The Nine Worlds
Having addressed the problems of characterizing a non-uniform set of beliefs which we can only understand because of a single individual, we can move onto what we believe were the tenets of Norse Mythology. In Norse Cosmology, the universe is made up of Nine Worlds which surround the giant ash tree, Yggdrasil (discussed in detail on the next page). In the beginning, there was Ginnungagap, a primeval void, within which the Nine Worlds came into being. In an interesting parallel with today’s Big Bang Theory, no deliberate action caused the creation of the Norse universe: it just happened.
First to emerge was Muspelheim in the south, the realm of fire ruled by Surtr and the fire-giants. Next was Niflheim in the north, the world of mist, cold, and freezing water. Between these 2 elemental places came the other 7 realms. Alfheim (‘Home of the Elves’) is the home of the Ljósálfar (‘Light-Elves’) who, according to Snorri, are ‘more beautiful than the sun’ (Gylfaginning, 17). Asgard (‘Enclosure of the Æsir’) is the home of the Æsir, the principal group of gods, and is surrounded by an incomplete defensive wall intended to protect the gods from the giants.
These giants live at Jötunheimr, though it seems likely that this name, in fact, designated several different locations. At Vanaheimr (‘Home of the Vanir’) live the Vanir, the other group of gods with whom the Æsir once fought a war (see below). The counterparts to the Ljósálfar are the Svartálfar (‘Dark Elves’) who live at Svartálfaheim, and are known for their craftsmanship. Midgard (‘central-enclosure’) is the Earth, where people live, and is placed directly in the middle of the cosmos. Snorri tells us that Midgard ‘is circular around the edge, and surrounding it lies the deep sea’ (Gylfaginning, 8).
Finally, Helheim is the realm of the undesirable dead, and is located beneath one of Yggdrasil’s roots. The desirable dead reside at Folkvangr and Valhalla (see below), which are located at Asgard. There is considerable debate about the number of worlds, however, since many are only alluded to, and others may refer simply to a god or goddess. There is also considerable overlap between some of the realms. Again, this confusion and ambiguity is the nature of the beast: we have only the fallible Snorri and skaldic poetry as our guide to the religion and its complex cosmology.