Norns

thumb|right|The Norns spin the threads of Destiny|fate at the foot of [[Yggdrasil, the tree of the world. Beneath them is the well Urðarbrunnr with the two swans that have engendered all the swans in the world.]] thumb|right|The Norns (1889) by Johannes Gehrts The Norns ( , plural: ) are a group of deities in Norse mythology responsible for shaping the course of human destinies. The Norns are often represented as three goddesses known as Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld, who weave the threads of fate and tend to the world tree, Yggdrasil, ensuring it stays alive at the center of the cosmos.

thumb|right|200px|The trio of norns at the well Urðarbrunnr as depicted in Fredrik Sander's 1893 translation of the Poetic Edda. Wood engraving by L. B. Hansen.

[[Image:Faroe stamp 431 The Norns and the Tree.jpg|thumb|220px|...and the youngest Norn, she who is called Skuld, ride[s] ever to take the slain and decide fights. Faroe stamp by Anker Eli Petersen depicting the norns (2003)]] Skuld ("debt" or "obligation"; sharing etymology with the English "should") is a Norn in Norse mythology. Along with Urðr (Old Norse "fate") and Verðandi (possibly "happening" or "present"), Skuld makes up a trio of Norns that are described as deciding the fates of people. Skuld appears in at least two poems as a Valkyrie.

thumb|A poster for the Norwegian women's magazine Urd (magazine)|Urd by [[Andreas Bloch and Olaf Krohn.]]

thumb|"Nornir" () by J. L. Lund, depicting Verðandi with wings. In Norse mythology, Verðandi (Old Norse, meaning possibly "happening" or "present"), sometimes anglicized as Verdandi or Verthandi, is one of the norns. Along with Urðr (Old Norse "fate") and Skuld (possibly "debt" or "future"), Verðandi makes up a trio of Norns that are described as deciding the fates (wyrd) of people.

is a fictional character in the popular anime and manga series Oh My Goddess!. She was created by Kōsuke Fujishima as one of three Goddesses who come to Earth to reside with Keiichi Morisato, and she serves as his love interest. She is depicted as a beautiful and powerful young woman, with strong nurturing tendencies, a trusting and innocent character, and an extremely kind heart. Belldandy is accidentally summoned from heaven by Keiichi in order to grant him a wish and stays when Keiichi wishes for "a goddess like you to be by my side forever". The stories follow Belldandy as she builds a rel

1972 film by Hans-Jürgen Syberberg

fictional character from Oh My Goddess!

fictional character from Oh My Goddess!