Timeless Myths Logo
Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Atlas Coeus Crius Cronus Demeter Dionysus Gaia Hades Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hestia Hyperion Iapetus Mnemosyne Oceanus Phobos Phoebe Poseidon Prometheus Rhea Tethys Themis Uranus Zeus
Bacchus Ceres Diana Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Pluto Venus Vesta Vulcan
Amun Anubis Aten Atum Babi Bastet Bes Geb Hapi hathor heqet Horus Isis Khepri Khnum Khonsu Maat Nephthys Nut Osiris Ptah Ra Seshat Seth Shu Sobek Thoth
Alfheim Baldur Freya Freyr Frigg Heimdallr Helheim Idun Jotunheim Loki Nerthus Njord Odin Thor Tyr
Aengus Arawn Badb Brigid Cailleach Ceridwen Cernunnos Cu Chulainn Dagda Danu Gwydion Herne the Hunter Lugh Medb Morrigan Neit Nuada Taliesin Taranis
Chalchiuhtlicue Coatlicue Huitzilopochtli Mictlantecuhtli Mixcoatl Ometeotl Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Tlaloc Tonatiuh Xipe Totec Xochiquetzal Xolotl
Amaterasu Ame no Uzume Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fujin Fukurokuju Inari Izanagi Kagutsuchi Raijin Susanoo Tsukuyomi
Caishen Cangjie Dragon King Eight Immortals Erlang Shen Fuxi Guanyin Hou Yi Huxian Jade Emperor King Yama Leizi Lu-ban Mazu Nezha Nuwa Pangu Shennong Sun Wukong Xiwangmu Yue Lao Zhong Kui
Norse Classical Celtic Arthurian
Literature Stories Names
Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Atlas Coeus Crius Cronus Demeter Dionysus Gaia Hades Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hestia Hyperion Iapetus Mnemosyne Oceanus Phobos Phoebe Poseidon Prometheus Rhea Tethys Themis Uranus Zeus
Bacchus Ceres Diana Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Pluto Venus Vesta Vulcan
Amun Anubis Aten Atum Babi Bastet Bes Geb Hapi hathor heqet Horus Isis Khepri Khnum Khonsu Maat Nephthys Nut Osiris Ptah Ra Seshat Seth Shu Sobek Thoth
Alfheim Baldur Freya Freyr Frigg Heimdallr Helheim Idun Jotunheim Loki Nerthus Njord Odin Thor Tyr
Aengus Arawn Badb Brigid Cailleach Ceridwen Cernunnos Cu Chulainn Dagda Danu Gwydion Herne the Hunter Lugh Medb Morrigan Neit Nuada Taliesin Taranis
Chalchiuhtlicue Coatlicue Huitzilopochtli Mictlantecuhtli Mixcoatl Ometeotl Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Tlaloc Tonatiuh Xipe Totec Xochiquetzal Xolotl
Amaterasu Ame no Uzume Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fujin Fukurokuju Inari Izanagi Kagutsuchi Raijin Susanoo Tsukuyomi
Caishen Cangjie Dragon King Eight Immortals Erlang Shen Fuxi Guanyin Hou Yi Huxian Jade Emperor King Yama Leizi Lu-ban Mazu Nezha Nuwa Pangu Shennong Sun Wukong Xiwangmu Yue Lao Zhong Kui
Norse Classical Celtic Arthurian
Literature Stories Names
  1. Norse Mythology
    Asgard Valhalla Norse Sagas About Norse Mythology Facts and Figures Genealogy Bibliography
  2. Valhalla
    Norse Heroes 1 Norse Heroes 2 Valkyries German Heroes Witches Minor Norse Characters
  3. Witches

Witches

This page should actually be called Witches and Sibyls.

Below are some articles on wise-women that are found in Norse myths, which included: witches, sorceresses and prophetesses.

I have also included women known for their wisdom.

Background

Background

Teutonic Wise Women

Teutonic Wise Women

Freyja

Freyja

Heid

Heid

Sibyl

Sibyl

Groa

Groa

Borghild

Borghild

Grimhild

Grimhild

Brynhild or Sigrdrifa

Brynhild or Sigrdrifa

Yrsa

Yrsa

Skuld

Skuld

Hvit

Hvit

Thorbjörg líilvölva

Thorbjörg líilvölva

Background

Magic and witchcraft was often used in Norse mythology, not just among mortals. The gods and goddesses also resorted to sorcery.

The Vanir Freyja was the goddess of witchcraft, as well that of love, fertility and war (see Vanir, Freyja). She practices a brand of witchcraft known as seið. She was said to have brought seið from her homeland, Vanaheim, the world of the Vanir, to Asgard. The Vanir was a different tribe of gods to the Aesir.

Seeress or sibyl, on the other hand, were called völva (singular), or völur as plural. They were responsible for divination, such as oracle and prophecy, or other methods of divination. Men who are involved in divination, such as soothsayers or wise men, were called vísindamenn.

According to Song of Hyndla 33 (Hyndluliod), Svarthofdi was ancestor of witches and all seeresses were descended from Vidolf.

In the Icelandic saga, Eiriks Saga Rauda, the seeress, Thorbjörg had earned the title of líilvölva, which means little sibyl, thus was called Thorbjörg líilvölva.

Magicians and wizards called galramenn, which is translated as "sorcerers".

Both Eddas are rather vague about the seið. In the Icelanders' saga, called Eiriks Saga Rauda, we are given an insight of how seið is performed, in the account of the Greenland prophetess Thorbjörg líilvölva. Thorbjörg required a young woman named Gudrid to help her call upon the guardian spirits. Gudrid drew a circle around Thorbjörg, and then chanted the guardian songs, known as Varðlokkur.

So seið was probably a form of incantation or singing.

Odin was the only male god to use this seið; seið seemed to be restricted to women and goddesses.

But Odin had not only used seið. Odin was also the master of runic magic. The use of rune can be used to create powerful wards. Rune magic was not restricted to certain gender.

Odin was the lord of Valhalla, the hall of the dead heroes. He has the Valkyries serving him, choosing the warriors slain in battle. The Valkyries also possessed powers to use runic magic. There is a separate page for the Valkyries.

The Valkyrie Brynhild (or Sigrdrifa in Sigrdrifumal) knew of the magic using runes, which she revealed to the hero Sigurd; see Brynhild.

In Norse myths, the names of witches are not always given. Some witches are benevolent, while others are malignant.

One nameless sorceress helped the heroine Signy, so that the heroine would look like the witch. Signy changed shape so that she could sleep with her brother Sigmund, and bear a son Sinfjotli, who would be strong enough to help her with revenge against Signy's husband. See Sigmund and Signy in the Volsunga Saga.

In Havamal 113 (from Poetic Edda), Odin warned Loddfafnir that –

...in the arms of a witch you should never sleep,
so that she charms all your limbs;
she'll bring it about that you won't care
about the Assembly or the king's business;
you won't want food nor the society of people,
sorrowful you'll go to sleep.

translated by Carolyne Larrington

Also in Havamal, Odin tells Loddfafnir that he knew of eighteen spells. For more about Odin and his magic, read the Search for Wisdom.

Related Information

Related Articles

Freyja, Brynhild, Signy, Sigmund, Sinfjotli, Odin.

Related Pages

  • Norse Heroes I

  • Norse Heroes II

  • Valkyries

Jimmy Joe. "Witches." https://timelessmyths.com/norse/valhalla/witches. Accessed May 9, 2025.
Jimmy Joe Timeless Myths

By Jimmy Joe

Valhalla:

  • • Norse Heroes 1
  • • Norse Heroes 2
  • • Valkyries
  • • German Heroes
  • • Witches
  • • Minor Norse Characters
Teutonic Wise Women

Teutonic Wise Women

Before I list articles on sorceresses and prophetesses, I should perhaps begin with witches that were celebrated among the ancient Teutonic people. These ancient Germanic prophetesses were mentioned by the 1st century Roman historian, Tacitus. The...

September 28th, 2003 • Jimmy Joe
Valkyries

Valkyries

This page is devoted to both Valkyrie and non-Valkyrie heroines. For women skilled in magic, witchcraft or divination or women simply known for their wisdom, there's a separate page titled Witches . Background For Grimhild, see Gudrun . For Sigrdr...

August 16th, 2003 • Jimmy Joe
Norse Gods

Norse Gods

Norse gods have recently gained popularity with the appearance of Thor and his myth in Marvel movies. Not only that, but there are many television shows which make mention of the Norse gods and goddesses. There is an appealing aspect to Norse myth...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Other Asyniur

Other Asyniur

The following Asyniur were mentioned by Snorri Sturluson in the Prose Edda. Not much else is known about these goddesses. Gerd A mountain giantess who married Freyr . known for her great beauty. For more detail, see Giants, Gerd . Saga Not much is...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Other Beings

Other Beings

The following beings come from the spirit world. Some were protective spirits or minor deities. Note that Valkyries have been moved to a new page of their own.

August 17th, 2002 • Jimmy Joe
Norse Heroes 1

Norse Heroes 1

The majority of these characters come from the Völsunga Saga, so for the full story, read Völsunga Saga . It should be noted that Wayland was the English name of the divine master smith, but he was famous for myths throughout the other Germanic ki...

August 27th, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Freyja (Lady)

Freyja (Lady)

Goddess of love, beauty and fertility. Freyja was also the goddess of witchcraft and war. Like her father and brother, Freyja was originally a Vanir deity before she became an Aesir goddess (Asynia). See Vanir , for more detail on Freyja .

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
The Norse Way

The Norse Way

June 24th, 2001 • Jimmy Joe
Freya

Freya

Freya: Get to Know the Desirable Goddess of Love and Lust Freya goddess of fertility was one of the foremost Norse goddesses in Norse mythology. She was also the Norse goddess of love , lust, beauty, and sex, and she was greatly desired by many of...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Freyja

Freyja

Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, magic, war and death. Freyja was the daughter of Njörd (Njord) and Njörd's nameless sister (possibly Nertheus?). She was the sister of Freyr . Like her brother and father, she was originally a Vanir goddess, but...

July 23rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe

Explore Myths

All Stories

Characters

All Articles

Search

Site Map

Mythologies

Norse Mythology

Classical Mythology

Celtic Mythology

Arthurian Legends

Mythology Gods

Ancient Literature

About Us

Introduction

About Jimmy

Bibliography

FAQs

Retro Version

Resources

Timeless Myths

All Stories

All Articles

Characters

Copyright Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Contact

© 1999-2025

Timeless Myths

© 2025 Timeless Myths