Asgard (mythology)
Asgard ( Old Norse Ásgarðr "home of the Aesir") is the place of residence of the Aesir family of gods , both according to the Edda of Snorri Sturluson and the Edda of Songs . Asgard is connected to Midgard via the Bifröst rainbow bridge.
Asgard is described as a huge castle in the Grimnismál , the second song of the gods of the Edda of Songs. This consists of the twelve palaces of the gods and is surrounded by impregnable walls. The twelve heavenly castles are made of gold and precious stones, the lattices of the palaces are made of golden spears; Walls and floors are paneled with gold, and the heroes' shining shields hang on the ceilings. The largest halls named Valhall and Sessrumnir , in which the heroes gather after their death. From his throne Hlidskialf the main god Odin can overlook all nine worlds.
The Wanen family of gods , on the other hand, lives in Vanaheimr , which is also part of "heaven" in most depictions, but is outside Asgard, as is Álfheimr , the home of the albums . Asgard is rarely shown as part of Midgard.
The location of Asgard after Snorri Sturluson
According to Snorri Sturluson , Asgard was in the country east of the Tanais ( Don ), where historically documented the As ( Alans / Ossetians ) lived - and Vanaheimr was between two arms of the Tanais.
“To the north of the mountains which surround all the inhabited land, a river falls through Swithjod, which is rightly called Tanais; he was previously called Tanaquisl or Wanaquisl; it flows out into the black sea. The land between the arms of the Wanaquisl was then called Wanaland or Wanaheim; the river separates the three parts of the earth; the one to the east is called Asia, the one to the west is Europe. The land to the east of the Tanaquisl in Asia was called Asaland or Asaheim; but the main castle that was in the country they called Asgard. "( Heimskringla )
Edification of Asgard
Asgard's walls had the gods built by a stonemason, who was to receive the goddess Freya for his wife as well as the sun and moon as a reward . On Loki's advice , the gods set him a deadline. He was supposed to complete the entire construction in just six months without any help. The frost giant accepted the conditions, but insisted on using his horse Svadilfari . Unsure at first, but confirmed by Loki that even a horse could not help the builder to finish the work on time, the gods accepted the conditions. To the horror of the gods, however, it seemed that the builder could keep his end of the bargain - three days before the deadline was all that was missing was an archway. The horse Svadilfari carried mighty stones in the night. Thereupon Loki turned into a mare, seduced the stallion Svadilfari and thus kept him from work. As a result, the deadline was not met. Loki gave birth as a mare to Odin's stallion Sleipnir . Angry about the cunning of the gods, the builder revealed himself to be Hrimthurse , who were enemies with the gods, and was killed by Thor with his hammer Mjöllnir .
The twelve palaces of Asgard
The order follows the list of the song Grimnismál (verses 4–17).
- Bilskirnir , the palace of Thor in Thrudheim , which may not belong to Asgard
- Ydalir (Eibental), Uller's palace
- Valaskjalf , the palace of Wali with Odin's throne Hlidskialf , which possibly corresponds to Valhalla
- Sökkwabeck (sunken bank, treasure bank?), The Sagas palace
- Gladsheim (Froh- or Glanzheim), Odin's palace with the hall of the blessed heroes Valhalla
- Thrymheim (Donnerheim), Skadis Palace
- Breidablik (wide or wide gloss), Balder's palace
- Himinbjörg (Himmelsburg), Heimdall's palace
- Folkwang (Volksfeld), Freyja's palace with the Sessrumnir room
- Glitnir (the Shining), Forsetis Palace
- Nóatún (ship's town, ship's place), Njörðr's palace
- Landwidi (Landweit), the palace of Vidars
More places
Other important buildings and locations in Asgard are:
- Fensalir , Friggs Palace
- Vingólf , the assembly hall of the Aesi goddesses
- Idafeld , a blacksmith's workshop and a meeting place and place of execution for the Assir
- Bifröst , the rainbow bridge between Asgard and Midgard
- Hlidskialf , the high seat of Odin
destruction
According to mythology, Asgard is set on fire and destroyed by Surt during Ragnarök , the battle of the gods.
Remarks
- ^ Gylfaginning 13 ( Wikisource ).
- ^ Gylfaginning 9.