Like all ancient beliefs, supernatural beings are an essential part of Norse mythology. Among these creatures, one can find the nature spirits, or, as known by their original Norse name, Vættir. These are sub-divided into clans, or families, and the relationships between them varies from waging war on each other to inter-marrying.

Æsir

The Æsir are a clan of the most prominent gods; gods forming part of the Pantheon. Their homeland is the realm of Asgard, one of the nine realms of Norse mythology, and it is ruled over by Odin and Frigg. The Hall of the Slain, better known as Valhalla, can be found in this realm. Special mention here has to be made to Thor and Loki. Thor is the son of Odin and revered as the god of thunder. His almighty hammer, Mjölnir, aids him in the pursuit of justice. Being the son of giants, Loki is the traitorous Æsir who is expected to lead the giants to war against the gods in the battle of Ragnarök.

Vanir

The Vanir are the second clan of gods falling under the Vættir, albeit not as powerful as the Æsir. The Vanir, whose name is derived from their homeland, Vanaheimr, are associated with fertility, wisdom and foresight. Njord, the Norse god of the sea and guardian of seafaring, is one of them. He married the frost giantess Skadi, who bore him the twins Frejr and Freyja as well as the giant Gerd. At one point in time, the Vanir went to war with the Æsir and subsequently became part of them.

Jötnar

A third Vættir race is that of the Jötnar, or giants. Their homeland is the realm of Jötunheimer, which is sub-divided into other lands.  A high mountain range and a dense forest separate Jötunheimer from Midgard, the human realm. According to the ‘Poetic Edda’ and the ‘Prose Edda’, the Jötnar are supposed to defeat the gods in the battle of Ragnarök. Indeed, they have always been the race opposing both the Æsir and the Vanir, even though they are known to marry with them.

At times, the Jötnar are described as hideous creatures which are generally deformed, savage and stupid. When described as such, the giants are referred to as trolls. However, more often than not, the Jötnar are described as being old and wise. In fact, Odin is thought to have sought out two particular giants, Mímir and Vafthrudnir, for their wisdom.

Álfar

The Álfar clan, or Elves, are divided into two contrasting sub-groups: the Ljósálfar and the Dökkálfar. The Ljósálfar live in the heavenly realm of Álfheimr. They are the Light Elves and are fair both in the physical aspect and in their interaction with mankind. In the ‘Elder Edda’, the Ljósálfar are deemed to be divine beings as they are tied to the Æsir and at times even to the Vanir. On the other hand, the Dökkálfar, or Svartálfar, are the complete opposite. These Dark Elves derive their name from their pitch black complexion as well as their murky conduct. Their homeland is Svartálfaheimr, which is shared with the Dvergar.

Dvergar

More commonly known as Dwarves, these dwellers of Svartálfaheimr are described as being short, stocky, ugly and wise. Besides being the masters of smiting and mining, the Dvergar are popular for their unmatched craftsmanship. An attestation to this is their crafting of Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir and Odin’s deadly spear, Gungnir. Fenrir’s third and strongest chain, Gleipnir, is also attributed to the Dvergar’s mastery. Even though they share their home world with the Dökkálfar, and at times are confused with them, the Dvergar are quite different and are regarded as being good-natured rather than malicious.

Landvættir

Being spirits of the land, the Landvættir are sometimes included as a Vættir clan as well. They are believed to contribute to the safety and fertility of the land they inhabit. This land could be anything, from a mountain to a simple rock. Even today, Iceland still depicts four Landvættir as its protectors on its coat of arms and the króna. These four Landvættir have their tale recounted in the Saga of King Olaf Tryggvason.