There’s also a race of giants who live there, typically referred to as fire giants. It’s a world of fire, heat, lava, soot, and flames. Muspelheim is Jotunheim’s polar opposite. The popular god Loki also originally came from Jotunheim. ![]() Within Jotunheim is the palace at Utgard, which figures heavily in some of the Norse myths. Jotunheim, though, is cold and full of snow and ice, which is why so many people call them frost giants. Mostly, the Eddas talk about giants as looking like huge but humanlike beings. It is the home of giants, but the “frost” part of that name is misleading. Most people somewhat familiar with Norse mythology think that Jotunheim is home to frost giants. Most people believe Alfheim is a gorgeous place, almost like a paradise, where the sun always shines and the weather is always pleasant. They inspired art, music, poetry, and all of life’s “lighter” things. Occasionally, the elves, magical creatures in their own right, would visit Midgard, bestowing gifts on deserving humans. Today, most people still credit it that way, though some scholars insist that the black or dark elves live there, too, thanks to Snorri’s retelling of the myths. AlfheimĪlso, near the top of the world tree, Alfheim was originally home to the light elves. Odin and his brothers, Vili and Ve, created Midgard from the fallen body of the giant Ymir. Though, when the Vikings shared tales of Norse mythology, Midgard looked far different than it does today. Basically, it’s planet Earth as everyone knows it. Midgard is located in the center of the world tree and is home to humans. It’s naturally dark but warm and always lit by the fires from the dwarves’ forges. The realm is far beneath the earth and where the dwarves, who are master craftsmen, make their incredible, sometimes magical, creations. This theory has the dark elves living in Alfheim with the light elves and the dwarves living in Svartalfheim.Įither way, today, it’s broadly accepted that Svartalfheim and Nidavellir are the same. Others insist that black elves and dwarves are two different races. Some scholars insist that the black elves and dwarves are the same race being called by two different names and that both make their home in Svartalfheim. Unfortunately, this combining of the worlds has led to confusion about the black elves and the dwarves. When Snorri Sturluson penned the Prose Edda, he combined the two, often using the names interchangeably. Svartalfheim was where the dark or black elves lived, while the dwarves made their home in Nidavellir. Originally, Svartalfheim and Nidavellir were probably two separate worlds. It’s also near the top of Yggdrasil and, most scholars believe, to the west of Asgard.Īlso, see 7 Weapons Mentioned In Norse Mythology to learn more. ![]() There are few descriptions of Vanaheim, though the Eddas say it’s a realm of magic and fertility. The Asgardians sent hostages to live with the Vanir, and the Vanir sent Njord and his children, Freyr and Freya, to live with the Aesir. The Eddas speak of a great war between the Vanir and the Aesir that finally ended with the two groups coming to an uneasy truce. ![]() These gods, known as the Vanir, are lesser known, though three of them live in Asgard with the Aesir. ![]() Vanaheim is another world filled with gods. However, the Eddas are unclear whether his location or his innate ability to see “a hundred leagues” gave him this power. Marvel has perpetuated the idea that Heimdall’s placement as the guardian of the Bifrost and entrance to Asgard allowed him to see everything. *Sources differ about Heimdall’s ability to see other worlds. There are also places in Asgard, notably Odin’s Hildskjalf and Heimdall’s watch post from the Bifrost*, where the gods can sit and look over the rest of the worlds. It includes the Bifrost, or rainbow bridge, which allows the gods to travel from Asgard to the other worlds. Īsgard sits near the top of the world tree, is filled with towering buildings, and is surrounded by a high, protective wall. Perhaps the most well-known of all the nine worlds, Asgard is home to the Aesir, the collective name for the Norse gods.Īsgard is where Odin and Freya have their famous halls, Valhalla and Folkvangr, where the best warriors go to fight and train for Ragnarok when they die.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |