NorsePlay.

The Valkyrie Brunnhild (1898) by symbolist painter Gaston Bussière. [Color lithograph on wove paper.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

For NorsePlay, any song that praises the merits of Sleipnir is aces with us. Simultaneously majestic & ridiculous, Manowar 's " Sleipnir " from their 2007 album Gods Of War , presented with battle stirring lyrics and an awesome intro. And if you check out the liner notes to this Odin-dedicated concept album, it's all in runes ! #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Manifest your inner digital valkyrie with this Tron -esque illuminated acrylic winged headpiece! [from Etsy.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

This hubcap art sculptured lamp by Ptolemy Elrington totally reminds us of Sam Flegal's mechanized take on Gullinbursti . [from http://www.hubcapcreatures.com/ ] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

A rune-skinned Hel from Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice from developer Ninja Theory on PS4 & Windows. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

During a blu-ray upgrade re-watch of Fritz Lang's 1924 cinematic adaptation of Die Nibelungen, one is even more impressed with the practical effect making up Fafnir, the dragon Siegfried defeats to gain nigh-invulnerability from bathing in a torrent of its blood. Grand lore aside, the puppeteering of Fafnir was way ahead of its time. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

The devourers Hati, Fenrir, and Skoll make a miniboss appearance in the free MMORPG RuneScape . NorsePlayers: Go kill 'em before they can cause the big trouble. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Raid your way to jarldom in NSKN Games' In the Name Of Odin . Any of you played this? [designed by Krzysztof Zięba, art by Odysseas Stamoglou.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

When is a subdermal ring NorsePlay? When in The History of the Danes the hero Hadingus kills a jötunn to save princess Regnhild from marriage, she tends to his leg wound and implants a ring inside of him so she can identify him later in a line of suitors, all of whom she gets to feel up first. Clever girl. So just maybe inline with the tissue-thin tribalist pretensions of body modification enthusiasts there's a callback to Norse Lore somewhere inside this practice. [photo from La Carmina - lacarmina.com's gothic culture blog.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportu...

The holiday decoration of the Yule Goat was probably inspired by Thor's battle cart goats Tanngrisnir (teeth-barer) & Tanngnjóstr (teeth-grinder). The world-record julbok's largest manifestation is the Gävle Goat, a 42.6' feet, 3.26 ton version! What makes the Gävle Goat even more like Thor's goats is its cycle of death & resurrection as every year it gets burned, crashed into, or vandalized, and rebuilt, just as Thor while traveling would cook his goats for food and bring them back to life using his hammer the next morning.  You can keep an eye on this process via webcam . [In Gävle, Sweden, first made by Stig Gavlén in 1966.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Ma...

NorsePlay makes a request: We want an English translation of Georges Dumézil's Loki . Many of Dumézil's other works have seen translation and do a fair share of referencing Loki , so it would stand to reason that for research's sake Loki would be translated too, but this is not yet the case. While we may not agree with some of Dumézil's premises, we love the erudition he brings to the table to weave together, and from this we always learn something. If any of you have contacts at Flammarion who can get a translation from UCLA Center for the Study of Comparative Folklore & Mythology or The University of Chicago Press' Derek Coltman, for the sake of Norse Lore studies, please do so. Thanks. [For NorsePlay's review of Dumézil's Gods of the Ancient Northmen, read it here .] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t he...

Wisest tends to beat strongest in this Odin versus Thor splash page. Serious parenting about to happen. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

This design raises the question: If Odin re-animates Mimir's head, does the enchantment also carry a quantum effect to his body? If so, do the Vanir, who've kept the body, make the headless draugr a gourd-bearing seasonal figure? [Design by Douglas Cavanaugh/Celtic Hammer Club.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

While reading the Rune series of novels by Joanne Harris, we wondered how the characters used their specific mudras-like finger positions and gestures to cast their runespells. While there's been posited systems of "runic yoga" and ecstatic trance body positions, Harris places this concept in hand's reach, and shows how it's done here . #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Sweet bindrune of Sleipnir as chapter heading art from Joanne Harris ' Runelight . #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

NorsePlay takes a moment to recognize the manifestation of Norse Goddess Freyja in The Sorceress from Masters of the Universe .  Freyja's falcon cloak & knowledge of magick makes up the hallmarks of one of MOTU's more mysterious character's who, like many females in Norse Lore, mentors & fosters a saga's hero. [ The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull  above, illustrated by Gerald Parel.] ... and with cat: [ The Sorceress with Baby Cringer  by NC Winters.] ... and in Love Goddess repose: [screencapture from Season 1 Episode 17 Daimar the Demon .] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay. ...

Amon Amarth goes 16-bit style with a self-titled mobile videogame ! Play as Thor facing off against Surtur , Fenris, Nídhögg, and Hel , all to midi versions of the Viking Metal tracks you already know & love. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Sweet cover art from the 1992 computer/console RPG game Heimdall . Loki has stolen the Gods' weapons, scattering them across the realms, and it's up to you as Heimdall to find them. The game itself is far more cartoonish than this fantasy art cover, but such was all early videogame marketing. [Play it in your browser here: https://archive.org/details/msdos_Heimdall_1992 ] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Highly detailed Marvel Thor art of Hela & Fenris Wolf   penciled  by Jay Anacleto. The Death Goddess seems more than able to take care of business with that sword. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

But would Wagner approve of an Organ Orgy cover album of his Ring Cycle ? Any of you heard this? #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

In the American Gods ' extras, Mr Nancy's Orlando Jones forgoes his sartorial best to pay homage to Ian McShane by sporting this sweet "I Am Odin" t-shirt. [Addenda: Note that since we posted this Orlando Jones was fired from the show. We don't know the details, but we had to swap the original image of him in the shirt since it disappeared.]  #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

"I have as many names as there are winds, as many titles as there are ways to die." This is the reveal we all know ahead of time on American Gods : that Mr Wednesday is Odin, but it takes a seasoned actor of Ian McShane's caliber to drive it in like a spear and make it feel like we didn't know that in the first place. And in this clip he reveals many of the Allfather's names with gravity & power. [from season1, episode 8, directed by Floria Sigismondi.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or ...

Aric Jorn's Wolves of Ragnarok: Skoll & Hati . While we're not on about aggrandizing the devourers, it's been argued that without their motivation the sun & moon might not stay on track or keep time, and the wargs were instead harnessed to this purpose. The sunwheel-motif central paws express this clockwork force at work, especially with the selection of metallic colours for his piece, and the shoulders/hips/sun/moon seeming to mirror points on a clockface. [Layered cold-cast nickel silver, brass, copper and stone, limited edition, 2016, available here .] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay. ...

NorsePlay would be remiss if we didn't mention the NorsePlay within the NorsePlay that happens in Thor: Ragnarok ... yet even nested deeper inside of that were you aware of the Thor: Ragnarok in 4D as NorsePlay?!? Yes, it just got that meta. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Fantasy & RPG artist Keith Thompson's version creatively differs in having six legs up front with two driving the back . Note the rune accents on the toecapping horseshoes. [prints available at https://www.keiththompsonart.com/pages/sleipnir.html .] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Sweet Nordic Nouveau album cover depiction of Norse Goddess Skaði from well-named metal band The Flight of Sleipnir. Any of you heard these guys? And the Die-Hard edition of the album: #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

In Joanne Harris ' Runelight , which takes place 503 years post-Ragnarok, a character uses a rune to summon an old coin in the denomination of an Otter. This NorsePlay refers to the Prose Edda where Otter's father demands enough payment from the Norse Gods for his son's death in the form of enough treasure to fill and cover his fur pelt. Given the size of such a treasure, naming currency after Otter makes total sense. [100 Forint (Otter) coin from Hungary, which is a bit more than a quarter.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative ...