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Asgard or in old Norse “Àsgardr” means “enclosure of the Aesir”. It is one of the Nine Worlds of Norse mythology. Located in the sky, it is connected to the human world Midgard by a rainbow bridge called Bifröst. Asgard is both the home and stronghold of the Aesir, one of the tribes of the gods.
Asgard is the home of Odin, Thor, Heimdall, Loki and many other gods of Norse mythology. It is a powerful realm located in the sky above Midgard (the human world). It is said to be connected by the rainbow bridge Bifrost which can only be crossed by those deemed worthy by Heimdall, the guardian of the gods, and his mighty horn Gjallarhorn. Asgard is also surrounded by an impenetrable wall made of gold bricks, called Svarinshaug, which keeps unwanted visitors out.
@pensketch
In Asgard, "gard" refers to the distinction between innangard and utangard. It is a Germanic concept. All who are orderly, civilized and law abiding are within the fence or innangard. And the chaotic and wild are beyond the fence or utangard.
This theory is not only geographical, but also psychic; i.e. thoughts and behaviors can be innangard or utangard. Asgard is the supreme scheme of innangard and Jotunheim or the "world of giants" embodies utangard.
The central enclosure Midgard is the world of humans. Being in the middle, it is both innangard and utangard. Midgard is enclosed physically by walls and morally by rules and laws.
Because of this, it is closer to Asgard than to Jotunheim. Also, Asgard is the divine symbol that formed the world of the pre-Christian Norse people.
Asgard, although known as the Nordic celestial abode, differs from the Judeo-Christian notion of heaven. Like the Greek Olympus, it is considered the home of the gods where their many dwellings were found as well as Valhalla, the place where the god Odin receives the honorable fallen warriors.
According to Scandinavian writings, several accounts of the gods and their actions relate to Asgard.
During the great battle of Ragnarök, Asgard should have been destroyed, but a prophecy announced its reconstruction by the second generation gods who survived the apocalypse. Thus, a new era of prosperity opens.
Other religions, affected by a long process of divine providence, also provide for cosmic renewal and restoration.
This wondrous land features many terrains, including lush meadows filled with flowers as colorful as rainbows, towering mountains that reach into the heavens, vast forests where magical creatures roam free, and rivers flowing purest water from Yggdrasil, the tree of the world.
Every corner of Asgard holds something unique for those brave enough to explore!
Besides its breathtaking landscapes, Asgard holds many treasures for its inhabitants, such as Valhalla, a majestic hall where heroes gather after death; Hlidskjalf, a tall tower from which Odin can see all the realms; and Hofn, a beautiful palace where Freya lives with her beloved cats.
Even though these places may seem like mere myths today, they were once a very real part of life in ancient Norse culture.
@gabrielle chabot
Beliefs around Asgard are complex, as they are shared by Scandinavian and Germanic peoples and are at once religious, mythological and cosmological. The development of this mythology was made from the first manifestations of religious culture around the year 1000 BC. This continued until the area was Christianized between 900 and 1200 CE.
In sum, there are three clans of divinity in Norse cosmology. They are: the Aesir, the Vanir and the Jotun. Aesir and Vanir, after long wars, made peace. They exchanged hostages, married and ruled together.
The difference between the two clans lies in their areas of influence. Aesir embodies war and conquest, while Vanir symbolizes exploration, fertility and wealth. Jotun made up of giants, on the other hand is considered the enemy of Aesir and Vanir.
Supported by a mighty tree named Yggdrasil , Norse cosmology is divided into Nine Realms. In the upper branches is the realm of the gods, including Asgard and Vanaheim; followed by the mortal realm or Midgard in the middle and surrounded by an inaccessible sea; and finally the icy world of Hell or Niflheim located between its roots.
@TERRIENSEUL
Asgard, as the first Norse celestial kingdom is depicted as the home of the gods, the place where they gathered and studied humans. It plays a vital role in the prowess of the Aesir.
In mythical accounts like Scandinavian poems, it is common to see the various places where the Aesir dwelt bear similarities to the castles and feast halls of human royalty. It is mentioned in the Prose Edda that the gods lived in a heavenly realm far from the world of humans. This theory is taken up in the poetry of the tenth century.
Since Folkvang or the hall of Freyja and Noatùn or the hall of Njord are in Asgard instead of Vanaheim, it can be deduced that the name Asgard is not only intended for the Aesir.
@thinng
At the beginning, in the place called Idafield, Odin had imposed on the chiefs he chose to cast the spell with him and had given them indications on the organization of the city. They made the court one where stood their twelve seats. They built for Odin the greatest house in all the land and named it Gladsheim . She is very beautiful, and her interior is all gold.
After finishing all the projects, including houses and meeting halls, the Aesir have come to realize that they are vulnerable to attack. At that moment, a giant passed by and offered to build them a wall and a gate to protect them. In exchange, he wants to be given Freya's hand, the sun and the moon. Supposing that such work would be impossible, the emir accepts and imposes the following conditions on him: one, that he finish the task in a month and two, that he does not get help. Loki then convinced the Aesir to let him use his stallion and the giant began the work.
Towards the end of the summer, the work progressed a lot, so much so that the gods regretted their decision. Since the giant's horse is an asset to his progress, they asked Loki to disrupt it. They threatened to punish him harshly if he failed. Dreading the wrath of the gods, Loki executed him. He then turns into a mare and passes in front of the stallion. Seduced, the horse drops his occupations to pursue the mare. They eventually had sex and gave birth to the eight-legged horse named Sleipnir which was later given as a gift to Odin and became his emblem.
@TERRIENSEUL
Finding that he couldn't finish in time, the giant flew into a rage. The gods taking advantage of this invoked Thor who struck him with a single blow with the hammer MjÖllnir. The giant's skull shattered, he died and brought down Niflhel.
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