Threesomes in Norse Mythology

The Tao begets One
One begets Two
Two begets Three
Three begets the myriad things
Tao-te-Ching, Chapter 42

Yesterday’s post was about the three roots of Yggdrasil (to Asgard, Jotunheim, Nifhelm) and the three norns (Urd, Verdani, Skuld), and a quotation by Jung about the number three :

One is the first from which all other numbers arise, and in which the opposite qualities of numbers, the odd and the even, must therefore be united; two is the first even number; three the first that is uneven and perfect, because in it we first find beginning, middle and end .

Previous to that were posts about the three wells: Urdarbrunnr, Hvelgemir, and Mimisbrunnr.

There are threes everywhere in Norse Mythology:

 



In the beginning of time, before the world was created there were three different areas:

Niflheim – Land of mist
Ginnungagap – the great void between Niflheim and Muspelheim
Muspelheim – Land of fire

In Ginnungagap the first Jotun (troll) was formed. His name was Ymir. Also in Ginnungagap the primeval cow named Audhumla resided. Ymir enjoyed drinking milk from the teats of the cow. Audhumla loved salt. The cow found a salty rock and started to lick it.

1. On the first day hair came out from the rock.
2. On the second day a head grew from the rock.
3. On the third day the rest of the body emerged from the rock.
(The very first god (Aesir) had been created.– the grandfather of Odin.)

 



Lorenz Frølich (1820-1908)

Three brothers, (Odin, Vili and Ve), killed the first living monster (Ymir) and created the world from his body parts: The blood became the oceans. The flesh became the land.
The bones turned into mountains. The teeth turned into stones. The hair turned into plants.The brain they threw up into the air and that was how the clouds were created.




There were three winters ( Fimbulvetr)before Ragnorak (the end of the world)




There were three children of Loki:

1. Hel – She was the ruler of the Underworld called Niflheim. Those who died of sickness or old age were sent to Hel. It was not a pleasant place.
2. Fenrir – Fenrir was the gruesome wolf, who would eventually kill Odin (the chief god) at Ragnarok, the end of the world.
3. Jormungand (Midgard Serpent) – The huge and monstrous serpent. Odin threw the serpent into the sea that lies around all lands.



 







 

2 Comments

  1. I just now came across this quote:

    In the Tao-te-Ching (chapter 42) Lao-tzu, says:

    “The Tao begets One;
    One begets Two;
    Two begets Three;
    Three begets the myriad things”

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