Crossing Bifrost – The Norse World: Asgard

Happy Saturn’s Day

Over the next nine weeks or so I am going to talk about the nine worlds of Norse Mythology.  The main point being to learn about the stage on which the players of Norse Mythology act.  I will start with Asgard.

Asgard is the realm of the gods known as the Aesir and is the realm of the sky connected to Midgard by the Bifrost Bridge.  It is the walled realm in which the gods dwell and are protected.  Outside this wall is Midgard the realm of mortals.  Asgard is the highest realm of the world and is divided into 12 other smaller realms each with its own hall and principal god. The most important of these was Valhalla, the residence of Odin, king of the gods.

The Walls of Asgard are part of he mythology as a they were built by Blast.  Blast using his great steed built the walls in almost six months.  Loki the trickster god, tricked his horse away from the work so Blast had to finish it on his own and thus failed to finish on time and thus forfeited payment (the sun and the moon).

In the Middle of Asgard lies the plains of Ida where the gods meet to discuss and decided important matters each day.  There are two halls here – one of the gods and one for the goddesses. The Well of Urd is also in Asgard underneath the one root of Yggdrasil where the gods meet each day as well.

Asgard represents all that is highest and most civilized in the world.  Carved out by the gods against the chaos forces of the giants and represent all that can be accomplished through bringing those forces to order.

Every mythology has in their system of belief a place to go after death that is the highest one can achieve.  In the case of the Nordic people, that place was Asgard and the hall of Odin – Valhalla. I will deal with the Halls of Norse mythology at a later time.

From a story point of view. There needs to be a place that people are always trying to get to that is the best both in life and in death. It is an old theme and very common. As we look further at the other realms they will always be contrasted with this one – Asgard.

The Rabyd Skald – Wandering Soul, Bard and Philosopher. The Grey Wayfarer.

Skaal!!!

 

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