In Norse mythology, Vanaheim or Vanaheimr is one of the Nine Worlds and home of the Vanir; a
group of Gods associated with fertility, wisdom and the ability to see the
future. It is located by Asgard, on the
highest level of the universal tree Yggdrasil.
In the beginning, the Aesir and Vanir Gods waged war
against each other, perhaps reflecting an actual historical conflict between
two cultures, tribes or belief systems. Realizing that neither side could win,
the two groups of Gods made peace and together fought their common enemy, the
giants. To ensure a lasting peace, some
of the Vanir came to Asgard, the home of the Aesir, as hostages. Among them were Njord, the patron God of the
sea and seafaring. His twin children,
Freyr and Freya, were the most important Vanir and represented love, sexuality
and fertility. The giants' desire to
capture Freya was one cause of strife between the Gods and the giants.
The nine worlds have been mentioned in various works
of fiction, including frequent use in Marvel Comics stories, even laid out in a
detailed graphic and, and explicit explanation in the eleventh episode of Ultimate
Spider-Man. Vanaheim will be featured as
a location in the Marvel Studios film Thor: The Dark World. Vanaheim also refers to the Tanais, an ancient
name for the Don River in western Russia.
Hail to the
Green World of the Vanir!
Hail to the Realm of Growth, of Earth
Sacred and fed with blood, springing forth
Abundance and plenty to feed many worlds!
Hail to the Realm of Growth, of Earth
Sacred and fed with blood, springing forth
Abundance and plenty to feed many worlds!
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