#svartalfheim
Svartalfheim
Yggdrasil, the World Tree
By Simon E. Davies of Human Odyssey
In the beginning of the Norse cosmos, there existed an eternal Void, known as Ginnungagap. Out of this nothingness sprang Yggdrasil, a huge Ash tree. Its newly emerging branches held two primordial worlds; Niflheim, a world of ice & frost, and Muspellheim, a realm of molten fire.
When a spring erupted from Nifelheim (known as Hvergelmir), it created a river which crossed the void into Muspellheim. Here, the hot air scorched the freezing river creating a new world, known as Jotunheim, land of the giants.
From this bloodline of primordial beings came Odin, Vili and Ve, who despised the father of giants who ruled his people with malice and brutality. When the chance came, the brothers slew the frost giant, and from his body they created Midgard, a world of mortals. Surrounding this realm they placed a great ocean which nourished the roots of the great tree.
Yggdrasil grew ever higher, forming a new realm called Asgard, which is located on the highest branch of the world tree. This was where Odin, king of the Aesir would take his people to settle a new civilisation. It was said this race of gods brought culture and technology to the world of mortals via a great causeway called Bifrost.
Bifrost was a burning rainbow bridge, connecting Midgard (the world of mortals) with Asgard. This colourful overpass emerged from Himinbjörg, a mountain hall guarded over by the ever-vigilant Heimdall. This watchmen of the gods kept an eye on the mortals below, making sure no giants breached their homeland.
As Yggdrasil continued to grow, a new land emerged on one of its branches called Vanaheim. It was a land full of luscious forests and wild meadows. From this primal wilderness emerged a race of gods known as the Vanir. This tribal people lived near the coast, ruled by Njörðr, a seafaring god who loved wealth and magic, a trait common among his people.
A great tension broke out between the Vanir and the Aesir resulting in a long winded war. It eventually ended in a stalemate, so many of the gods sent their families as hostages to the opposing tribe to help bring them closer together. Njörðr’s son, Freyr, was placed in charge of Alfheim, homeland of the Elves. This class of god-like beings were said to be “more beautiful than the sun.”
These elves were also linked to another realm far below the Earth. Legend says a tribe from Alfheim were exiled from their homeland many eons ago, and eventually sought refuge with the dwarves of the underworld. These subterranean beings had build their homes around the roots of Yggdrasil, carving a network of labyrinths, mines and forges for their empire. They called it Niðavellir, and the elves, who skin eventually became black as night, called it Svartalfar.
All the beings of Yggdrasil, mortals, gods, dwarves and elves would eventually die, and their souls were destined for several realms. If the Aesir died valiantly in battle, they would find rest in Valhalla, for all others, Helheim was their inevitable destination. This dark and gloomy abode resided at the tip of Yggdrasil’s deepest root. This afterlife was ruled over by Loki’s daughter Hel, a strange being who was half black and half flesh-coloured, characterised by a gloomy, downcast appearance.
There are a number of sacred creatures which live within Yggdrasil. this includes the monstrous wyrm Níðhöggr who gnaws at the roots of Nifelheim, weakening the great tree of Yggdrasil. This frost dragon was also known for eating the corpses of the Nifelheim when found guilty of murder, adultery and oath-breaking.
Atop the highest branches of the world tree is perched a great eagle and his hawk companion Vedrfolnir, who sits between his eyes. The two stare deep into the Norse cosmos, perhaps representing insight and awareness.
Ratatosk is a squirrel who runs up and down the world tree to carry messages between the unnamed eagle and Níðhöggr the wyrm. This mischievous critter is said to stir trouble between the all knowing eagle and the world hungry dragon.
Among the branches of the Great Ash tree live four stags known as Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór. These ravenous beasts eat the branches of the World Tree, perhaps representing the four seasons. When they eat too much, winter ensues, when they are full, the leaves grow thick and lush in the midst of summer.
Perhaps the most important guardians of Yggdrasil are the three Norns (witches) who lives at the well Urd (below Midgard). Their names are Urd “past”, Verdani “present” and Skuld “future”. These three hags are the goddesses of fate, who spend most their time spinning the threads of life, deciding the fate of every human, animal and god. Every day the Norns will also carry water from Urd’s well, and pour it over Yggdrasil. The water from the well is of vital importance to keep the tree green and healthy.
It is the Norns who foretold Ragnarok, the twilight of the Gods and the fall of Yggdrasil. It is said that Ragnarok will begin when the wolf, Fenrir, son of Loki, breaks free of his imprisonment. This will lead to a chain reaction of events including the Midgard snake Jormungandr rising from the sea and a wolf (known as Skoll) devouring the sun, and his brother Hati, eating the moon, plunging the earth into darkness. The stars will vanish from the sky.
Everything will come to a head in a huge battle that draws in all the races of the nine worlds. It will conclude with Surter, king of the fire giants, setting fire to the great Yggdrasil. The nine worlds will burn, and friends and foes alike will perish, culminating with the earth sinking deep into the abyss of the sea.
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Sif, the fellow Aesir whom Thor had married, possessed beautiful, long, golden hair. Both Thor and Sif were extremely proud of this lovely hair; Sif for the beauty it afforded her, and Thor for being associated with a wife of great beauty. Loki, in his role as a trickster, lived to introduce chaos where there was order, doubt where there was none, and humility where there was pride. In Loki’s mind, the pride over Sif’s hair warranted a lesson in humility.
While Sif slept one night, Loki stole into her chambers and cut all of her hair from her head. Loki was subtle in his movements, so Sif did not wake until the morning as she naturally did.
When she woke and realised her hair was gone, Sif was devastated. When Thor returned home to find his wife without her hair, his blood boiled with rage toward the obvious culprit, Loki.
As was common in his life, Loki was threatened with various horrific fates, as punishment for his actions. Always one to talk his way out of trouble though, Loki assured Thor he could correct the situation. More than that, he would make Sif’s hair even more golden and beautiful than before. Thor agreed to the offer, and so Loki went on his way, having escaped a terrible punishment yet again.
Loki travelled to Svartalfheimr and commissioned a group of Dvergues, the sons of Ivaldi, with the task of forging a crown of hair for Sif. Loki specified that it needed to be golden like the sun, and to grow like normal hair. The Dvergues made the crown for Loki, and then Loki further enlisted their help to make great gifts that would endear Loki to the Aesir, and help them to forget about the hair-cutting fiasco. Loki was a constant target for animosity, even when he acted just as the gods dictated, so this time he would do much more than had been asked of him. He would bring much more than just Sif’s hair.
In addition to the hair, the Dvergues had made two special items. The first was Gungnir, a finely crafted spear that Loki presented to Odin. The second, presented to Freyr, was Skidbladnir: the finest of all ships, which could be folded like cloth and stored in a pocket. These gifts were great, but Loki saw a chance to gain even more gifts for no cost at all.
Sindri was a Dvergue thought by most to be the finest craftsman in all the world’s tree. Loki approached Sindri’s brother Brokkr, boasting that no one could craft anything so fine as the works he had gained from the sons of Ivaldi (Gungnir, Skidbladnir, and Sif’s crown of hair). Brokkr challenged Loki that his brother could do better, and so a wage was made. If Sindri could craft a weapon finer than Gungnir, a transport faster than Skidbladnir, and an accessory more beautiful than Sif’s hair, then Brokkr would have Loki’s head.
Sindri placed a golden swine skin on the furnace, and instructed Brokkr to work the bellows until he returned. Loki, not wishing to lose his head, went to the forge as a gadfly, and attempted to make Sindri’s work flawed by biting Brokkr on the arm. Brokkr did not falter, and the resulting gift was a golden boar called Gullinbursti. Sindri placed red gold on the furnace, and gave Brokkr the same instructions. Loki tried biting harder, but to no avail. Sindri removed from the fire a beautiful arm ring called Draupnir, which would replicate every nine nights. He then placed iron on the furnace, and left Brokkr with the same words. Brokkr held to his task fairly well, but when the gadfly Loki bit him on the eyelid, the resulting blood obscured his vision for a moment, so the last gift was partially flawed. The last gift was Mjolnir, soon to be Thor’s famous hammer. It’s flaw was a shortened handle, so that it could only be held by one hand, and not two.
Gullinbursti was presented to Freyr, Draupnir to Odin, and Mjolnir to Thor. Loki had succeeded in gaining three free gifts for the gods, but unfortunately for him, the works of Sindri were judged to be better than those forged by the sons of Ivaldi. That meant that Loki’s head was forfeit. Ever the clever wordsmith, Loki reasoned that there was no way he could give them his head. After all, in order to cut off the head, the neck would also be damaged. The neck was not part of the bargain – only the head – so it was impossible for them to obtain Loki’s head.
Sindri and Brokkr were forced to admit they could not take Loki’s head, as per the agreement. However, they were far from pleased for being cheated in such a way, so in retribution, they sewed Loki’s lips together. Loki pulled the thread out, but his lips were scarred from the act. For this, Loki is often referred to as “Scar Lip”.
Loki was only ever obligated to replace Sif’s hair, but in the end, he had done far more. In addition to restoring Sif’s hair, more beautiful than before, Loki also gained for the gods Odin’s spear Gungnir, Freyr’s ship Skidbladnir, Freyr’s golden boar Gullinbursti, Odin’s ring Draupnir, and most importantly, Thor’s hammer Mjolnir. Loki had been mischievous in cutting Sif’s hair, but he had proceeded to go to great lengths as well as pains to redeem himself, replacing what was lost and gaining significantly more for Asgard.
The map of the Nine Realms from the current arc of Thor: God of Thunder. I love Thunder; the God-Butcher/God-Bomb arc was great, but the Malekith issues have basically been a Thor swords-and-sorcery tale, which is what every Thor book should be. And no swords-and-sorcery tale is complete without a cool map.
Next issue Thor is going to fight a dragon. Jason Aaron is making all of my Thor-dreams come true with this book.
Thor: God of Thunder#13, September 2013.
Map by Haemi Jang.
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