Asgard

realm of the Æsir tribe of gods in Norse Mythology

Asgard (Old Norse: Ásgarðr - “Enclosure of the Æsir; Court of the Ás”) is one of the Nine Realms in Norse mythology, home to the tribe of deities known as the Æsir. Asgard lies at the top of Yggdrasill’s highest branches, and the only thing connecting Asgard to Midgard is the mystical rainbow bridge Bifröst.

At the center of Asgard lies the bountiful field of Iðavöllr; there the Æsir meet to feast, make revelry, and discuss important issues. The male gods meet in a hall called Glaðsheimr, the goddesses in the hall Vingólf. *According to the poem Grímnismál (as found in the Poetic Edda), Glaðsheimr is the field in which Valhalla was located.

Popular Culture change

In the science fiction series Stargate SG-1 and its spinoff series, Stargate Atlantis, "Asgard" is the name of a highly advanced, fictional race of beings who are extraterrestrial in origin.

Asgard appears frequently in Marvel Comics. Similar to the original mythological location, it is one of the Nine Realms, home to a race of beings known as the Asgardians, whom the Germanic peoples (in particular Norsemen) once worshipped as gods. It is often seen and referenced in both film, and television shows.

Spellings change

  • Other spellings: Ásgard, Ásegard, Ásgardr, Asgardr, Ásgarthr, Ásgarth, Asgarth, Ásgardhr
  • Common Swedish and Danish form: Asgård
  • Norwegian: Åsgard (also Åsgård, Asgaard)
  • Icelandic, Faroese: Ásgarður