æsir

The Æsir are the principal pantheon of gods in Norse mythology, a group who inhabit Asgard and preside over aspects such as sovereignty, war, wisdom, and law. In the myths they are distinct from the Vanir, another group of gods with whom they eventually form a single, ordered cosmos after a historic conflict and subsequent exchange of hostages.

Etymology: The name æsir derives from Old Norse and Proto-Germanic *ansuz*, meaning “the gods” or “the esteemed ones.” The term designates a collective of deities rather than a single god.

Notable members: Odin, the Allfather and ruler; Thor, god of thunder; Tyr, god of law and justice; Bragi, god of poetry; Idunn, keeper of the apples of youth; Heimdall, guardian of the rainbow bridge Bifröst; Frigg, Odin’s wife and queen. Loki, while closely associated with the Æsir in many tales, is of ambiguous parentage and his inclusion among the Æsir varies by source.

In myth, the Æsir play central roles in cosmological narratives and heroic cycles. They reside in Asgard and are invoked in rites and poetry. Important sources include the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, with later medieval Icelandic texts and modern retellings shaping popular understanding. Modern depictions often expand or reinterpret their stories in literature and media.