The Vikings’ worldview was informed particularly by climate. Possibly thanks to the shock of the great volcanic eruptions that caused global temperatures to plummet and harvests to fail during the 530s and 540s, the Vikings stories of genesis and apocalypse revolved around the lives of trees and the impending arrival of the Fimbulwinter, when the earth would freeze and all life would end. The Northmen celebrated a colorful pantheon of gods such as Odin, Ull, Baldr, Thor, and Loki. They knew their lives were affected by other supernatural beings too, including the female beings known as
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