The Norse pantheon was formed through a peace treaty between two warring tribes of gods
The Norse gods are divided into two distinct tribes, the Aesir and the Vanir, who formed a unified pantheon only after a brutal war and a ritual exchange of hostages.
Norse mythology records a foundational conflict between the Aesir, a group of warrior deities led by Odin, and the Vanir, who were associated with fertility and wealth. To end the stalemate, the two sides agreed to a peace treaty that involved swapping their most prominent members. The Aesir received the Vanir gods Njörðr, Freyr, and Freyja, while the Vanir took the Aesir gods Hoenir and Mimir. To seal the pact, both tribes spat into a jar, creating the wise being Kvasir from their collective saliva.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.