THE NINE REALMS
Norse mythology followed the belief of multiple versions of afterlife. Depending on the way one lived on Earth determined where their spirit will pass onto once they died.
The afterlife included nine worlds were divided into three levels which were; Asgard the home of the Aesir, Vanaheim the home of the Vanir, and Alfheim the home of the life elves. In the center is the Midgard which translates to middle Earth and it was the home of the Humans which is connected to the Asgard Bifrost.
Asgard was the home of the Gods and Goddess with Odin as the ruler. Inside the gates of Asgard lies Valhalla which is the place where viking warriors would be reborn when they died in battle.
Yggdrasil
Norse mythology contains nine worlds that are connected by the
branches, leaves and the trunk of a tree. This tree is called Yggdrasil
(ig-drah-sil) and is defined as the world-tree.
The most significant worlds of norse religion include Midgard, Asgard
andVanaheim.
Midgard, which is located at the centre of Yggdrasil, is the world of
humanity. Depending on how the mortals live out their life and the
glory they receive, determines where their spirit will pass on to once
they die.
Asgard is found at the tip of the world-tree and is connected to Midgard by the Bifrost, also known as the rainbow bridge. It is home to the Aesir tribe of gods and goddesses and is ruled by Odin. Asgard predominantly holds warrior like deities. An example of this is the hammer wielding god Thor.
The Vanaheim realm is held within the branches of Yggdrasil. It is the world of the Vanir tribe of gods and goddesses. The deities of Vanaheim are more closely intertwined with the concept of fertility and nature. An example is Freyja the goddess of love and fertility.
Helheim, also known as Hel is the underworld where the mortals from Midgard who experienced an inglorious death would dwell for their time in the afterlife. It is ruled by the god Hel.
