In the beginning, there were no stars, no heavens, and no earth to walk upon. Only two uninhabitable worlds existed: the icy realm called Niflheim and the realm of fire, Muspelheim. Between the worlds was the yawning gap called Ginnungagap. Hvergelmir, a bubbling cauldron in which eleven poisonous rivers flowed, soared from the depths of Niflheim. It is believed to be a powerful boiling wellspring, the source of all rivers in Norse Cosmology.
Between the worlds was the yawning gap called Ginnungagap. Over time, the poisonous river flowed into the gap, reaching the fires with unimaginable force. When this happened, a cataclysmic event occurred, creating the first life, a giant as large as the universe itself. Its name was Ymir, and they were the ancestors of all beings.
Yggdrasil And The Creation of the Worlds
“In earliest times,
did Ymir live:
was nor sea nor land,
nor salty waves,
neither earth was there,
nor upper heaven,
but a gaping nothin,
and green things nowhere.”
– Völuspa stanza 3
According to Norse mythology, this is the story of creation. From this event sprang the world tree, a mighty ash called Yggdrasil, which filled the universe. Yggdrasil is a living entity that connects all life. It was cared for by three beings known as the Norns. Every day, the Norns tended to the well at the root of the ash to ensure the tree would survive. Without this care, the tree would perish.
Ymir was the source of all life. Nurtured by a cow called Auðumbla, Ymir eventually gave birth to a son, a daughter, and a six-headed being. The first giants came from Ymir himself, as described in chapter four of the Gylfaginning from the Icelandic Prose Edda. Ymir was joined by Buri, the first of the gods, and Bestla, the ancestor of the god Odin.
From them came the first gods, Odin, Vili, and Ve. Over time, Ymir aged, and the gods desired more in the universe. When Ymir aged beyond his usefulness, Odin did what he felt was needful and slayed the giant. His blood flooded the universe, killing most of the giants, all but a few who escaped in a wooden rowboat.
The three gods used the giant’s remains to form the worlds. Ymir’s flesh became the mountains, his blood the ocean, and his bones the rocks and cliffs. Even Ymir’s skull was used to form the vaults of the heavens, which four dwarves guard.
Now there were Nine Realms in the universe, and Earth, known as Midgard, was formed.
The Nine Realms
Norse Cosmology is a web of wonder, beauty, and mysticism. Home to unimaginable beings such as light elves and a corpse-eating dragon, the universe, according to the Norse, was a lively place that would tease even the most robust imaginations.
Dare to enter the Norse cosmos, on the back of Odin’s legged steed or a golden bristling boar. There is no shortage of wild beings and wild places in this story.
It all begins with the Great Ash tree, Yggdrasil, which connects the Nine Realms. Its roots stretch deep into the netherworld, where the realm of the dead exists. At the very bottom of the deepest root lies the dragon Nidhogg, who devours the souls of the dishonorable dead.
Asgard– At its highest branches was the realm of the gods, Asgard, home of the Æsir. This is where Odin, the highest of the Æsir, has his majestic hall, Valhalla.
Perched at Yggdrasil’s highest branch is a giant in the form of an eagle who created wind by beating his wings. A squirrel climbs the tree carrying news and gossip from the eagle to the dragon. His name is Ratatoskr and is the root of all strife.
Vanaheim– To the west of Asgard was Vanaheim, a realm of beauty and eternal nature. This lush realm is home to the Vanir, the gods and goddesses of magic and beauty, such as Freyja and her twin brother Freyr.
Alfheim- Home to the light elves, Alfheim is rich in mystical beauty and everlasting light. The light elves, or “Ljosálfar,” are believed to be the origin of the Icelandic elves in their folklore.
Midgard– In the center of the ash is a Middle World called Midgard, the home of mortals. We call it Earth. Midgard was a beautiful place, created in the likeness of Asgard.
Jotunheim– A realm of chaos and wild nature, Jotunheim is home to the giants, sometimes adversaries to the Æsir. Jotunheim is a dangerous realm, unpredictable and wild. Many a mortal has been lost while crossing the Great Sea, eventually reaching Jotunheim and never to be seen again.
Svartalfheim– Between the dense branches, deep within the volcanic lands rich in rare minerals in Svartalfheim, home to the greatest smiths, the dark elves are also called dwarves. Because of them, the gods have their treasures, such as Thor’s hammer, Odin’s spear, and Freyja’s magical necklace. The dwarves guard the four directions of the heavens and are believed to control the seasons.
Helheim– Below the root, is Helheim, the realm of the dead who died of disease or natural causes. Hel rules over this realm with the god Baldur at her side, who will be reborn at Ragnarök. Some believed Helheim to be a dark, grey realm with a hound at its gates and a murky sky, while others believed Helheim to be much like Midgard, with bountiful landscapes and seasons.
Muspelheim– This is the land of eternal fire where lava springs from the earth and giants such as Surt roam with his flaming sword.
Niflheim- The cold mist realm where Helheim lies, and a poisonous spring flows.
Bifrost, the rainbow bridge, is the bridge that connects Asgard to Midgard. No one can travel on the bridge besides the gods, for it would burn the feet of any mortal or giant who dared to try it.
Many of the tales in Norse Mythology take place in three realms: Asgard, Midgard, and Jotunheim. However, a few gods, such as Odin and Freyja, journey to the underworld to seek wisdom from the dead. Gods like Loki are full-blooded Jotuns yet are counted among the Æsir due to their blood oath with Odin.
The Meaning of Yggdrasil
The interconnectedness of Yggdrasil suggests that the Vikings held a deep belief in and valued their relationship with nature. Giving names and life to elements such as the wind and the earth is homage to a deep respect for the harsh world they lived in. The belief in Icelandic elves, although to some may seem silly, is an ancient tradition rooted in folklore and mythology that cultivates a respect for nature and the unseen energy within it.
Norse cosmology is attested in The Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson, the most popular source of Icelandic mythology.
Norse Cosmology in Iceland
Visiting Iceland and want to see where Norse Cosmology has inspired the land of fire and ice?
A tour in the highlands or around the unique landscapes is a visual storybook. Iceland’s landscapes have inspired my world-building for my books based on Norse Cosmology!
If you travel to the far North, you can visit The Arctic Henge, a sundial dedicated to the Eddic poem Voluspa and to the dwarves who control the seasons.
Keep on the lookout for places called Tröllkirkja, “troll church,” or Àlfakirkja, or “elf church,” as these are places most likely named after a folktale involving trolls or elves.
This is an illustration by Art of Arklin done for my book Father of Monsters. Notable landmarks such as Stuthlagil are named after places in Iceland.
