disguise Jupiter had concealed…

"The Athenians were at that time in deep affiction on account of the tribute which they were forced to pay to Minos, king of Crete. This tribute consisted of seven youths and seven maidens, who were sent every year to be devoured by the Minotaur." —Bulfinch, 1897

Theseus and the minotaur

"The Athenians were at that time in deep affiction on account of the tribute which they were forced…

"The Athenians were at that time in deep affiction on account of the tribute which they were forced to pay to Minos, king of Crete. This tribute consisted of seven youths and seven maidens, who were sent every year to be devoured by the Minotaur." —Bulfinch, 1897

Theseus and the minotaur

"The Athenians were at that time in deep affiction on account of the tribute which they were forced…

The king of the Frost Giants tests Thor's strength by challenging him to lift his cat. Thor tries with all his might but can only lift her paw.

Thor in Giant Land

The king of the Frost Giants tests Thor's strength by challenging him to lift his cat. Thor tries with…

Thor defeats a frost giant, Hrungnir. But as he falls, his club hits Thor, causing him to fall too. He is stuck under Hrungnir's foot.

Thor Stuck Under Hrungnir's Foot

Thor defeats a frost giant, Hrungnir. But as he falls, his club hits Thor, causing him to fall too.…

The Norse god of thunder, Thor rides his brass chariot drawn by his goats, Tooth-cracker and Tooth-gnasher. He flies as he carries his red hot iron hammer.

Thor the Thunder God

The Norse god of thunder, Thor rides his brass chariot drawn by his goats, Tooth-cracker and Tooth-gnasher.…

The prince of the Frost Giants steals Thor's hammer. The Frost Prince agrees to return it if he can marry Freya, the goddess of beauty. In order to get it back, Thor dresses up as Freya and attends the giants' great feast. Upon return of the hammer, Thor shows himself and defeats all of the Frost Giants.

Tricking the Frost Prince

The prince of the Frost Giants steals Thor's hammer. The Frost Prince agrees to return it if he can…

"After his return Triptolemus built a magnificent temple to Ceres in Eleusis and established the worship of the goddess, under the name of the Eleusinian mysteries, which, in the splendor and solemnity of their observance, surpassed all other religious celebrations among the Greeks." —Bulfinch, 1897

Triptolemus

"After his return Triptolemus built a magnificent temple to Ceres in Eleusis and established the worship…

"Triton was the son of Neptune and Amphitrite, and the poets made him his father's trumpeter. Proteus was also a son of Neptune." —Bulfinch, 1897

Tritons

"Triton was the son of Neptune and Amphitrite, and the poets made him his father's trumpeter. Proteus…

From a hydria or vase painted by the "Siren Painter," this image shows Ulysses and the sirens from Homer's Odyssey.

Ulysses and Sirens

From a hydria or vase painted by the "Siren Painter," this image shows Ulysses and the sirens from Homer's…

"Ulysses discovers Achilles." —Bulfinch, 1897

Ulysses Discovers Achilles

"Ulysses discovers Achilles." —Bulfinch, 1897

Vali, the sunshine god, is found as a baby in a ship that arrives sailing by itself. The people of that city crown him king.

Vali Arrives

Vali, the sunshine god, is found as a baby in a ship that arrives sailing by itself. The people of that…

Zeus and Europa.

Zeus and Europa

Zeus and Europa.