Asgard

Asgard

In Norse mythology, Asgard (Old Norse: Ásgarðr, "Enclosure of the Æsir") is a realm associated with the gods. It appears in a variety of Old Norse sagas and mythological texts. Some scholars identify Asgard as one of the Nine Worlds surrounding the World Tree, Yggdrasil. In Norse mythology, Asgard is depicted as the fortified home of the Æsir gods, situated in the sky.

Asgard consists of smaller realms that do not appear as frequently in mythological poetry and prose. The Old Norse eschatology predicts the complete destruction of Asgard during Ragnarök and its later restoration after the world’s renewal.

The most famous gods in the Norse pantheon are the Æsir, or they reside in Asgard. These gods include Odin, Thor, Loki, and Baldr. Asgard is depicted as a heavenly city with tall towers, surrounded by a great wall. Odin’s famous hall, Valhalla, where his throne may have been located, is found in Asgard.

Etymology

The word Ásgarðr is a compound of the Old Norse words áss ("god") and garðr ("enclosure"). Possible anglicizations include Ásgarthr, Ásgard, Ásegard, Ásgardr, Asgardr, Ásgarth, Asgarth, Esageard, and Ásgardhr.

Testimonies

Historians point to three main sources in which Asgard is described: the Poetic Edda, the Prose Edda, and the Heimskringla, which is composed of several sagas.

The Poetic Edda

The Poetic Edda consists of several Old Norse poems of unknown authorship dating back to the 13th century. Most of these poems come from the medieval text Codex Regius, also known as the Konungsbók.

  • Völuspá: The first poem of the Poetic Edda, Völuspá, contains some of the most complete and accurate descriptions of the twelve sub-realms of Asgard, including Breidablik, Valhalla, and Thrudheim. It also describes Yggdrasil, the mythical tree that connects all Nine Worlds, with Asgard lying under one of its three roots. The poem also provides a vague description of Iðavöllr, one of the most frequent meeting places of the Æsir gods.

  • Grímnismál: This is one of the shorter poems in the Poetic Edda. It contains a brief description of Bifröst, one of the 12 realms of Asgard, which connects it to Midgard.

The Prose Edda

The Prose Edda, also known as the Younger Edda, is often attributed to the historian Snorri Sturluson from the late 13th century. As one of the most detailed descriptions of Norse mythology, the Prose Edda provides a comprehensive account of Asgard and its inhabitants. It consists of four parts:

  1. Prologue
  2. Gylfaginning
  3. Skáldskaparmál
  4. Háttatal

  • Prologue: In the Prologue, Snorri Sturluson shares his interpretation of skaldic poems and legends. His analysis aligns with the view of modern historians that the Æsir gods were, in reality, real tribes who traveled from the east to the northern territories. According to Snorri, Asgard represented the city of Troy before it was conquered by Greek warriors. After their defeat, the Trojans moved to Northern Europe, where they became a dominant group due to their "advanced technology and culture," eventually being regarded as gods, with their leader Trór (Thor in Old Norse).

  • Gylfaginning: This section contains mythological accounts of the world's creation in chronological order. Snorri establishes the foundations of Norse mythology, including the creation and fortification of Asgard, and introduces the key Æsir gods such as Thor, Odin, and Baldr. It also describes Ragnarök, an event that will lead to the destruction of the Nine Worlds and their subsequent rebirth.

  • Skáldskaparmál: In Skáldskaparmál, Snorri focuses on language and the nature of poetry. In a dialogue between the Norse god Aegir and the skaldic god Bragi, he shows how various aspects of poetry and nature are intertwined. This part also touches on the war between the Æsir and the Vanir gods, including the fortification of Asgard.

Heimskringla

The Heimskringla is a collection of sagas written by Snorri Sturluson that contains reports on Swedish and Norwegian royal dynasties. The name Heimskringla comes from kringla heimsins ("the circle of the world").

  • Ynglinga Saga: The first saga in the manuscript further develops Snorri's historical interpretation of Old Norse myth. In the Ynglinga Saga, Snorri rejects his earlier notion of Troy as the historical location of Asgard. He then provides an overview of the Nordic kings and their dynasties based on earlier sagas and poems. In these texts, he gives brief descriptions of the Æsir gods, often looking for parallels between them and the Nordic kings.

Realms of Asgard

Although many sources mention that Asgard consists of numerous realms, these are only described in a handful of sagas.

  • Valhalla: Valhalla is ruled by Odin and is equipped with a golden hall where the souls of powerful warriors arrive after dying in battle. It is also the home of the Valkyries, who supervise the souls of the dead and guide them to Valhalla. As reported in the Poetic Edda, Odin gathers an army, the Einherjar, for Ragnarök, where his warriors are to fight by his side. They train daily against one another to improve their combat skills. However, only half of those who fall in battle reach Valhalla, while the others go to another realm, Fólkvangr, where the goddess Freyja resides.

  • Bifröst: Bifröst differs from the other realms as it connects Asgard, the realm of the gods, with Midgard, the realm of humans. In the Prose Edda, Snorri describes it as a rainbow bridge beginning at Himinbjörg. The Poetic Edda later predicts its destruction during Ragnarök when the forces from Muspelheim attack.

  • Fólkvangr: Fólkvangr is a rarely depicted realm of Asgard. The main inhabitants of Fólkvangr are Freyja and her two daughters, Gersemi and Hnoss, who take in half of those who fall in battle. They live in the main hall Sessrúmnir, which is adorned with natural ornaments. In the Poetic Edda, Fólkvangr’s rich flora and fauna are mentioned, which is associated with Freyja's love for nature and wild creatures.

  • Himinbjörg: Himinbjörg lies on the border of Asgard and is the home of the god Heimdallr, who watches over Midgard and humanity. In the Poetic Edda, Heimdallr is depicted as "drinking fine mead" in Himinbjörg while guarding the rainbow bridge, Bifröst. When enemies from Muspelheim destroy Bifröst, Heimdallr blows his Gjallarhorn to announce the coming of Ragnarök.

  • Bilskírnir: According to Grímnismál, Bilskírnir is the largest building and one of the most significant realms of Asgard. It contains 540 rooms and serves as the residence of Thor and Sif and their many children. In the Prose Edda, Snorri predicts the partial destruction of Bilskírnir during the battle between Thor and the world serpent Jörmungandr when Ragnarök arrives.

Building Asgard

After arriving in Asgard, the Æsir gods make it their home, as testified by Snorri in the Prose Edda. Following consultations with the head of Mimir, Odin assigns other gods to rule over different parts of the land and build palaces. However, their domains remain open to attacks from enemies, forcing the Æsir to protect their land.

One day, a nameless giant, claiming to be a skilled blacksmith, arrives at Asgard on his horse Svadilfari. He offers his help in building a protective wall around Asgard in just three winters. In exchange, he asks for the sun, the moon, and the hand of Freyja in marriage. Despite Freyja's objection, the gods agree to his request if he completes the wall within one winter. As part of the agreement, they guarantee the giant’s safety.

Over time, the gods grow desperate as it becomes clear the giant will finish the wall on time. To their surprise, his horse greatly aids the progress by quickly moving rocks and stones. In order to protect Freyja and preserve the sun and moon, one of the gods, Loki, devises a plan. He transforms into a mare and distracts Svadilfari, slowing down the work. Without the help of his horse, the giant cannot finish on time, and Thor crushes his skull with his hammer. Months later, Loki gives birth to an eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, who becomes Odin’s steed. Eventually, the Æsir finish the wall and fully fortify Asgard for future battles.

Asgard in Ragnarök

Ragnarök consists of a series of predicted events that will ultimately lead to the destruction and subsequent renewal of the world. It begins with the invasion of fire giants from Muspelheim, who destroy Bifröst, the bridge connecting Midgard and Asgard, prompting Heimdallr to blow his Gjallarhorn and announce the impending downfall of the gods. Odin consults with Mimir, who foretells the destruction of Asgard and Odin’s death.

The Æsir gods decide to march into battle and gather their forces on the Vigrid battlefield ("the plain where the battle rages"). Their enemies, led by the fire giant Surt, march through Asgard, destroying many of the palaces and fortifications. Odin, Thor, Loki, Heimdallr, and other gods die in the battle. As the Vigrid plain is drenched in blood, the world sinks into the water, and all that ever existed perishes.

As the Völuspá foretells, a new world will rise after the destruction of the old. Several gods survive, including Magni, Modi (Thor’s sons), and they restore Asgard, bringing it to great prosperity.

Portrayals in Popular Culture

  • Thor first appeared in Marvel Comics in Journey into Mystery #83 in August 1962. He became one of the central characters in the comics alongside Loki and Odin.
  • In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor and Loki made their first joint appearance in the 2011 film Thor. Thor became a mainstay in the MCU, appearing in multiple films, including the Avengers series. Asgard plays a central role in Thor: Ragnarok, where it is destroyed according to the Old Norse myth.
  • These and other elements of Norse mythology also appear in video games, TV series, and books based on or inspired by the Marvel Universe.
  • Asgard will be an explorable realm in the upcoming video game God of War: Ragnarök, a sequel to the 2018 soft reboot God of War, featuring Norse themes.
  • In Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Asgard will be part of a "vision quest".
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