Niflheim and Muspelheim

Niflheim was a realm of fog and ice, while Muspelheim was a realm of heat and fire. The two existed before the other realms were created, floating together in an endless void called Ginnungagap.

“That was the age when nothing was; / There was no sand, nor sea, nor cool waves, / No earth nor sky nor grass there, / Only Ginnungagap.”

Over time, the realms of Muspelheim and Niflheim drew closer together, and when the fires of Muspelheim met the ice of Niflheim, the ice began to melt. This meltwater created Ymir the jötunn and Auðumbla the primordial cow. Ymir was later killed by Odin, and the remnants of his body transformed into the other realms of the cosmos.
After the creation of the other realms, Niflheim and Muspelheim were occupied by frost jötnar and fire jötnar respectively. One of these fire jötnar was Surtr, a powerful being with a shining sword, who was prophesied to fight with Freyr at the end of the world.

Type

Magical Realm

Characters in Location

• Surtr