NorsePlay.

Out of all the gods in all the pantheons, the supplement VII book for the premium, deluxe edition of the Original Dungeons & Dragons "White Box" (actually a laser-etched fancy wood box now) picks Thor as its cover-worthy deity! Cover God: Maybe he's born with it, or maybe it's Mjölnir ? #    #    # 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 .

Conan waxes poetic about the incomparable beauty of the frost giant's daughter! Now the weak-kneed barbarian knows why the Aesir covet them so . We also see a strong resemblance to Deborah Ann Woll. [From Dark Horse Comics' 2004 adaptation of Howard's The Frost Giant's Daughter . Art by Cary Nord.] #    #    # 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 .

Not to let the  hokey Twain-ist title fool you, Edmond Hamilton's  A Yank at Valhalla  delivers  a Norse-inspired genre mash-up in fine pulp style. [Original pulp from January 1941.] Part lost civilization fantasy, part science fiction,  Hamilton plays with the idea that behind mythology lies a greater truth. Physicist Keith Masters, during an exploratory survey flight, gets blown into a hidden area of the arctic  where he discovers the secret lands of  the Norse Gods . [An Ace double version from 1973.] Stylewise, the many typos (a pulp given) are  unexpectedly balanced out by some lovely .50-cent word selections, and it's neat shifting gears as a  reader between scientific terms and medieval descriptors. This integrated juxtaposition aside, a lot of  the presentation is stirring with cries of "Our swords for Asgard!", impressive feasting hall settings, and  saga worthy melees & martial battles. [UK re-titled version from 1950. And Freya's going to fall out o

Illustrator Peter Lloyd's depiction of the Norse Cosmos from National Geographic's Our Universe (1980 CE). Lloyd (1944–2009 CE) did alot of beautiful space & robot themed artwork, exploring a futurized art deco aesthetic, and even did some concept art for the original Tron . This image from one of our favourite childhood astronomy books is unforgettable. The one-eyed Odin at top left and giant-sized Heimdallr at the foot of the rainbow bridge are interesting style choices, as is the eagle emplaced as the canopy of Yggdrasil. [We couldn't find this online, so we're especially pleased to present this artwork.] #    #    # 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

Norse Mythology Flashcard Set on Quizlet by Jennifer Garr. Study and then run a test on yourself covering a possible 82 terms. I scored 85% (one was really just a misspelling on a fill-in-the-blank). What did you score? #    #    # 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 1967's Lost In Space episode The Space Vikings , Dr. Zachary Smith inadvertently summons Thor's gauntlets, Járngreipr, and later Mjölnir , by reading a Wagnerian -style play with the crew's kids. It's total farce with valkyrie Brünnhilde taking him to Asgard for an uncomfortable feasting and other martial shenanigans. #    #    # 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 Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was a totally rubbish show (and we detest Kevin Sorbo's absence of talent), there were two episodes in season 5, " Norse by Norsevest " & " Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bridge " in 1998, that had a Norse Mythology crossover. They were still total rubbish as they pretty much clown the Gods (Hercules could never defeat Thor!), but Odin was played by the distinguished Peter McCauley , cutting his teeth on a badly scripted Allfather before his awesome turn in 1999-2002's The Lost World as Doyle's visionary scientist Professor George Edward Challenger, a character & role quite possibly moulded from Odin's unending quest for knowledge. #    #    # 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 &a

While we can't recommend Samuel Adams' Norse Legend Sahti brew for drinking, we can admire its Yggdrasil adorned label, accented with jelling knotwork roots, Bifrost , ... and its sentient panoply of staring eyes in its branches. [... and the colour text on the back label. Legend, indeed.] [In contrast, we highly recommend filling your horn with their Cinder Bock for drinking instead.] #    #    # 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 .

Kevin Eugene Johnson's cover art for Poul Anderson's Time Patrolman (1983 CE) features Odin walking away from a timecycle tucked away in the forest! Done specifically for the second novella in the book The Sorrow of Odin the Goth . Inquiry: If Odin actually rides a time machine, then does Sleipnir's eight legs really represent a blurring temporal quantum super-position field? #    #    # 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 .

H.R. Giger's most beloved creation versus vikings in David Wenzel's one-off for Dark Horse Comics , Aliens: Stalker . Our silver's on Rainulf the Wraith-Stalker's axe cracking the black exo-bone to send that Hel-spawn back whence it came, and songs being made about it. Any of you read this? 9/25/17 addendum:   After reading this, we find it a great idea with average execution. We think if the panels had been framed with better scope and the story had been given more pages it might've lived up to the epic idea of itself. #    #    # 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 m

Modernized Odin in a polo with a nametag (if the ravens & patch aren't a total tip off), as re-imagined in Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series . [If same artist as the covers, it's John Rocco.] #    #    # 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 .

"It's the rare epoxy-loosa!" , titles model horsemaker Leah Koerper. We like this transitional model of Sleipnir she's constructed from two different horse models quite a bit, and given the 8-legged wonder's mixed parentage, perhaps some spotting would be appropriate. #    #    # 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 .

Pull back the Gungnir-styled plunger and let the NorsePlay begin with the Odin De Luxe pinball machine! Designed by Eulogio Pingarrón, this four-player machined from 1985 was adorned with all the sweet fantasy art you could shake an arcade token at, including the requisite lady in chainmail and horned helmet on the playing field. #    #    # 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 "Norse Gods of Pinball: Eye of Odin" patch! Huginn & Muninn perch on the flippers. [Made by Tilt-Hammer, but now sold out.] #    #    # 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 we do not take kindly at all to anyone who seriously would serve the destructive forces of the Norse Cosmos, one has to pause & note the level of effort involved in manufacturing a whole grimoire on the subject. This map of "Heldrasill" from the Gullveigarbók presents an under/outerworld-centric view of the world tree. [Illustration either by author Vexior/Ekortu or Helgorth.] #    #    # 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 .

We ran across this super fancy crystal horn for those of you who might be looking to dress up your ritual toasts and still enjoy the rich colour of that melomel that took so long to brew. Lux-skál! #    #    # 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 .

We've given some more thought to Snorri & Saxo's shared account of Saurr the talking dog-king , and remembered the late internet sensation Mishka the talking Siberian husky . Could an exceptional dog with speech abilities have occupied the throne of a subject nation for three years? Could a similar husky have been imported from the Rus to Scandinavia? Or was the mentioned golden collar a magical item that imbued a dog with speech? If canid Fenrir could talk & reason, why not another? #    #    # 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 de

The grim & wonderous Ribe human skull fragment! Presented here in black & white so you can read the runes, this Danish artifact from circa 725 CE states: Ulf and Odin and High-Tyr is help for Bur against these: pain and dwarf-stroke. Bur Thought to be an magical amulet (note the necklace hole) against illness. Given that the word "stroke" has also been translated as "sword", we also wonder if this could be a battle charm since a warrior would also have need against pain to endure, and protection versus superior weapons, of which "dwarf-sword" could be a kenning for. [Housed at the Vikingeskibs Museet.] #    #    # 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

Odin by Bror Marklund (1939-1952), on the door of Swedish History Museum in Stockholm. #    #    # 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 .