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Ingólfshvoll sign in Iceland
Many place names in Iceland reference the earliest Norse settlers, such as this example of Ingólfshvoll (Ingólfr's Hill), referring to the first permanent settler, Ingólfr Arnarson whose name appears in several place names in the vicinity of…
Neighbourhood of the Gods, Reykjavík
Many of the streets in this central area of Reykjavík are named after the Norse Gods. The first street to be named was Óðinsgata in the early twentieth century.
Street name: Óðinsgata
Óðinsgata (Odin's Street) in Reykjavik
Street name: Óðinstorg
Óðinstorg (Odin's square) named for the god Odin.
St Olavs gate, Oslo
St Olavs gate (St Olav's Road) in Oslo is named for Olav Haraldsson who died at the battle of Stiklestad in 1030. He is largely credited with converting Norway to Christianity, although somewhat brutally. This process was ostensibly begun by Olav…
Iduns gate, Oslo
Idun was the goddess who tended the golden apples that kept the gods young.
Street sign: Baglergaten
This street in Tønsberg is named for the Baglere who were opponents of King Sverre Hakonsson in the civil wars in late twelfth- and early thirteenth-century Norway.
Street Name: Håkon Gamles gate
This street is named for Håkon Gamle (Hakon the Old or Håkon IV Håkonsson) who ruled Norway from 1217-1263 and expanded the castle on Slottsfjell. He was also responsible for having a number of European romances translated into Old Norse.
Street Name: Kong Sverres gate
Kong Sverres gate (King Sverre's street) is named for King Sverre who was part of the Birkebeinere faction in the Norwegian civila wars of the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries.
Street Name: Tors vei
Tors vei (Thor's Way), named for the god of thunder and smiter of giants.
Street Name: Trymsvei
Trymsvei (Thrym's Way) is named for the giant Thrym, who stole Thor's hammer. Thor had to dress up as Freyja to recover it.
Street Name: Brages vei
Brages vei (Bragi's Way) is named for the Norse god of poetry.
Street Name: Balders vei
Balders vei (Balder's Way) is named for Balder who was killed with a dart made from mistletoe.
Street Name: Odins vei
Odins vei (Odin's Way) is named for Odin, king of the gods.
Street Name: Urdsvei
Urdsvei (Urd's Way) is named for Urd, one of the three norns who determine the fates of people. Her name means 'fate'.
Street Name: Sleipners vei
Sleipners vei (Sleipnir's Way) is named for Odin's eight-legged horse who is able to slide between worlds.
Street Name: Lokesvei
Lokesvei (Loki's Way) is named for the trickster god Loki who causes much of the trouble in Asgard and then has to fix it.
Street Name: Frøyasvei
Frøyasvei (Freyja's Way) is named for the Vanir goddess Freyja who owned the Brisingamen necklace.
Photo of St Olaf's Wynd Street Sign in Orkney
Photo of the street sign 'Olaf's Wynd' in Kirkwall, Orkney. Wynd is a placename element from the Norse verb venda, meaning 'to turn' or 'to wind'. St Olaf refers to the Norwegian king Ólafr Haraldsson, who reigned from 1015 to 1028 and was…
King Erik Street in Lerwick, Shetland
Many streets in central Lerwick are named after Scandinavian Kings, Queens and Saints, particularly from the medieval period. This sign probably refers to the thirteenth century Norwegian king Eiríkr Magnússon, who married princess Margaret of…