Mythology
Inuit & Arctic Mythology Quiz
Sedna's severed fingers are said to have created seals and whales — how deep does your knowledge of Arctic myth run?
Sedna's severed fingers are said to have created seals and whales — how deep does your knowledge of Arctic myth run?
Inuit and Arctic mythologies are among the world's most vivid, shaped by thousands of years of life in one of the harshest environments on Earth. From the sea goddess Sedna — whose severed fingers became seals, walruses, and whales — to the giant wolf Amarok and the trickster Raven who brought light to the world, these stories explain the Arctic's animals, weather, and the delicate relationship between humans and the spirit world.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll explore Sedna's origin story and her role as ruler of the sea, the polar bear spirit Nanook, the shaman (angakkuq) and their tuurngait helping spirits, the three-layered Inuit universe, northern lights legends, dangerous creatures like Qalupalik and Mahaha, the Raven trickster myth, and the shamanic traditions of the Sámi people of northern Scandinavia.
In many Inuit traditions, the northern lights (aurora borealis) are the spirits of the dead playing a game — often described as kicking or playing ball with a walrus skull. In some groups the lights were considered dangerous, and whistling at them was believed to summon them closer and risk being beheaded.
Sedna (also called Nuliajuk or Sanna) is the Inuit goddess of the sea and marine animals. According to the most common version of her myth, she was thrown from a kayak and her fingers were cut off joint by joint as she clung to the side. Each severed finger joint became a different sea creature — seals, walruses, and whales. She sank to the ocean floor and rules the underworld realm Adlivun, where shamans must visit to comb her tangled hair in exchange for releasing sea animals for hunters.
The Inuit shaman, known as an angakkuq, was a spiritual intermediary who could enter trance states and undertake soul flights to the spirit world. They worked with helping spirits called tuurngait, healed the sick, predicted weather, and negotiated with spirits like Sedna to ensure successful hunts. Their role was central to community survival in the Arctic environment.
Last updated: March 2026