The fortress is carved from blocks of snow and glistening icicles, and inside lives the feared jotun king Utgard-Loki. The stronghold of Utgard could be called the giants’ version of Asgard, and it is so tall that it is hard to see the top of it. Jotunheim is separated from Asgard by the river Iving, which never freezes over. Loki also came from Jotunheim, but he was accepted by the Aesir and lived in Asgard until he was punished. Odin, Thor, and a few others had lovers who were giants. The giants and the Aesir are constantly fighting, but it also happens from time to time, that love affairs will occur. “Mount Corcoran” by Albert Bierstadt (1876-77)
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Inside the gates of Asgard is Valhalla it’s the place where half who dies in battle will go for the afterlife, the other half goes to Fólkvangr which is ruled over by the goddess Freya. He is married to Frigg and she is the Queen of the Aesir. Odin is the ruler of Asgard and the chief of the Aesir. In the middle of the world, high up in the sky is Asgard (Old Norse: “Ásgarðr”). Surtr will ride out with his flaming sword in his hand at Ragnarök “the end of the world” Surtr will then attack Asgard, “the home of the gods” and turn it into a flaming inferno. Muspelheim is the home of fire giants, fire demons, and ruled by the giant Surtr. Muspelheim is a burning hot place, filled with lava, flames, sparks, and soot. Muspelheim (Old Norse: “Múspellsheimr”) was created at the same time as Niflheim but it was created far to the south of the world in Norse mythology. “Muspelheim: the land of fire” Volcano at Night by Jules Tavernier ca. The eldest spring in the world called Hvergelmir “bubbling boiling spring” is located in Niflheim and it is protected by the huge dragon called Nidhug (Old Norse: Níðhöggr). Niflheim is one of the two first realms and it is placed in the northern region of Ginnungagap. Niflheim (Old Norse: “Niðavellir”) means (“Mist home” or “Mist World”), and it is the darkest and coldest region of all the realms according to Norse mythology. To mention a few, Odin hung on Yggdrasil for nine days and nights, Heimdall has nine daughters, Njord had to wait nine days for Skadi. It is not a coincidence that there are nine realms, the number nine is an important number in Norse mythology, and its significance can be found in other poems in the Edda’s by Snorri Sturluson. The rest of the realms were created out of Ymir’s body by Odin and his two brothers during the creation of the world. The first two realms, Niflheim and Muspelheim were created out of Ginnungagap. These realms are the home of different kinds of beings, such as Asgard the home of the Gods and Goddesses, or Jotumheim the home of the giants.
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The nine worlds in Norse mythology are held in the branches and roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. There are nine realms in Norse Mythology, they are called Niflheim, Muspelheim, Asgard, Midgard, Jotunheim, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Svartalfheim, Helheim.