Lately I’ve been obsessed with reading about Norse mythology, especially the monsters and mysterious creatures from ancient Viking lore.Honestly, these stories are much scarier than the world of Thor in the movies.Today I’d like to share with you five of the creepiest Nordic Mythological Creatures that I’ve found during my research.
From modern movies and television back to the original myths.
A lot of people’s knowledge of Norse mythology comes from movies or comics, like the story of Loki or Thor from The Avengers.But in fact, the real Norse mythology is far darker and weirder than these works.I started going through some of the old texts, like the Edda and the Sagas, to really get a sense of the horrific creatures that were hidden behind the myths.
Screening criteria: pick only the scariest.
I started out with a very long list of over two dozen monsters supposedly from Norse mythology.But in order to show you the truly scary ones that exist, I set a couple of filtering criteria:
- Must be from the original mythology (not a fantasy setting added later).
- Have a backstory that scares people.
- Have a backstory that makes you scared. Have a name that makes you nervous.
After sifting through the layers, I was left with five Northern mythological creatures that stood out to me.Let’s take a look at how scary they really are!
5: The Undead Warrior (Draugr).
This is not as simple as the familiar zombie.In Norse legends, this kind of undead may be powerful warriors in life, but after death, they become undead beings.Their bodies can become so huge and immense that they can even walk through stone with ease.
The most frightening thing is that their eyes glow like rotting fish.They are said to crawl out of their graves and strangle the living alive.Imagine you hear heavy footsteps outside your door in the middle of the night, and that could be a long-sleeping undead approaching ……
Fourth place: Hræsvelgr.
This is a giant who lives at the end of the world, and he looks like a giant vulture.When he spreads his wings, he can cause storms throughout the world.The Scandinavians believed that the wind was brought about by his flapping wings.
Can you imagine?Looking up at the sky, only to find it covered by a patch of rotting feathers and a howling gale in your ears.That’s the sight that Herasvig brings – an air of death from the edge of the world.
Third: Níðhöggr.
This dragon is no cuddly pet.It is a destroyer under the World Tree, gnawing away at the roots that support the Nine Realms every day.Even worse, it specializes in devouring the souls of those who lie and betray their oaths.
Imagine a vicious dragon at the bottom of the world, gnawing on the tree while chewing on the souls of sinners.Doesn’t the image already make you feel a little chill down your back?
Second: Fafnar (Fafnir).
Originally a dwarf, he was transformed into a venom-spewing dragon out of greed.He guards a treasure, and anyone who comes near is cursed.He has no wings, but is breathtakingly powerful and poisonous.
Fafner’s story tells us that greed can turn you into a monster that you can’t even control.It’s not just a myth, it’s more like a warning about human nature.
First place: the Nightmare Mare (Mar) .
The name may sound a little strange, but it really is one of the most terrifying.This creature transforms into a cloud of smoke, slips into a room through a keyhole, and then climbs up the chest of a sleeping person to create nightmares.
Victims often wake up in such extreme fear that they are afraid to even turn off the lights and go to sleep.As you can imagine, if you wake up in the middle of the night and realize that something is pressing on your chest and you can’t move …… that could be this nightmare mare at work.
Conclusion: the real fears behind the myths.
After reading these Northern European Mythological Creatures, you will realize that they are not just fictional monsters, but a way for the ancients to express their deepest fears.Greed, betrayal, death, and dreams out of control …… These are all emotional experiences that humans share.
So the next time you watch a movie with a Norse theme, think more about these real-life mythical creatures.Maybe you’ll realize that the original legends that seem so far away are actually not so far away from us.
If you also like these mysterious and scary stories, feel free to leave a comment and tell me your favorite Norse monster, or share your own “scary experience”.Remember to keep your doors and windows closed at night, so the nightmare mare doesn’t find a chance to sneak in!
