Aesir
;)
in Germanic mythology, were one branch of the family of the gods; the other branch were the Vanir. At one time there was a war between the younger Aesir and the older Vanir, which ended in a peace that left the Aesir dominant. Both branches had in fact grown weary of fighting, and were pleased to come to terms. In order to cement the peace, several of the leading Aesir went to live among the Vanir, while a number of important Vanir went to Asgard, the Aesir's home.
The Aesir, under the leadership of Odin, included his sons Balder ('the bleeding god') and Bragi, the god of eloquence; the justice god Forseti, who resolved quarrels in a splendid hall supported by pillars of red gold and covered with a roof inlaid with silver; the fertility god Freyr, once a leading Vanir; the vigilant Heimdall, whose duty it would be to summon every living creature to Ragnarok, the day of doom, with his horn; blind Hodr, the unwitting killer of Balder; the trickster Loki, god of fire and ally of the frost giants; the sea god Njord, one of the gods exchanged with the Vanir; another of Odin's sons, Thor, whose mighty magic hammer was the only weapon the frost giants feared; the god of war Tyr, a son of Hymir; Vili and Ve, the brothers of Odin; and Vidar, a son of Odin who was destined to avenge his father's death at Ragnarok.
The goddesses of the Aesir were Freyja, the fertility goddess and twin sister of Freyr; Frigg, Odin's wife; Sif, the wife of Thor; and Idun, who was the keeper of the apples of youth.
Almost all the Aesir were to be killed at Ragnarok (the doom of the gods), when a terrible battle was destined to take place between the forces led by Odin, and the forces led by Loki.