In Scandinavian cosmology, the world tree Yggdrasil is a colossal ash whose crown and roots connect nine interrelated realms of existence. Each of these kingdoms is inhabited by gods, spirits, humans, or giants, reflecting the balance between cosmic order and primordial chaos. In the medieval Eddic sources, the list of worlds and their precise geographical boundaries is presented fragmentarily; therefore, modern reference works employ their most established reconstruction.
List of the Nine Worlds
Asgard — the upper celestial world and fortified dwelling of the supreme Aesir gods, where their principal halls and the chambers of fallen warriors are located.
Vanaheim — the world of the Vanir gods, associated with fertility, the sea, the forces of nature, and the magic of seidr.
Midgard — the middle world of mortal humans, created by the gods from the flesh of the primordial giant Ymir and protected by a fence against external threats.
Jotunheim — the harsh land of the giants (jotnar), embodying a primordial element, a constant threat to the order of the gods, and a repository of ancient wisdom.
Alfheim — the luminous world of aerial spirits and light elves, closely linked with the radiance of the sun, beauty, and natural harmony.
Svartalfheim (Nidavellir) — the underground realm of dark elves and dwarves, unsurpassed masters of the smith’s craft and creators of the greatest artifacts.
Niflheim — the primordial world of eternal mist, ice, and deadly cold, which existed even before the creation of the inhabited cosmos.
Muspelheim — the primeval southern kingdom of eternal flame, heat, and fire giants, standing in opposition to icy Niflheim.
Helheim — the underground realm of shadows under the rule of the giantess Hel, to which go the souls of people who died of old age or disease.
Table: Inhabitants and Connections
World
Gods and Key Figures
Beings and Inhabitants
Connections with Other Worlds
Asgard
Odin, Thor, Frigg, Baldr, Heimdall, Loki
Aesir, valkyries, einherjar
Connected to Midgard by the rainbow bridge Bifrost; rests in the upper branches of Yggdrasil; the gods regularly undertake expeditions to Jotunheim and Midgard.
Vanaheim
Njord, Freyr, Freyja
Vanir
Linked to Asgard through an exchange of hostage-gods after the war of the Aesir and the Vanir; the branches of Yggdrasil integrate it into the overall system of worlds.
Midgard
Odin, Thor, Idunn
Humans
Located at the center of Yggdrasil’s trunk; connected to Asgard by the bridge Bifrost; surrounded by an ocean that separates it from Jotunheim; encircled by the serpent Jormungandr.
Jotunheim
Ymir, Angrboda, Skadi, Mimir, Utgarda-Loki
Jotnar (stone and frost giants)
One of Yggdrasil’s roots extends to Mimir’s well at the borders of Jotunheim; a site of constant military conflicts, marriage alliances, and journeys of the Aesir.
Alfheim
Freyr
Light elves
Located on the upper tier of the world tree beside the halls of the Aesir; associated with the heavenly luminaries and a beneficial influence on the fertility of Midgard.
Svartalfheim (Nidavellir)
Brokkr, Eitri, the sons of Ivaldi
Dwarves (dvergar), dark elves
Situated in the underground strata beneath the roots of Yggdrasil; supplies Asgard with magical weapons (the hammer Mjolnir, the spear Gungnir) through bargains with Loki.
Niflheim
Nidhogg (the dragon that gnaws the root of the tree)
Frost giants, serpents
A primordial force of cold; life arose when its ices came into contact with the heat of Muspelheim; one of the three principal roots of Yggdrasil is bathed by the spring Hvergelmir.
Muspelheim
Surtr (the fire lord)
Fire giants (“sons of Muspell”)
A primordial force of fire; sparks from Muspelheim created the stars above Midgard; at Ragnarok, Surtr’s army will break through Bifrost and burn Asgard and the entire tree.
Helheim
Hel (daughter of Loki), Garm (the hound)
Shades of those who died of disease and old age
Located in the lower world beneath the roots of Yggdrasil near Niflheim; separated from the world of the living by the river Gjoll and the bridge Gjallarbru; connected to Asgard through Loki’s lineage.
Note: In the original texts of the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, the boundaries and classification of the worlds have no strict formalization. In a number of academic interpretations, Svartalfheim and Nidavellir are treated as a single world of craftsmen, and Helheim is often described as the lower region of Niflheim rather than a fully autonomous space.
Major Gods and Their Functions
Odin — supreme god of the Aesir, patron of wisdom, war, magic, and poetry; symbols — the spear Gungnir and the eight-legged horse Sleipnir.
Thor — god of thunder and protector of gods and humans against giants; symbol — the hammer Mjolnir.
Freyja — goddess of love, fertility, martial valor, and magic; symbol — the golden necklace Brisingamen.
Freyr — god of spring, the sun, fertility, and peace; symbol — the magic sword that fights of its own accord.
Njord — god of wind, seas, wealth, and trade; symbol — the ship Skidbladnir.
Loki — cunning trickster, shapeshifter, and disruptor of order; symbols — serpentine transformations and fire.
Heimdall — guardian of Asgard and keeper of the rainbow bridge Bifrost; symbol — the golden horn Gjallarhorn.
Frigg — queen of the goddesses, patroness of marriage, motherhood, and fate; symbol — her hall Fensalir in Asgard.
Baldr — god of light, beauty, and goodness; symbol — mistletoe, which became the cause of his death.
Hel — ruler of the realm of the dead, daughter of Loki; symbol — her twofold appearance (living and dead halves).
Surtr
 — lord of the fire giants of Muspelheim; symbol — the flaming sword that will burn the worlds on the day of Ragnarok.

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