The Nine Realms in Norse Mythology.
- Niflheim: The Realm of Fog and Mist. Niflheim (Old Norse: “Niðavellir”) means (“Mist home” or “Mist World”), and it is the darkest and coldest region ...
- Muspelheim: The Land of Fire.
- Asgard: Home of the Gods.
- Midgard: Home of the Humans.
- Jotunheim: Home of the Giants.
- Asgard – Realm of the Aesir.
- Alfheim – Realm of the Bright Elves.
- Jotunheim – Realm of the Giants.
- Midgard – Realm of the Humans.
- Muspelheim/Muspell – A fire-giant or the forces of chaos or their realm.
- Nidavellir – Realm of the Dwarves.
What are the nine Norse realms?
There are nine realms in Norse Mythology, they are called Niflheim, Muspelheim, Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, Helheim. The nine worlds in Norse mythology are held in the branches and roots of the world tree Yggdrasil.
Who are the 12 Norse gods?
THE NORSE GODS
- ODIN. Talking about Norse Gods and Goddesses, how can we begin without Odin, the supreme deity and the greatest among the Norse Gods.
- FRIGG. Frigg was the mighty queen of Asgard, wife of Odin, and paragon of fertility, fate, love, and beauty.
- BALDER. ...
- LOKI. ...
- THOR. ...
- FREYA. ...
- FREYR. ...
- HEIMDALL. ...
- HEL. ...
- VIDAR. ...
What are the names of the Nine Realms?
The Nine Realms in the movies
- Alfheim
- Asgard: Home of the Asgardians. Ruled by Loki (disguised as Odin ).
- Vanaheim: Home of the Vanir.
- Jotunheim: Home of the Frost Giants. Formerly ruled by Laufey.
- Midgard: Home of the Humans and Inhumans. Also called Earth.
- Nidavellir: Home of the Dwarves. Ruled by Eitri.
- Svartalfheim: Home of the Dark Elves. ...
- Niflheim
- Muspelheim
What is the home of the gods in Norse mythology?
The specific areas of Asgard included:
- Valhalla – The massive hall with over 500 rooms is probably the most famous in Norse mythology as the home of the Einherjar, the fallen warriors who were chosen to ...
- Hlidskjalf – This referred to both Odin’s palace and his throne there. ...
- Bilskirnir – Thor’s hall was described in one source as the grandest in all of Asgard. ...
What are the 9 Kingdoms in Norse mythology?
It includes the nine realms (Midgard, Alfheim, Asgard, Vanaheim, Niflheim, Muspelheim, Helheim, Svartalfheim, and Jotunheim), and the Realm Between Realms which serves as an "in-between space" between the nine.
Are there 9 or 10 realms in Norse mythology?
There are nine realms in Norse Mythology, they are called Niflheim, Muspelheim, Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, Helheim. The nine worlds in Norse mythology are held in the branches and roots of the world tree Yggdrasil.
What are the 3 main levels of Norse mythology?
Three. The number three occurs with great frequency in grouping individuals and artefacts: There were three original beings: the primordial cow Audhumla, Ymir the first giant, and Búri the first god and grandfather of Odin.
What are 9 realms Thor?
In the MCU, the Nine Realms are the nine regions of space that Asgard holds authority over: Asgard, Midgard(Earth), Jotunheim, Svartalfheim, Vanaheim, Muspelheim, Niflheim, Alfheim, and Nidavellir.
What realm is Loki from?
Loki, the trickster god of mischief, came from Jotunheim but lived in Asgard.
What realm is earth in?
MidgardMidgard is the realm where humans live, the Earth. It was created when the god Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve slayed the giant Ymir. In Norse mythology, the world was seen as a gigantic tree, called the World Tree or Yggdrasil, around which existed nine realms, each at a different level.
What is Odin's number?
Some sagas turn the number eight into a nine, and something like this could have been done to avoid the symbolism of the number eight. For example, Odin's magical golden ring Draupnir, that was made by the two dwarves Brokkr and Eitri.
What is Loki's number?
As for the unlucky number 13, we may have Norse trickster Loki to blame for this one. According to the Skeptical Inquirer: “Norse mythology also has a superstition surrounding thirteen at a dinner table and the bad luck that ensues. …
Who is the strongest Norse god?
Thor. Speaking of the god of thunder, Thor is one of the most well-known Norse gods, which is largely due to the popularity of his character in the Marvel movies. In addition to being the most popular, he is also the most powerful.
Which realm is Thanos from?
In the alternate universe limited series Earth X, Thanos dwells in the Realm of the Dead with the entity Death.
What is Thor's AXE called?
StormbreakerIn Infinity War, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) — accompanied by Groot and Rocket — travels to Nidavellir, where a new weapon is forged for him: an ax called Stormbreaker. The weapon comes courtesy of Eitri (Peter Dinklage), and it allows him to return to Earth just in time to help his friends in a battle in Wakanda.
Why did Odin stop at 9 realms?
Like Bor his father, Odin resorted to cosmic war to control dangerous threats across the nine realms. Odin desired to be a 'benevolent' king, so he stopped when he established a peace that could be maintained. Additionally, the number nine is an important number in the old Norse myths, linked to magic and paganism.
Are the 9 realms universes?
The Nine Realms were the nine main worlds of the Universe, interconnected through the world tree, Yggdrasil / Tree of Life.
Are the 9 realms connected?
The Nine Realms are nine individual planets that, while located separate parts of the universe, are systematically connected by the branches of Yggdrasil and orbit Midgard. The inhabitants of the realms are mostly associated with each other rather than the other advanced species residing beyond the realms.
How many realms are there in real life?
The ten realms, sometimes referred to as the ten worlds, are part of the belief of some forms of Buddhism that there are 240 conditions of life which sentient beings are subject to, and which they experience from moment to moment....Ten realms.Translations of Ten RealmsVietnamesemười giớiGlossary of Buddhism5 more rows
How many gods survive Ragnarok?
Hoenir, Magni, Modi, Njord, Vidar, Vali, and the daughter of Sol are all stated to survive Ragnarok. All of the remaining Æsir then reunite at Ithavllir. Baldr and Hod return from the underworld - Baldr having been killed by Hod, and Hod by Vali, before Ragnarok.
How many realms are there in Norse mythology?
In Norse mythology there are said to be 9 different realms, sometimes known as the Nine Worlds. Niflheim and Muspelheim spawned from the empty void of Ginnungagap (think Chaos in Greek mythology ), whereas the remaining 7 derive from Ymir’s body. They are Alfheim, Asgard, Helheim, Jotunheim, Midgard, Svartalfheim, and Vanaheim.
What does "heim" mean in Norse mythology?
You may have noticed that a lot of the Norse mythology realm names end in the word heim (e.g. Niflheim, Helheim). Heim simply means home in German, Faroese, Icelandic, and Norwegian. It is a common suffix for Norweigan places.
What is Freyr's Vanir?
Freyr is a Vanir associated with virility, good harvest, and peace, and is widely attested in Norse mythology.
What does Niflheim represent?
As one of the primordial realms of Ginnungagap, Niflheim represents the cold, whereas Muspehleim represents the fire. It is said that Odin threw Hel (Loki’s daughter) into Niflheim so she could preside over the nine realms.
What is the difference between Muspehleim and Niflheim?
As one of the primordial realms of Ginnungagap, Niflheim represents the cold, whereas Muspehleim represents the fire.
What is the realm of Alfheim?
Alfheim is a realm inhabited by light elves that is fairly uncommon in known Norse texts and is rarely referred to. That being said, the elves were regarded as beautiful beings and it is likely that Alfheim was highly thought of in Norse civilizations of the past.
Where are the giants in Ragnarok?
The Rocky Landscape of Jotunheim. Jotunheim is where the giants of Norse mythology reside. They are the enemies of the gods of Asgard and play a big role in Ragnarok and the demise of the world. Jotunheim is largely comprised of nature and rocky mountains and, in the absence of fertile land, the giants lived off the animals ...
What is the oldest realm in the Norse mythology?
Along with Muspelheim this was one of the oldest of the 9 realms, although the climates of the two realms could not be more different. Niflheim was said to be a primordial land of ice and mist, where all life in the universe began. In the Norse Creation story the great giant Ymir, who was the first living being, was created when the fire from Muspelheim met with the Ice from Niflheim.
What is the Norse god?
Yggdrasil, the tree of life, was considered to be the centre of the universe and connected all of the 9 worlds. The 9 realms were home to the various beings that were part of the religion of the Norse and Germanic peoples.
Why did the Norse Sagas exchange hostages?
According to the Norse Sagas they had been at war with the Aesir in the past and exchanged hostages in order to keep the peace intact. Amongst these hostages were Vanir gods such as Frey and Freya, who lived in Asgard as part of the peace agreement.
What was the name of the giant that ruled the world of Ragnarok?
Muspelheim was a primordial world full of fire and lava and was the home of the great fire giant, Surtr. He was destined to be freed from his realm by a great earthquake during Ragnarok and lead the armies of chaos in their great battle against the Norse Gods.
What is the name of the earth in Beowulf?
The earth was also referred to as Midgard in one famous Old English poem known as Beowulf.
What does the name Svartalfheim mean?
Confusingly this name translates to 'world of dark elves' which may indicate that there was some overlap between the dwarves and these other mythical creatures, however it could also be a complete fabrication that was not part of the original mythos of the Norse universe during the Viking age.
Why is the Midgard Serpent called the Midgard Serpent?
His arch-nemesis, the giant serpent Jormungandr, was sometimes called the 'Midgard Serpent' or the 'World Serpent', due to his role in encircling the oceans of the world. It was said that he would rise up from the oceans and cause huge waves to wash ashore bringing great destruction and wreaking havoc upon humanity.
Asgard
Attested to in the myths as the realm of the divine gods, Asgard is a magnificent place known for its splendid castles and beautiful scenery. This realm is home to the Aesir gods, one of the two major races of gods in Norse mythology.
Midgard
Midgard is one of the realms the lie beneath Asgard (the realm of the Aesir gods). Ask and Embla are seen as the progenitors of humans in the realm of Midgard (Earth).
Alfheim
Alfheim was the of home of the light elves in Norse mythology. The realm abounds with beautiful elf creatures with glowing hue that are as bright as the sun.
Vanaheim
Vanaheim is the dwelling place of the Vanir, the less popular race of Norse gods. This realm is known for its rivers and very calm atmosphere. This is because the Vanir gods and goddesses live in peace among themselves. The Vanir deities are described as very wise and gifted in art of magic. They are also known for being fertility deities.
Muspelheim
Long before there was Midgard and other realms, there was Muspelheim, a primordial world of fire. This realm is regarded as the oldest of the realms, along with the cold and frigid realm of Nilfheim.
Helheim
Helheim is the home of dead people who went selected by Odin’s warrior maidens (the Valkyries). It’s ruler is the giantess Hel, daughter of Loki
Niflheim
Popularly known as the birthplace of ice giants like Ymir, the Norse realm of Niflheim is described as an icy region. It ranks as oldest realm in Norse cosmology, along with Muspelheim.
How many realms are there in Norse mythology?
According to Norse mythology, there are nine realms, all of which are nestled in the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil. Unfortunately, all nine realms will also be destroyed during Ragnarok, the end of days. Read on to discover more about each of the nine realms in Norse cosmology.
Where do the gods live in the Norse mythology?
2020-11-23 by Jessica S. According to Norse mythology, men live in Midgard, the world of mortal beings, and the gods live in Asgard, the world of the divine. But these are only two of the many worlds that make up Norse cosmology. According to Norse mythology, there are nine realms, all of which are nestled in the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil.
What created the primordial goop from which emerged Ymir?
It was a mixing of the freezing air of Nilfheim and the burning air of Muspelheim that created the primordial goop from which emerged Ymir, from which the race of giants sprang and from whose corpse Odin and his brothers created much of Norse cosmology.
Why did Freya live in Asgard?
Freya is in fact one of the Vanir gods, but was sent to live in Asgard as a hostage to preserve peace between the warring tribes. Asgard is also the location of the Urdarbrunnr, the Well of Destiny, which is one of the three wells that nourished Yggdrasil in Norse cosmology. Asgard.
Why did Odin go to Jotunheim?
Odin passes into Jotunheim to consult with Mimir, the wisest of all beings, who lives at Mimisbrunnr, the Well of Wisdom, and the second of the wells that feed Yggdrasil. Jotunheim is considered a land of chaos beyond all law and order. The normal rules of the universe did not apply there.
Where is Midgard in Norse?
Asgard is directly connected with Midgard by a rainbow Bifrost bridge, allowing the gods easy access to this realm of which they are cartakers. Located somewhere around the middle of Yggdrasil in Norse cosmology, Midgard is described as circular, and surrounded by a deep sea that is impassable.
What is the realm of the Vanir?
Vanaheim – Realm of the Vanir. Vanaheim is the world of the Vanir gods (see our full post on Vanaheim ), the lesser deities in Norse mythology. They warred with the Aesir in the past, and exchanged hostages to maintain the peace.
How many realms are there in Norse mythology?
The nine realms in Old Norse religion not mythology are Asgardr,Midgardr,Vanaheim,Muspellheim,Jotungeimr,svartheimr,Nifelheimr,and I forgot the last two
How many realms are there in Norse?
And those are the nine realms of Old Norse Tradition.
What is the name of the realm that combined with Muspelheim to form Ymir?
Niflheim (Helheim?) - Realm of mist, the other primordial realm that combined with Muspelheim to form Ymir.
What is the name of Odin's horse?
Sleipnir is the 8-legged horse that is Odin's steed. It is the only horse which can carry its rider into Niflheim (also known as Helheim, or simply Hel).
What is the name of the realm of the dwarves?
Niðavellir- underground. Realm of the dwarves. Niðavellir may be the same as Svartálfar. Dwarves may be the same as dark elves, where dark elves are dark because of soot, because of forges and being underground and all that.
What are the similarities between myth and earthly realms?
As with all myth, there is an element of truth/correspondence with the actual world and the mythic world, so there are doubtless similarities between the mythic realms and earthly realms. For example, the first-named realm, Niflheim, translates as ‘World of Fog/Mist’ and is located at the top of the world tree.
What realm is Muspelheim?
Muspelheim- Realm of Fire giants, it is one of the primordial realms that formed Ymir.
Niflheim – Realm of Frost, Ice, Snow, and Mist.
- Niflheim, ‘mist-home’, ‘mist-world’, also called Niflhel, is an endless expanse of frost, ice, snow, and mist that lies to the north of Ginnungagap. It is a place of darkness, opposite in everything to Muspelheim to the south. The spring Hvergelmer, ‘bubbling, boiling spring’, runs through Niflheim, dividing itself into twelve icy streams. These tw...
Muspelheim – Realm of Fire
- Muspelheim, ‘home of Muspel’, ‘ lies to the south of Ginnungagap and is a place of unbearable heat and fire, filled with lava, soot, and tongues of flame. This inhospitable domain is the home of fire giants and of fire demons and is ruled over by the infamous fire giant Surt, also known as Muspel, who will one day set fire to the world tree. The flames of Muspelheim melted Niflheim ic…
Asgard – Realm of The Aesir
- Asgard, ‘enclosure of the Aesir’, is the home of the Aesir tribe of gods, including Odin, Frigga, and Thor. This realm is central to the universe. It floats in the skies high above Midgard and is the source of the Bifrostrainbow bridge that allows the gods instantaneous passage from their world to ours. It is a land of high towers, bounded by a protective wall and ruled by law, order, and desi…
Vanaheim – Realm of The Vanir
- Vanaheim, ‘home of the Vanir’,is the realm of the second tribe of gods known as the Vanir. While the Aesir are a warlike tribe unafraid to seek vengeance and destroy enemies, the Vanir, though capable of violence, are more peaceful and associated with fertility and the natural world. This beautiful realm is located to the west of Asgard as the Vanir god of the seas and of wealth, Njor…
Alfheim – Realm of The Bright Elves.
- Alfheim,also calledLjosalfheim, ‘elf-home’, is the abode of the bright elves and is located near Asgard in the skies above Midgard. The bright elves are beautiful, mystical beings and their ruler is Freyr, the Vanir god of fertility, hunting, and harvest. The elves are guardian spirits to be called upon for help and protection in dangerous ventures or in dire straits. In their role as subjects of F…
Jotunheim – Realm of The Frost Giants
- Jotunheim, ‘giant-home’, is the dwelling place of the ‘jötnar’, the giants. These massive creatures are wild, chaotic and the born enemies of the Aesir. They perpetually seek revenge for the death of Ymir and their giant forefathers at the hands of Odin and his Aesir allies. The only survivors of Odin’s slaughter were the giant Bergelmir and his wife who escaped in a small boat with the hel…
Midgard – Realm of Mortals
- Midgard, ‘middle enclosure,’ or ‘middle-earth’, is home to mortal humans and is positioned dangerously between Asgard and Jotunheim. Worse than this, the ‘middle’ refers to Midgard’s unfortunate situation of being surrounded by Jotunheim and thus in need of protection by gods and bright elves. The Bifrost bridge connects the mortal world with Asgard and allows the gods t…
Svartalfheim/Nidavellir – Realm of Dark Elves and Dwarves.
- Nidavellir, ‘low fields’, or ‘dark fields’ is the home of the dwarves. Svartalfheim, ‘black-elf-home’, is the abode of the dark elves Both dwelling places are located beneath the surface of Midgard. The dwarves are masters of every kind of metal shaping, mining, jewel making, smithing, and craftwork. Their home is a maze of underground mines and forges where they dig for raw materi…
Helheim – Realm of The Dead
- Helheim, ‘Hel-home’, or Hel,‘hidden’, is the dark residence of death goddess Hel and her terrifying familiars. This foreboding place is the final destination of all dead souls, save for those chosen to sit in Odin’s hall of Valhalla or Freya’s hall of Sessrumnirin beautiful Folkvangr. While those who have lost their lives honorably in battle continue on to feast with the gods, those who lack coura…
Niflheim – “The Home of Mist”
Muspelheim – “The Home of Fire”
- As with Niflheim, Muspelheim (sometimes referred to as Muspell) is one of two primordial realms of Ginnungagap. Muspelheim, however, is located in the southern region of the gaping void, and is a burning place abound with fire. Located within the depths of Muspelheim are fire giants and demons. The overlord of the fiery abyss is Surtr, a giant jötunnwho carries a bright flaming swor…
Alfheim – “The Home of The Elves”
- Alfheim is a realm inhabited by light elves that is fairly uncommon in known Norse texts and is rarely referred to. That being said, the elves were regarded as beautiful beings and it is likely that Alfheim was highly thought of in Norse civilizations of the past. It is believed that Alfheim was given to Freyr by the gods as a teething present. Fre...
Asgard – “The Enclosure of Aesir”
- Asgard is perhaps the most famous of all of the Nine Worlds. It is the home of the gods and is expressly highlighted in a number of important Old Norse texts and sagas. The name translates into English as the stronghold/enclosure of Aesir, the principal gods in Norse religion. It is believed that Asgard was destroyed and fully rebuilt in the events of Ragnarok. Within Asgard there are a …
Helheim – “The House of Hel”
- Helheim is presided over by the daughter of Loki, Hel. Here, she is responsible for overseeing all folk who were not honourable enough to enter either Valhalla or Folkvangr in Asgard. In Old Norse literature, Helheim is depicted as a cold and miserable place that sucks the life out of all those who arrive there. Indeed, it is said that anybody who ends up in Helheim will never feel happines…
Jotunheim – “The Home of The Giants”
- Jotunheim is where the giants of Norse mythology reside. They are the enemies of the gods of Asgard and play a big role in Ragnarok and the demise of the world. Jotunheim is largely comprised of nature and rocky mountains and, in the absence of fertile land, the giants lived off the animals that dwelled within the realm. Jotunheim is separated from Asgard by the Iving river…
Midgard “The Middle Stronghold”
- Midgard is the home of the humans and is located in the centre of the world, hence the name. It is believed that the Rainbow Bridge connects the mortal realm to Asgard. Surrounding Midgard is a large unsurpassable ocean that is guarded by the enormous Midgard Serpent. The serpent engulfs the entirety of Midgard in length due to its enormity. It is believed that Odin and the othe…
Svartalfheim – “The Home of The Dark Elves”
- In contrast to Alfheim, home of the light elves, Svartalfheim is home to the dark elves. Many scholars believe dark elves to be synonymous with dwarves. The dark elves are highly skilled in crafting, and many Old Norse sagas tell of the gods receiving powerful equipment from them. One famous example is the mighty spear of Odin. The king of Svartalfheim used to be the powerful s…
Vanaheim – “The Home of The Vanir”
- The Vanir were the gods of health, fertility, and wisdom. They are one of the two groups of Norse deities, the other being the Aesir. Notable examples of the Vanir include Njörðr(a divinity associated with the seas and wind), Freyr and Freyja (Njörðr’s children), and Kvasir.
FAQs
- What does Heim mean?
You may have noticed that a lot of the Norse mythology realm names end in the word heim (e.g. Niflheim, Helheim). Heim simply means home in German, Faroese, Icelandic, and Norwegian. It is a common suffix for Norweigan places. - What does Gard mean?
As with heim, gard is a common suffix for place names in norse culture (e.g. Asgard, Midgard). Gard means stronghold or enclosure in English – for example, Asgard means the “enclosure of Aesir” in Old Norse.