Norse Mythology: Nine Realms

In Norse mythology, the world is divided into 9 realms.

1.Niflheim – World of Frost and Mist

This is the darkest and coldest land in the Nine Realms, also the first land in the World, located north of Ginnungagap. There is the ancient well Hvergelmir protected by the dragon Nidhug. It is said that Hvergelmir is the source of rivers. The World Tree Yggdrasil also draws water from here.
Somewhere underground of Niflheim is Helheim – the land of the dead.

2. Muspelheim – Land of Fire

Located at the far south end of the World, Muspelheim is filled with volcanoes and lava, home to fire demons and fire giants. The land is ruled by a giant named Surt, the enemy of the gods of Asgard.

3. Asgard: House of the Gods

In the center of the World, high in the sky, was Asgard – the home of the gods. The male gods are called Aesir, and the goddesses are called Asynjur. The ruler of Asgard and the leader of the gods is Odin. Inside the gates of Asgard is called Valhalla. This is where the Vikings thought they would come if they died bravely on the battlefield.
Valhalla is a large city with 540 gates, each door so large that 800 warriors can go in and out at the same time without having to be crowded. Valhalla’s roof is covered with golden shields, and the walls are wooden spears.
According to legend, Vikings warriors who died on the battlefield would come to Valhalla. What is their day in Valhalla like? Every morning, warriors will put on armor, take up their weapons and rush into battle in the vast fields of Asgard. If they got injured, or even lost a limb in battle, it didn’t matter, because when it was dark, all wounds healed normally. And when it is dark, the warriors will return to Valhalla, to join an endless feast. They were satisfied with eating and drinking because the giant pig Saehrimnir, each time a piece of meat was cut, immediately healed the cut. And the goat Heidrun, standing on the roof of Valhalla, ate the branches of the tree Yggdrasil, from its udders gushed out incessant streams of delicious mead, enough to keep everyone drunk all day.

4. Vanaheim – The House of the Vanirs

Vanaheim is the home of the Vanir gods – the ancient gods. They are masters of spells and magic, as well as the ability to predict the future. No one knows exactly where Vanaheim is located or what it looks like. When the war between the Aesir and Vanir ended, three Vanirs came to live in Asgard, Njord, and his two children Freya and Freyr.
5. Alfheim: The home of the Light Elves (Light Elves)

Alfheim is the land located right next to Asgard. The Light Elves living here are extremely beautiful creatures, often considered guardian angels. They are the gods who govern nature and childbirth. The Light Elves have many magical powers, often helping Humans and being the inspiration of poetry and music. The leader of the Light Elves is the god Freyr.

6. Midgard – House of Mortals

The land in the middle of the world, below Asgard, is our Earth. The first mortals were created from logs by the three gods Odin, Vili and Ve.
Midgard is connected to Asgard by the Bifost Bridge and is surrounded by a huge ocean. In that ocean there was a sea snake – the Midgard snake. The monster was so big that its whole body could wrap a circle around Midgard.

7. Nidavelli – House of Dwarves

Dwarves live in caves, rocks and mines. Hreidmar is the king of the Dwarves. They are skilled craftsmen, having created many mighty weapons for the gods of Asgard such as Thor’s hammer, Odin’s spear, the magic ring Draupnir and Gungnir.

8. Jotunheim – House of Giants

The home of the Jotun tribe, the Giants have a long-standing feud with the gods Aesir, after the three brothers Odin, Vili and Ve killed the first Jotun, Ymir, and used his corpse to create the World.
The land of Jotunheim is mostly rock and ice. Because there is no fertile land like Midgard, the Jotuns mainly live by hunting animals for food.

9. Svartalfheim – House of the Dark Elves (Dark Elves)

The Dark Elves hated sunlight, so they dwelt deep in the dark underground. They are a formidable species and are often said to be the cause of Man’s nightmares. If they encounter sunlight, they will immediately turn to stone.