Asgard, the residence of the Asar, was apportioned into Vanheinz, the domain of the elementary deities ; Gladsheim, in which was Val halla, where dwelt Odin • and the deities of his family ; .Muspellieiin, the district of celestial fire ; and Licht-Alflichn (elves of light), the residence of the benevolent dwarfs, or elf., in which also was situated Gimli, the place of future beatitude.
Utgard was under the earth, deprived of the sun's light, and was divided into Jiitunheim, the country of the giants; Swart-Alfheim, that of the black dwarfs, or gnomes; Niflheim, in which was lie], the residence of Hula, goddess of death ; and Nastrond, a horrible swamp, inhabited by serpents, into which, at the end of the world, the wicked are to be thrown.
According to the Voluepti, the (three t) gods in council next created the dwarfs, who had been bred like maggots from the corruptieu of Yrnir'e blood, and who were now endowed with human shape, though often deformed ; and they formed a counterpoise to the giants, who are represented as stupid, while the dwarfs make up for their want of size by their ingenuity, acuteness, and knowledge. They have still, however, to dwell in the earth or in rocks and caverns. The Voluspd and the prose Edda differ here, as the Viiluspd says they were created from Britnir's blood. They also differ as to the next creation, that of mankind. The Volusp.d says, after creating the dwarfs,— "Tben the three went, From this assembly, Mighty and mild The Asar especially. They found on the sea-coast, Powerless, Ask and Embla, Without fixed deetiny ; nossestiag no soul, Having no sense, Neither blood nor motion, Nor yet blooming colour. Odhin gave soul, Ilfinir gave sense, Lodur (Loki) gave blood and blooming colour." In the prose Edda, as the children of Mir wandered by the sea-shore they found two trees, of which they formed the male and female, Ask and Embla : Odin bestowing on them life and spirit ; Veli, sense and feeling ; and Ve, visage, speech, hearing, and eight; and from these two are descended the whole human race. Jacob Grimm remarks on this (' Deutsche Mythologic') that only dwarfs and men are created; the giants and the gods come into existence as if of themselves, from the influence of merely natural forces; they owe their being to the union of fire and water, while mankind and the men-like dwarfs are made by the formative activity of the gods themselves acting with a purpose.
After the creation came the golden ago of the Asar, till at length three maidens of the race of giants surprised them. They took away their golden table, and left instead a desire for gold ; this led to a war with the Vanir, who had broken down the outer wall of Asgard ; but a peace was at length concluded, when Hddur was given as a hostage on one side, and Niiird on the other, who received a seat and a dwelling in Asgard.
Ygdrassil, the tree of life, which forms so important a part of the cosmogony, is first mentioned very abruptly in the Volueptt; and equally so in the Grininismal ' (song of Gritnni). This tree has three roots, one in heaven, one in the residence of the Frost-giants, and the third in Niflheim or Vela. At each root was a fountain possessing wonderful powers, and its branches spread around the whole universe. At the root in Niflheim lives the serpent Nithhogg, constantly gnawing them, and in its topmost branches sits an eagle with a hawk between his eyebrows. A squirrel, Itatatoska, runs up and down, exciting strife between the eagle and the serpent ; and on its branches browse four stags. The tree is an ash, and is the greatest and holiest of all trees, uniting heaven, earth, and the lower regions. The springs are also sacred. Round the heavenly Urdar-brunnen the Asar assemble every day to pronounce judgments, assisted by the three chief Nomen—Urd, Verdaldi, and Skull. There are, however, many other Nornen, who decide on the length of life, and the good or ill fortune of every individual of the human race, some of whom are descendants of the Attar, some, of the races of elves, and some of the race of the dwarfs. Every day the Nornen water tho tree from the fountain, to keep it in vigour, and from its leaves falls the dew. Thu well of the giants is guarded by Mimir, an old and wise man, but whether god, giant, or demigod is uncertain, and in this well lie hidden wisdom and knowledge. The third is Hvcrgelmir or the roaring basin.