One of the first things that comes up when reading the Maya technical texts or our official docs is that many of the aspects of the protocol are named with terms from Norse mythology. This is naturally inherited from THORChain, which helped create an amazing mythological thematic for their protocol and add a unique flavor to their ecosystem!

While in the earliest information releases of our protocol some Mayan cultural equivalences where used, most of the original Nordic terms have been preserved to keep consistency and to facilitate a more seamless integration of the software across users and interfaces.

Let’s explore some of these key terms in more detail:

1. Asgard: In Norse mythology, Asgard is the dwelling world of the gods. In both Maya and THORChain, Asgard is a reference to the layer where the Bifrost protocol and the protocol nodes operate.

2. Midgard: In Maya & THORChain, Midgard is the public interface providing data services via an API for end-users and platforms. In Norse mythology, Midgard is the world inhabited and known by humans.

3. Bifrost: The rainbow bridge connecting Asgard and Midgard! In the Maya / THORChain ecosystem, it signifies how the protocol connects to external blockchains and bridges between networks.

4. Yggdrasil: Yggdrasil is a cosmic tree connecting all nine Norse worlds. In Maya and THORChain, it's the protocol used to coordinate the churning process, where nodes are regularly added or removed.

5. Mimir: Mimir, the wise Norse god known for his knowledge and understanding, is used in Maya and THORChain as the name for the pricing and constants oracle. Mimir offers accurate and timely price information for the ecosystem, providing crucial price data for its users.

6. Valkyrie: Valkyries are legendary female figures who decide who lives and dies in battles. In Maya and THORChain, Valkyrie refers to the protocol that selects and ranks nodes based on their performance.

7. Einherjar: In Norse myth, Einherjar are warriors chosen by the Valkyries for their bravery. In Maya / THORChain, Einherjar represents the active nodes chosen by Valkyrie!

8. Ragnarok: is a significant part of Norse mythology, referring to a prophesied battle leading to the death of several gods, natural disasters, and the world's subsequent rebirth. In the context of Maya and THORChain, the term has been appropriated to symbolize a process wherein all the nodes are shut down and funds returned to liquidity providers in the event of an unforeseen or inconvenient event!

There you go ! As you can see, the Maya and THORChain terminology create a fascinating interplay between ancient mythology and cutting-edge technology that will help push the boundaries of what is possible in decentralized financial systems. If you are still intrigued by the captivating fusion of mythology and technology within the Maya ecosystem, join our Discord server today and become a part of our vibrant community, hope to see you there!