In Norse religion, Asgard is
one of the Nine Worlds and home to the Aesir Gods, Slain Warriors
and the Aesir Goddesses. Located on
the highest level of the Norse universe (Yggdrasil), it is surrounded by a high
wall of closely fitted stone blocks. One
of Asgard's well known halls is Valhalla, an immense hall
where warriors died in battle await Ragnarok (kind of a Norse Heaven).
Each important God had his/her own palace in
Asgard, such as Thrudheim, the realm of Thor or Breidablik, the
home of Balder. There was only one entrance to Asgard, known as Bifrost
or "Rainbow Bridge", which was guarded by
the God Heimdall. Heimdall sleeps lighter than a bird, sees one
hundred travel-days in each direction, and has such sharp ears that he can hear
the grass and the wool grow. But as
strong as Bifrost is, it will collapse when the when the Giants ride out over it at Ragnarok.
Many stories in Norse mythology happened in
Asgard but for
those who work in the construction business. The walls
surrounding Asgard were built by Hrimthurs, who asked in payment the hand of Goddess
Freya plus the Sun and the Moon. God Odin
agreed providing the walls be complete in six months. Hrimthurs had a magic horse, named Svadilfari,
who helped him in his work. To the Gods dismay,
with but a few days left, Hrimthurs was almost finished. God Loki,
the trickster, turned himself into a mare and charmed the
stallion Svadilfari away. The job was
not completed in time and no payment was given.
Valhalla,
Hall of the Slain, in Norse mythology is the hall presided over by Odin. When Heimdall sounds his horn, the slain warriors and Gods
will join the final conflict. The Norse
myths held that Asgard would be destroyed at Ragnarok, the final battle in
which the Giants would overcome the Gods.
Asgard is a fictional realm
within the Marvel Comics universe based on the Asgard of Norse mythology and is
home to the Asgardians and other beings of Norse mythology. Asgard features prominently in stories that
follow Marvel's super heroic adaptation of the Norse God Thor.
I honor
the high world of Asgard,
and the
Aesir who offer knowledge and power.
So may it
be.
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