Yggdrasil

Yggdrasill, the world tree, is a giant ash supporting the universe. One of its roots extended into Niflheim, the underworld; another into Jötunheim, land of the giants; and the third into Asgard, home of the gods. At its base were three wells: Urdarbrunnr (Well of Fate), from which the tree was watered by the Norns (the Fates Hvergelmir (Roaring Kettle), in which dwelt Nidhogg, the monster that gnawed at the tree’s roots; and Mímisbrunnr (Mimir’s Well), source of wisdom, for the waters of which Odin sacrificed an eye. After Ragnarök (Doomsday), the world tree, though badly shaken, was to be the source of new life.
The nine Norse realms (probably) connected to Yggdrasil are:

• Asgard – the realm of the Aesir gods ruled over by Odin. This is also where Valhalla, the afterlife of warriors, is located. Half the Viking warriors that fall in battle are taken to Valhalla, and the other half to Fólkvanger.
• Jotunheim, the realm of the giants, which are known as Jotuns and are mortal enemies of the Aesir. Despite this, many Aesir gods and giants had love affairs, for example, Thor is the son of Odin with the giantess Jord.
• Midgard – meaning middle earth, it is probably located in the centre of the Tree of Life and is the realm of men. It is surrounded by a huge ocean that makes it inaccessible from the other realms, except Asgard which is linked with Midgard by the rainbow Bifrost bridge.
• Niflheim  – meaning mist home, a realm of ice and mist inhabited by ice giants. Along with Muspelheim, it is the oldest of the Norse realms.
• Muspelheim – the primordial world of fire and home to the fire giants ruled by Sutr, a mortal enemy of Odin. Sutr will lead the charge against Asgard during Ragnarok.
• Helheim, the realm of the dead, not just the dishonourable, but any Viking that did not die in battle, and therefore was not taken to Valhalla or Fólkvanger.
• Vanaheim – home of the Vanir gods, the lesser gods of Norse mythology who are masters of sorcery and magic. This is also the location of Fólkvanger.
• Alfheim – home of the light elves, beautiful creatures that shine more brightly than the son and may have been similar to angels.
• Svartalfheim – meaning dark fields, the home of the dwarves who prefer to live underground. Great artisans and blacksmiths, they made most of the famous magical weapons carried by the Aesir gods.

Alternative Name(s)

The World Tree

Type

Dimensional plane

Included Locations

• Alfheim
• Asgard
• Helheim
• Jotunheim
• Midgard
• Muspelheim
• Niflheim
• Svartalfheim
• Vanaheim