Difference between revisions of "The Vanir"
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| − | [[File: | + | [[File:Vanir Lore.png|thumb|right|350px|The Vanir depicted in lore.]] |
{{Quotation | {{Quotation | ||
| − | |title=Vanir | + | |title= Vanir |
| − | |text=In Norse mythology, the Vanir are originally a group of wild nature and fertility gods, the sworn enemies of the warrior gods of the Aesir. They were considered to be the bringers of health, youth, fertility, luck and wealth, and masters of magic, also known for protection and prosperity, and keeping the local settlements safe from harm. Some villages built effigies of the Vanir in their fields, while other villages practiced human sacrifices consisting of one male and one female. | + | |text= In Norse mythology, the Vanir are originally a group of wild nature and fertility gods, the sworn enemies of the warrior gods of the Aesir. They were considered to be the bringers of health, youth, fertility, luck, and wealth, and masters of magic, also known for protection and prosperity, and keeping the local settlements safe from harm. Some villages built effigies of the Vanir in their fields, while other villages practiced human sacrifices consisting of one male and one female. |
|author= [[Pad of Definitions]] ([[1.11 Scarecrow]]) | |author= [[Pad of Definitions]] ([[1.11 Scarecrow]]) | ||
|source= [[Official Website]] | |source= [[Official Website]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | Freyja, Freyr, and Njord were the usually-named Vanir deities. | + | ==History== |
| + | The Vanir are pagan [[god]]s that resided in an ancient tree brought to the U.S. by Scandinavian immigrants. Each year the people of Burkittsville, Indiana, presented it with a young man and woman as a sacrifice to ensure the prosperity of their town and its crops. The gods inhabit the form of a scarecrow made from the body of its previous victims and kill their sacrifices with a hooked blade, or scythe. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Episodes== | ||
| + | [[File:VanirDeath.jpg|thumb|350px|left|The First Tree is burned down, destroying the Vanir.]] | ||
| + | ===[[1.11 Scarecrow]]=== | ||
| + | After [[Dean]] saves a couple from being attacked by a scarecrow, Dean calls [[Sam]] to tell him of the attack, and quickly surmises that he must be dealing with a pagan [[god]] rather than a spirit. He believes this due to the annual cycle of its killings, compounded with the fact that the victims are couples -- which may mean it is for a fertility rite. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Dean then heads to a community college where he speaks with a professor, and learns he is dealing with the Vanir and that its power may come from a sacred tree. Before Dean can put a stop to the Vanir, however, he is captured by the Jorgeson's and the town sheriff and placed in a cellar. He is soon joined there by [[Emily (Scarecrow)|Emily]], who tells him about the town's ancestors bringing over a sacred tree from Scandinavia known as the First Tree. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Before the Vanir can take its sacrifice, Sam arrives and unties Dean and Emily. While Sam wants to go find the sacred tree Dean decides they should wait until morning, unless they want to cross paths with the [[Scarecrow (creature)|Scarecrow]]. The Jorgensons attempt to keep them from leaving, but the Vanir appears behind them and takes them both as tribute. The next morning Sam, Dean, and Emily find the First Tree, which they burn with gasoline -- vanquishing the god. | ||
| + | <br clear="all" /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Vanir in Lore== | ||
| + | Freyja, Freyr, and Njord were the usually-named Vanir deities. In actuality, while there was conflict between the Vanir and the Aesir, the two groups intermarried. While the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian tribes did practice human sacrifice, surviving evidence indicates that the god Odin/Woden/Wotan, of the Aesir, was the most common recipient of human offerings. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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* [[Old Norse Mythology]] | * [[Old Norse Mythology]] | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | {{DEFAULTSORT:Vanir}} | ||
| + | [[Category:Canon]][[Category:Characters]][[Category:Deities]][[Category:Pad of Definitions]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:09, 3 October 2019
Vanir
In Norse mythology, the Vanir are originally a group of wild nature and fertility gods, the sworn enemies of the warrior gods of the Aesir. They were considered to be the bringers of health, youth, fertility, luck, and wealth, and masters of magic, also known for protection and prosperity, and keeping the local settlements safe from harm. Some villages built effigies of the Vanir in their fields, while other villages practiced human sacrifices consisting of one male and one female.
History
The Vanir are pagan gods that resided in an ancient tree brought to the U.S. by Scandinavian immigrants. Each year the people of Burkittsville, Indiana, presented it with a young man and woman as a sacrifice to ensure the prosperity of their town and its crops. The gods inhabit the form of a scarecrow made from the body of its previous victims and kill their sacrifices with a hooked blade, or scythe.
Episodes
1.11 Scarecrow
After Dean saves a couple from being attacked by a scarecrow, Dean calls Sam to tell him of the attack, and quickly surmises that he must be dealing with a pagan god rather than a spirit. He believes this due to the annual cycle of its killings, compounded with the fact that the victims are couples -- which may mean it is for a fertility rite.
Dean then heads to a community college where he speaks with a professor, and learns he is dealing with the Vanir and that its power may come from a sacred tree. Before Dean can put a stop to the Vanir, however, he is captured by the Jorgeson's and the town sheriff and placed in a cellar. He is soon joined there by Emily, who tells him about the town's ancestors bringing over a sacred tree from Scandinavia known as the First Tree.
Before the Vanir can take its sacrifice, Sam arrives and unties Dean and Emily. While Sam wants to go find the sacred tree Dean decides they should wait until morning, unless they want to cross paths with the Scarecrow. The Jorgensons attempt to keep them from leaving, but the Vanir appears behind them and takes them both as tribute. The next morning Sam, Dean, and Emily find the First Tree, which they burn with gasoline -- vanquishing the god.
Vanir in Lore
Freyja, Freyr, and Njord were the usually-named Vanir deities. In actuality, while there was conflict between the Vanir and the Aesir, the two groups intermarried. While the ancient Germanic and Scandinavian tribes did practice human sacrifice, surviving evidence indicates that the god Odin/Woden/Wotan, of the Aesir, was the most common recipient of human offerings.
