norns

The Norns are female beings in Norse mythology who determine the fate and life spans of gods and humans. They shape the courses of events by weaving the threads of destiny, a power central to the Norse mythic worldview.

The best-known trio comprises Urd (the past), Verdandi (the present), and Skuld (the future). Some sources vary in number and names, and different traditions speak of additional norns beyond the trio.

They are commonly described as living beside the world tree Yggdrasil, near the Well of Urd, where they water the tree and weave the fate of all beings with threads that correspond to individual lifespans and events.

Their power is vast but not absolute; the gods themselves consult the Norns, and Odin is said to seek their counsel. Fate in Norse myth is generally regarded as binding, and even the supreme gods operate within its constraints.

In literary sources such as the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, the Norns are central to the depiction of wyrd, the concept of fate that governs both gods and humans.

In modern culture, the Norns appear in works inspired by Norse mythology, including literature, comics, video games, and film, where they are often portrayed as embodiments of destiny or as dramatic personifications of fate.