Here are some facts about Asgard.
- Asgard is one of the Nine Worlds of Norse mythology. It is said to be home to the Aesir tribe of gods, and is surrounded by a partially built wall.
- It is located in the first level. The other levels have worlds containing various creatures such as dwarfs, dark elves, giants, demons and fire giants, and the dead.
- Asgard may have been located in Troy, in what is now Turkey. It is said to be a fertile land, with more jewels and gold than any other places.
- Valhalla, the ‘Hall of the Dead’, is located in Asgard. The large and beautiful chamber is ruled by the god Odin and is where those who die in battle end up.
- Odin is the chief of the Aesir gods, and is the most powerful. He is able to see across all the Nine Worlds, speaks in verse and is able to change into different animals.
- Asgard is connected to the real world by a rainbow bridge, named Bifrost. It is guarded by the god Heimdall, who can see for hundreds of miles, even in the dark.
- The Plain of Idavoll is located in the centre of Asgard. This is where the gods meet regularly to discuss important events and to make decisions concerning the real world.
- The Vikings believed that one day the world would end, an event they called Ragnarok. It is believed a fire giant will set fire to the walls of Asgard during Ragnarok.
- The 13th century book Prose Edda contains many of the earliest descriptions of Asgard. It was probably written by Snorri Sturluson, an Icelandic poet, politician and historian.
- The idea of Valhalla has become part of popular culture. A ride in Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach is named Valhalla, and there are several towns of that name in Australia and the US.
What next? Learn more about the Vikings and their beliefs by visiting our Vikings resources page.
