can anyone tell me what is the difference between an greek god and an norse god?

Answer 1

Wel, the obvious - the greeks worshiped the Greek Gods and the Norse, the Norse.

Also, Greek gods were a bit more hands on with their people. The Norse Gods really were only interested when you were dead or dying - and only if you had died in Battle. Greek Gods took mortal lovers, gave them fire and meddled in most wars and day to day affairs of state. The Greeks came up with a concept that they Roman's stole and called "deux Ex Machina" The Ghost int he Machine - the God who comes and fixes things or makes them worse at the end of the play.

Norse Gods had their own lives and loves, fights and arguements and really didn't even pay much attention to people. They were much more remote and - well, Godly.

Norse Gods were much more entertwined with Mythical Creatures. They hung out with the Dwarfs and Dragons and such. There are Neiraids and all that Jazz, the Gods just treated them as an afterthought.

Finally - and something I never understood - the Ragnarok myth. It was always told in the past tense as if it had already happened. It was also told about a time that proceeded the cold weather and the snow in a time when Norway was warmer. I've never heard of an end of the world myth in the Greek pantheon.

Answer 2

Besides the obvious? It depends on which gods you are talking about. Pan is pretty significantly different than Thor.

Otherwise, a Greek god is usually housed on Mount Olympus and a Norse god is in Asgard. A Greek god would have worn a toga, a Norse god would have worn furs and leather as well as cloth. Etc, etc.

Also, Norse gods were more war-like, since they were still fighting amongst themselves (Aesir vs. Vanir). There was a great focus for the norse on dying valiantly in battle. By contrast, the Greek gods were petty squablers.

Answer 3

The Greeks had Greek gods and the Norse Norse.

Answer 4

attitude. Influenced by culture.
The Greeks lived in a sunny climb and had more leisure time so their gods like to dance and sing and have a good time and dabble in the affairs of mortals for fun.
The Vikings and Norse persons had a hard life in a less hospitable region so their gods had a much more fatalistic outlook and only had interest in the best mortal fighters too help delay the inevitable end of the universe.
Elysium fields vs Valhalla
Olympus vs Aesgard
The Mortal realm vs Midgard
Immortality VS Ragnarök

Answer 5

other than the obvious? Norse mythology is darker, and the gods know they're all doomed (Ragnarok ??sp??). The Greeks are a bit lighter in attitude, even with the dire prophecies that affect both man & god.
Go read D'Aulaire's books on the subjects--nice intro.

Answer 6

Seems to me that the Greeks believed more in day-to-day meddling by many gods, as told by the oracles, less like the Norse, who basically believed the gods were alive but in other-realms. But they too had their oracles, rune-readers.

Answer 7

the Greeks had their own gods and goddesses and so did the Norse ( Scandinavians). mostly where the people lived that believed in the god's existence.

Answer 8

Its simple geography.