Norse cosmology
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Diagram of the Nine Worlds
- Yggdrasil (Beneath its roots are the nine worlds of the universe, plus three magic wells)
- Highest level
- Middle level
- Jotunheim (the world of the Jotnir, i.e. giants)
- Midgard (The "Middle Earth," the world of men, originally called Mannheim)
- Nidavellir and Svartálfheim (The world of the dwarves or black elves. Most probably the same)
- Lower level
- Helheim (The world of Hel, goddess of the underworld)
- Muspelheim (The world of fire and home to the fire giants)
- Ginnungagap (Former gap between Muspelheim and Niflheim, from which life sprang)
- Niflheim (The world of mists, ice and cold. Home to the frost giants)
Apart from Midgard, the "Middle Earth," the remaining eight worlds can be structured into pairs of opposing principles:
| World | Counter-world | Contrast |
|---|---|---|
| Muspelheim | Niflheim | Fire and heat - Ice and coldness |
| Asgard | Helheim | Heaven - Hell |
| Vanaheim | Jotunheim | Creation - Destruction |
| Álfheim | Nidavellir | Light - Darkness |
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da:Nordisk kosmologi ja:九つの世界 nl:Noorse kosmologie no:Norrøn kosmologi
