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NORSE WORLDS
Norse mythology closely paralleled Greek mythology,
however, "The Creation" as seen in the Norse mythology was
strange and different from those of classical Greek mythology.
Yet it nevertheless fascinating, because of the roles played
by giants and the gods. In Norse beliefs, the gods were the bringer of order
and the giants were the creator of chaos.
As the story goes, there was nothing in the beginning but a
seemingly endless chasm called the Ginnungagap.
Ginnungagap was a void similar to the Greek Chaos. The
Norse god Odin and his brothers killed the evil frost giant
Ymir and used his body to create the universe. This
universe is comprised of nine worlds. Odin then placed the
body of Ymir over the void called Ginnungagap.
They used his flesh for creating the earth and his blood
for the sea. His skull, held up by four dwarves (Nordri,
Sudri, Austri, and Vestri), was used to
create the heaven. Then using sparks from Muspelheim,
the gods created the sun, moon and stars. While Ymir's
eyebrows were used to create a place where the human race
could live in; a place called Midgard (Middle Earth).
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A great ash tree called Yggdrasill ("World Tree")
supported the universe, with roots that connected the nine worlds
together. One root of Yggdrasill extends to Muspelheim ("world of
fire"), while another root to Niflheim (the "world of cold").
Niflheim was sometimes confused with Niflhel, which was also
known as Hel, was the world of the dead. Hel was sometimes
used interchangeably with Niflheel by many writers, as the
world of the dead.
While one root was connected to Asgard (home of the
Aesir), another root to Vanaheim (home of the Vanir).
The frost giants lived in Jötunheim (Jotunheim).
Alfheim was home of the light elves (ljósálfar). There was also
the underground world for the
black elves (svartálfar),
called Svartalfheim. The dwarves inhabited the world of
Nidavellir.
Wounded I hung on a
wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odin,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood.
Havamàl, The Words of the
High One
(part of the Elder or
"Poetic" Edda)
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