Nine Worlds in Norse Mythology: The Meaning Behind Our Name

At Nine Worlds, we believe that travel is more than just visiting a destination. It’s about connecting with a place, its people, and its culture on a deeper level.

Our name comes from the nine worlds of Norse mythology. It represents our deep Icelandic roots and the Nordic heritage of our local team.

But what exactly are the nine worlds? 

We’ll answer that question as we explore the nine realms of the Norse mythology world tree.

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Yggdrasil and Norse cosmology

According to the Poetic Edda and Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda, everything revolves around the world tree, Yggdrasil. This enormous ash tree anchors the nine realms that make up the universe. Its roots and branches stretch across the cosmos, connecting everything in a network of life and energy.

The nine worlds of the universe hang on the branches and grow from the roots of Yggdrasil. Each world is distinct and separate from the others, but they all remain connected by the tree.

The Nordic texts describing the nine realms assume some knowledge of Norse cosmology. They leave out details that would serve as clues to help us better understand the nine worlds and their relationship with Yggdrasil. However, they give us enough detail to piece together their structure.

How did the nine worlds come to be?

According to Norse mythology, only 2 realms existed before the nine worlds formed. These were Muspelheim, the realm of fire, and Niflheim, the world of ice and fog. The space between these realms was the void of Ginnungagap.

Over time, the 2 worlds grew closer, and the heat from Muspelheim’s fire began to melt Niflheim’s ice. The resulting vapors led to the creation of Ymir, a primordial giant and the first living being.

The melting ice also revealed a cow, Auðumbla, whose milk nourished Ymir and fed on the ice herself. As she licked the ice, Búri, the ancestor of the Norse gods, was revealed. Búri fathered Borr, who went on to father Odin and his siblings, Vili and Vé. 

This trio of siblings killed Ymir. They then used the giant’s body as the building materials for the nine worlds of Yggdrasil, built in the Ginnungagap void.

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What are the nine realms in Norse mythology?

The nine worlds of Norse mythology are Asgard, Midgard, Vanaheimr, Jötunheimr, Niflheim, Muspelheim, Alfheim, Niðavellir, and Helheim. Here, we’ll go into more detail about each.

1. Asgard

Asgard is the realm of the Æsir gods, the central figures of Norse mythology. These include Odin, the father of all other Norse gods and humans. 

The gods oversee the universe in Asgard and prepare for Ragnarök, the final battle between gods and giants at the end of time.

It can help to think of Asgard as the Norse equivalent of Mount Olympus, home of the Ancient Greek gods. Asgard is a realm of peace and prosperity. It is also home to Valhalla, a great hall where brave warriors who died in battle come to feast.

Humans reach Valhalla by crossing the Rainbow Bridge (“Bifröst”), which connects Asgard and Midgard, the realm of humanity.

2. Midgard

Midgard, meaning “middle enclosure,” is the world of humans. It’s the most vulnerable of the nine worlds, as giants from the Jötunheimr realm constantly threaten it. 

Midgard is in the center of the cosmos, surrounded by an ocean patrolled by the Midgard Serpent (“Jörmungandr”). The Midgard Serpent keeps its tail in its mouth, fully encircling the realm.

The moment it releases its tail, it is said to signify the start of Ragnarök, the end of times. During Ragnarök, Midgard will be destroyed. But it will rise again and reform, symbolizing hope and rebirth.

3. Vanaheimr

Vanaheimr is the home of the Vanir gods. The Vanir gods are distinct from the Æsir gods and were once at war with them. They eventually achieved peace through a hostage exchange, with some Vanir gods living in Asgard and vice versa.

Little is known about Vanaheimr, as it only appeared very briefly in the Edda works.

4. Jötunheimr

Jötunheimr is the world of the giants. It’s a dark, icy realm of chaos and conflict, directly opposing the peaceful realm of Asgard. The giants are the enemies of the gods, and they’ll fight the Æsir during the final battle of Ragnarök.

In the Eddas, Jötunheimr is depicted as mountainous and extremely cold. A huge fortress, Útgarðar, dominates the realm. Many great heroes of Norse mythology travel to Jötunheimr to fight the giants and trolls residing there.

5. Niflheim

Niflheim is a cold realm of ice and mist. 

In the “Gylfaginning,” a section of Snorri’s Prose Edda, Niflheim was the first world to be created after Muspelheim. Beyond its role in the creation of the nine realms, it remained mostly devoid of life. 

6. Muspelheim

Think of Muspelheim as the antithesis of Niflheim. It’s a blazing world of fire and heat. It’s also the source of all fire in the cosmos.

Surtr, a fire-giant, rules Muspelheim. It’s said that Surtr’s fire will destroy Asgard and the cosmos during the final battle of Ragnarök.

7. Alfheim

Alfheim is the realm of the light elves, ethereal beings described as radiant and beautiful in the Poetic Edda. These creatures were renowned artists and possessed magical powers.

Freyr, a Vanir god and one of the hostages sent to Asgard at the end of the war, presided over Alfheim. The realm is said to be full of rich forests, sparkling lakes, and meandering rivers — much like Iceland today.

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8. Niðavellir

Niðavellir is a dark and gloomy underground realm full of mines and forges. Its inhabitants are called dwarves in the Poetic Edda. Snorri refers to them instead as “dark elves,” naming the realm “Svartálfheim” (“Realm of the Dark Elves”). 

Whether dwarves or elves, these creatures were skilled craftsmen. In Norse mythology, they are credited with creating Thor’s famous hammer and Odin’s spear.

9. Helheim

Helheim is the dingy underworld realm. It’s situated beneath Midgard, the realm of humans, where people who die outside of battle spend their afterlife. 

Despite its similarity to the English word “hell,” Hel wasn’t viewed as a place of punishment. Most humans would end up here rather than Valhalla at the end of their lives. It was often depicted more as a place of judgment.

Helheim is overseen by the goddess Hel, daughter of Loki and sibling to the Midgard Serpent.

Nine worlds in Iceland and Greenland

The spectacular landscapes of Iceland and Greenland help bring Norse mythology to life. The volcanic plains echo fiery Muspelheim, and the glaciers are reminiscent of icy Niflheim. Gazing up at the northern lights evokes the Rainbow Bridge while the rivers and forests remind us of Alfheim.

The connection to Greenland and Iceland’s mythology is clear, making these incredible places the perfect destination for exploring Nordic myths.

At Nine Worlds, our travel experiences reflect Norse cosmology. Each destination becomes a realm to explore, and every journey becomes a bridge between worlds.

Contact us to plan a tailor-made getaway to Iceland or Greenland today.