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LIST OF NORSE WORLDS
Norsemen visualized the universe as nine worlds: three sets
of three, on three different "levels".
At the top was Ásgarð, the home of the Æsir.
Each of the gods and goddesses had their halls here, enclosed
by the stone wall built by the giant mason. Also on this level
was Vanaheim, home of the Vanir, the deities
defeated by the Æsir in the first war. In addition, Alfheim
was located on this level, the home of the light elves. None
of the surviving literature describes the relationship between
the light elves and the Æsir, except to note that they were
regularly in one another's company.
The middle level contained Miðgarð, the middle world
inhabited by men. It was surrounded by an ocean so vast that
"to cross it would strike most men as impossible".
Jörmangandr, the terrifying world serpent, lay on the
floor of the ocean. Jötenheim, the land of the giants,
lay outside Miðgarð to the east, in Útgarð, the outer
world. To the north lived the dwarves in Nidavellir and
the dark elves in Svartalfheim. Connecting Miðgarð to
Ásgarð was Bifröst, the rainbow bridge guarded by
Heimdall.
The lower level contained Niflheim, the world of the
dead. Hel ruled here. The ninth world was
Muspellheim, land of the fire giants, which can't be
located precisely, except to say that it was to the south.
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THE UPPER LEVEL:
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ASGARD: Located at the very top of Yggdrasil, Asgard is
the home of two races of Gods, the Aesir and the
Vanir. All of the Gods in Asgard have their own great
halls. The greatest of them is Valhalla, the hall
for slain heroes. The abode of the Aesir and the Vanir
after the two tribes were at peace.
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VANAHEIM: The Vanir lived in this realm while they
were at war with the Aesir. Since the Gods made
peace, the Vanir have lived in Asgard. The abode of the
Vanir before the peace.
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ALFHEIM: The land of the light elves.
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THE MIDDLE LEVEL:
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MIDGARD: This is the realm that we all know, the land of
Earth and mankind. There is a bridge of a rainbow between
Midgard and Asgard, called Bifrost.
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JOTENHEIM: An icy land of the frost giants.
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NIDAVELLIR: World of the
Dwarfs. |
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SVARTALFHEIM: Land of dark elves. |
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MUSPELLHEIM (HEL / HELHEIM): Of the nine worlds, this is
the world of fire. It is said to be the first world to
exist, and will be the last. The flame giant named Surt
(or Surtr) guards its entrance with a flaming
sword, and at Ragarok he and the sons of Muspell
will come to kill the gods and burn the entire world.
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THE LOWER LEVEL:
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NIFLHEIM: The roots of Yggdrasil emerge in this
cold and dark underworld. The goddess Hel rules
here, from her hall Eljudnir. Sometimes this realm
is actually called Hel, and some sources consider
Niflheim and Hel to be two distinct lands of the
underworld.
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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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