Alfheim: Heimat der Elfen
The home of the elves is often thought of as a place of light and beauty, but how do we know? Read on to find out how much we know and don't know about Alfheim and the race of creatures that live there!
Norse mythology often seems confusing and contradictory to modern readers. Poetic language and vague descriptions leave many concepts open to interpretation.
This is complicated by the fact that most of what we know about Norse mythology comes from later sources. With obvious outside influence and written for an audience that doesn't necessarily believe in the pagan religion, there is debate about how much to trust the authenticity of some of its stories.
Even popular themes and images outsideNorse mythologythey are therefore often questioned. Many scholars believe that some of the most popular aspects of Viking Age lore are of uncertain authenticity.
Elves and their homeland of Alfheim play a big role in the general imagination. Thanks to later folklore and their incorporation into modern media, elves are believed to have played a prominent role in Norse beliefs.
Surviving literature, however, tells a different story. Elves are rarely mentioned and we only know of Alfheim through a few brief passages in later works.
So how did imagery of elves and their lands become so identifiable with Old Norse religion?
How much do we know about Alfheim?
Norse mythology often mentions the Nine Worlds inhabited by different races. Alfheim, which translates as "The World of Elves", is often listed below.
Although Alfheim is often mentioned as one of the Nine Realms, there are no sources that directly name it as such. In fact, there are very few sources that mention Alfheim.
The homeland of the Elves is only mentioned twice in Old Norse sources. Both the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda contain only one passage that refers to Alfheim by name.
A line in the Poetic Edda states that Alfheim was given to the god Freyr as a gift of teeth. These were gifts given to a baby when his first tooth erupted, signifying that the Vanir god was made Lord of Alfheim when he was just a few months old.
Snorri Sturluson had more to say about Alfheim in the Prose Edda, although he still gave an incomplete description of the country.
He confirmed that Alfheim was the home of the elves. However, he specified the light elves he was callingljosalfarHe lived there while heto her, or dark elves, lived underground.
The Prose Edda says that these two groups of Elves were "different in appearance, but far more different in nature". Many have assumed that these Dark Elves are the same race as theseblack elves, or Dark Elves, mentioned elsewhere.
While none of the sources described the Alfheim themselves, the descriptions of the elves themselves likely provide some insight into their world.
Sturluson said that light elves are beautiful and radiant beings. Most interpretations of Alfheim assume that the land these elves lived in would be just as bright and beautiful.
Another passage inedda a proseit is often considered Alfheim, although the name is not specifically given.
The text explains Norse cosmology and mythology through a character who tells what he knows in a knowledge test. When asked about the heavenly realms that will survive Ragnarok, the character names three and says that the highest of them is called Vidblain.
In Vidblain, "Wide Blue", the character believes that Gimle's living room is located. After Ragnarok, Gimle becomes the celestial abode of the honorable dead.
However, now the character says that only light elves live in the land of Vidblain.
As light elves live there, scholars believe that Vidblain and Alfheim may have been one and the same. However, as the sources have very little information about this, this cannot be proven with certainty.
my modern interpretation
There are many theories about Alfheim, the elves that live there and why so little is written about them.
The Germanic cultures of northern and central Europe had no writing system for most of their history. Although runes were developed in some places as early as the 3rd century, they were mostly used for shorter inscriptions and invocations rather than writing longer narrative works.
Although these early inscriptions sometimes mentioned individual gods or humans, they did not provide detailed information about the mythology. If the longer works were written in runic script, they have not survived into modern times.
Rather, the literature we know today was written after Christian monks and scholars made the Latin alphabet the standard spelling for educated Norsemen. The areas inhabited by the Norse, particularly Iceland, were among the last in Europe to be Christianized.
Although Snorri Sturluson was Icelandic and wrote in Old Norse, he did not write the Prose Edda until the early 13th century. Although paganism in Iceland was not as brutally suppressed as in many other parts of Europe, the country was officially Christianized for over two hundred years.
Snorri Sturluson came from a wealthy family and was raised by Christian priests. Although he knew and liked pagan mythology, the influence of Christianity is evident in his writings.
Many scholars now believe that Sturluson's classification of the different types of elves incorporated Christian beliefs into his work. Rather than being an original feature of Viking Age beliefs, they believe the separation of light and dark elves was inspired by Christian conceptions of angels and demons.
In fact, although elves are popular figures today, they are absent from Old Norse writing. Very little is known about how pre-Christian Norse people viewed these figures or their homeland.
For example, it is unlikely that the idea of a heaven that would survive the end of the world was an original concept in Norse mythology. If Gimle's hall was in the land of the elves, it was probably based more on Christian paradise than on pagan lore.
Some historians believe that the Poetic Edda may provide another clue to the Elves and their world.
Although the Poetic Edda dates from around the same time that Snorri Sturluson was writing, it is generally believed that it was compiled from earlier extant sources rather than an entirely new work. Therefore, although it was likely made by a Christian, it is believed to be a more accurate representation of many myths.
The Poetic Edda mentions that Freyr ruled Alfheim. This is surprising, as Freyr was one of the Vanir gods.
The Vanir are said to have lived in Vanaheim, although it is similar to Alfheim in that it is rarely mentioned. Although the concept of the Nine Realms was well known, Vanaheim and Alfheim were among the dozens of realms mentioned in various works.
Like the Elves and other mythological races, the Vanir are mentioned by name in few sources before the Eddas. If Freyr, arguably the most popular Vanir god, ruled Alfheim, the elves themselves may have been the Vanir gods.
There are many examples of other races, especially theJotnar, included in the pantheons of the Aesir and Vanir. ManyJotnarWomen like Skadi and Gerd, for example, married one of the gods.
In one source, goddesses are expressly includedJotnarand elves. While this is true of female members of pantheons, it sets a precedent that there was racial overlap in popular thinking.
Some historians believe that the termEsparto, or elves, may have referred to the Wanir pantheon. Therefore, the poetic passage from the Edda would not refer to Freyr being given dominion over another race, but instead being crowned head of his own people.
The general notion that elves are exceptionally beautiful and bright would fit with the Vanir gods, who are often associated with fertility and prosperity. Freyr, in particular, was considered the god of sunny days, while in the Prose Edda Elves were likened to the sun.
However, this would contradict Sturluson's description of the Light and Dark Elves. There are no records of an equally dark and ugly race of gods.
The tradition may have changed or been forgotten in Sturluson's time. Three hundred years after the height of the Viking Age, the original meanings of the words Vanir andEspartomay have been lost.
Sturluson, looking both to older sources and to Christian beliefs, may not have known that the two terms were once interchangeable. Later writers, filling in the blanks with their own imagination, may have created Alfheim as the world of a race not as distant as they believed.
in short
Alfheim, the home planet of the Elves, is only mentioned twice in Old Norse sources. The Prose Edda and Poetic Edda contain only one line directly naming this world and do not provide a description of it.
Another second in the prose Edda believed to have been inspired by Christian thought concerns the Elves who live in Vidblain, a celestial realm. While this is never directly referred to as Alfheim, it is often considered another name for the elven world.
Alfheim is commonly referred to as one of the nine worlds in Norse cosmology, but no contemporary sources confirm this. The traditional list of the Nine Worlds is compiled from locations mentioned in known sources, so Alfheim's inclusion is not definitive.
Because Snorri Sturluson, the author of the Prose Edda, described elves as beautiful and luminous beings, it is often assumed that their world was equally beautiful. Although Alfheim is never described in Old Norse writing, it is usually portrayed as a lush, bright, and peaceful kingdom.
Sturluson also said that Alfheim was the home of the Light Elves, but that another race, the Dark Elves, were completely different from them and lived underground. As these groups are often considered inspired by Christian ideas, modern scholars question Sturluson's accounts.
Instead, some historians look to the Poetic Edda for insights into the nature of elves in Old Norse thought. His only mention of Alheim states that he was given to Freyr, a popular Vanir god, as a baby.
This has been interpreted to mean that the Elves may not have been an entirely separate race. Citing other instances of gods including different races and different names used for those races, some people who study the era believe in the wordEspartomay have been another name for the Vanir group of gods.
Without realizing this older idea, or through his own invention, Snorri Sturluson could have modified his elves to be more distant. Alfheim may have been seen as a region or territory, but later work placed it as one of the nine main worlds of Nordic thought.
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Mike Greenberg, PhD
My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (a long time!) I have been passionate about all things mythology. I am the owner and principal researcher of this website. My work has also been featured on Buzzfeed and recently in Time Magazine. Please like and share this article if you found it helpful.
FAQs
Do all elves come from Alfheim? ›
Elves are a race of humanoid beings native to Alfheim, one of the Nine Realms of the World Tree.
Who are the light elves in God of War Ragnarok Alfheim? ›The Light Elves, also known as the Ljósálfar, are one of the two factions of Elves that inhabit Alfheim, luminous beings that claim to be the rightful owners of The Light. They first appeared in God of War (2018), and return as enemies in God of War Ragnarök.
What does Alfheim translate to? ›In Norse cosmology, Álfheimr (Old Norse: [ˈɑːlvˌhɛimz̠], "Land of the Elves" or "Elfland"; anglicized as Alfheim), also called "Ljósálfheimr" (Ljósálf[a]heimr [ˈljoːsˌɑːlv(ɑ)ˌhɛimz̠], "home of the Light Elves"), is home of the Light Elves.
What happens to Alfheim after Ragnarok? ›After Ragnarok, Gimle will become the heavenly abode of the honored dead. Now, however, the character says that only the light elves live in the land of Vidblain. Because the light elves live there, scholars believe that Vidblain and Alfheim may have been one and the same.
What is the rarest type of elf? ›"Rockseer elves are the rarest of all elvenkind. They are far taller than most of their kin, with a few reaching almost to eight feet in height. An average weight for a Rockseer is between 120 and 140 pounds, with little gender difference. Rockseers are very pale skinned, and they have no body hair.
Is Odin half elf? ›Odin's advantage over other gods is his half-elf side, which allows him to continually grow in power, according of Lezard, Odin used to be a rather weak god.
Are the Dark Elves from Alfheim? ›The Dark Elves, also known as the Dökkálfar, are one of the two factions of Elves that inhabit Alfheim. They are insectoid beings that reside in caves and in the dark. They first appeared in God of War (2018).
How tall is Kratos? ›How tall is Kratos in God of War Ragnarök? Officially, Kratos is currently six foot and four inches. This is his redesigned height for the 2018 God of War and now its sequel, Ragnarök.
Why is Brok not allowed in Alfheim? ›As previously stated, Sindri claimed that Brok is banned from Alfheim for teaching the Elves about a “Juicy Nokken.” However, Sindri only said that the Elves know about the mysterious term thanks to Brok. Redditor Collector_2012 theorizes that Brok was banned for merely explaining what a “Juicy Nokken” is.
Can you go back to Alfheim? ›Close the tear when you're done and claim your Pure Essence of the Realms. Now you can head back home. You can't collect everything on your first trip through Alfheim. Late in the game, when you can open Hidden Chambers, you can return and get everything else.
Is there 9 realms? ›
It includes the nine realms (Midgard, Alfheim, Asgard, Vanaheim, Niflheim, Muspelheim, Helheim, Svartalfheim, and Jotunheim), and the Realm Between Realms, the realm which serves as an "in-between space" between the nine.
Does Sindri forgive Atreus? ›Sindri cannot forgive Atreus, and by extension Kratos, as we see when Sindri pushes away Kratos at the funeral. Just like in real life, some people can't move past a falling out with a friend. Some things are impossible to forgive or forget.
Is there a secret ending in God of War Ragnarok? ›long story short, yes, God of War Ragnarök does have a secret ending. To get the secret ending in God of War Ragnarök, after the final battle, you need to return to Sindri's House (the magical inter-dimensional hub that Kratos has called home throughout the game).
Do any giants survive Ragnarok? ›Hoenir, Magni, Modi, Njord, Vidar, Vali, and the daughter of Sol are all stated to survive Ragnarok. All of the remaining Æsir then reunite at Ithavllir.
Who is Santa's oldest elf? ›Summary: Elwyn, Santa's oldest elf, and Blitzen, a retired reindeer, help Santa out for one last Christmas.
What is the oldest age for an elf? ›Age: Although elves reach physical maturity at about the same age as Humans, the elven understanding of Adulthood goes beyond physical growth to encompass worldly experience. An elf typically claims Adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old.
Who is Santa's #1 elf? ›Shinny is the leader of the all the Elves and Santa's oldest and most trusted friend. In fact, he co-founded the Magic Workshop with him!
Who is the most beautiful elf? ›Arwen. Daughter of Elrond and granddaughter of Galadriel, Arwen was called the “Evenstar” and was accounted as the most beautiful of the final generation of elves. She was a descendant of Lúthien and often compared to her for her beauty and for her relationship with Aragorn.
How old is a 20 year old elf? ›An elf typically claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 100 and can live to be 750 years old. Elves take their time doing things because of their long life span. So to them 100 years feels like what 20 years feels like to a Human.
Who is the most famous elf? ›Legolas (The Lord of the Rings)
Legolas may be the most iconic elf in literature, and for good reason. One of the heroes of The Lord of the Rings, Legolas is an incredible fighter, a brilliant diplomat, a true hero, and a true friend (especially to Gimli).
Can elves have twins? ›
Twins seem to be more common among Elves, unlike the Mannish standard of one in sixty. Most of the Elven twins come from the immediate descendants of Dior.
What gender is Odin? ›Odin was a male god of berserkers and also of the out-of-body ecstasy usually associated with women's magic. He displays shamanistic characteristics through his journeys to various otherworlds in search of this wisdom.
Who is the elf god? ›Corellon is the creator and preserver of the elven race, and governs those things held in the highest esteem among elves. Corellon's symbol was originally a crescent moon; in the 4th edition Corellon's symbol is a silver star on a blue field.
Why are Dark Elves so hard? ›They use a large spear in battle, and hate staying in one place for more than a moment. Dark Elf Lords can be frustrating to fight. If you give them too much room, they'll almost always fly away to a safer position and start pinning you in place with explosive projectiles.
What are black elves called? ›In Norse mythology, the svartálfar ("black elves") or dökkálfar (" dark elves") are supernatural beings (Old Norse " vættir," wights) that are said to reside in the underground world of Svartálfheim.
Who rules Svartalfheim? ›Svartalfheim was one of the Nine Realms and home to the Dark Elves. It was ruled by Malekith the Accursed.
How old is Kratos in human years? ›In God of War Ragnarök, it's likely that Kratos is around 1,055 years old. He's something of an old man, but as a demigod, he is still more than young enough to hold his own and then some in battle.
Was Kratos ever a full God? ›The main character, Kratos, is a former demigod, along with his brother, Deimos, being the sons of Zeus and Callisto. Because of that, they possessed great physical god-powers. Like another demigod, Hercules, Kratos eventually ended up becoming a full God himself, but in Hercules' case it only happened in mythology.
How tall is God in feet? ›This looks like one of those unanswerable questions, but it turns out that the Mormons – and the leaders of the American "Prosperity Gospel" movement – believe they know the answer: God is about 6' 2" tall. (He doesn't use the metric system).
Does Sindri hate Kratos? ›Odin makes his grand revelation by stabbing and killing Brok. That turns Sindri, normally gregarious and deferential, into an angry Dwarf, deeply resentful of Kratos, Atreus and their role in setting up Brok's death.
Was Sindri in love with faye? ›
2 Sindri & Faye
From Sindri's perspective, it seems as though the blacksmith had a crush on her and adored her for everything she was. He discusses Faye in a positive light at all times and though he never projects jealousy towards Kratos, there is some non-verbal jealousy that's hinted at.
A grief-stricken Sindri blames Atreus and Kratos for Brok's death, though Brok tells Sindri that he forgives his brother for not telling him about his own resurrection.
Can I keep playing God of War after I beat it? ›The short answer is yes, you can keep playing after beating the story. We won't spoil anything, but once you finally reach the end, some of the credits will overlay the gameplay.
Should I choose Alfheim or Niflheim? ›If you are eager to continue down the main storyline, then Alfheim is the way to go. If you are a completionist or want to see everything God of War Ragnarök has to offer, then Niflheim should be your destination. Once selecting Alfheim, you will be on a 90-minute mission in the land of elves.
Should I go to Alfheim or Niflheim first? ›If you want to jump straight away on the next main quest (Groa's Secret) to continue the story, you should travel to Alfheim. Kratos and Atreus traveled to this realm in 2018's God of War. But this time, you'll also have Tyr accompany you, acting as a guide for the land of Elves.
What realm is Earth on? ›Midgard is the realm where humans live, the Earth. It was created when the god Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve slayed the giant Ymir. In Norse mythology, the world was seen as a gigantic tree, called the World Tree or Yggdrasil, around which existed nine realms, each at a different level.
Was Ymir evil? ›Ymir was evil, and all the generations of evil frost giants in Norse mythology descended from him. A great cow named Audhumia (Nourisher) was also formed out of the ice, and Ymir was sustained by the four rivers of milk that flowed from her udders.
Is there a 10th realm? ›In the Marvel Universe, the Ten Realms are Alfheim, Asgard, Vanaheim, Jotunheim, Nidavellir, Svartalfheim, Niffleheim, Muspelheim, Midgard (Earth), and Heven.
Will Freya ever forgive Kratos? ›8 Freya Forgiving Kratos
She realizes she can neither kill him nor forgive him, so they decide to work together to stop Odin, clasping arms in a truce. By the end of the game, we see their relationship almost fully healed, but we understand no one ever fully gets over the loss of their child.
Over the course of God of War Ragnarok, Sindri takes a dark turn in his character development, and could possibly be the series' next villain.
Who seduced Atreus wife? ›
Atreus and Thyestes then fled to Mycenae, where their spectacular rivalry included such barbaric acts as Thyestes's seduction of Atreus's wife, Atreus's revenge by butchering Thyestes's sons and feeding them to Thyestes, and Thyestes's rape of his own daughter, whom Atreus then took as a new wife.
Can Kratos lift Mjolnir? ›While it is true that the hammer would have been an incredible asset for the player, it cannot be wielded or even picked up by Kratos (nor Atreus) for several reasons.
Will Kratos go to Egypt? ›During his exile, Kratos travels to Egypt. During his travel, he would constantly try to get rid of the Blades of Chaos only for them to return to him, which drove Kratos insane. When Egyptian villagers saw the Spartan, they immediately flee and hide, for fear of being killed.
What is the true ending of God of War? ›A Viking Funeral is a Side Quest Favor in God of War Ragnarok that can only be unlocked after the completion of the main storyline. This side quest acts as the true ending to the game, as upon its completion, the screen will fade to black, and the final credits will roll.
What two humans survived Ragnarok? ›In Norse mythology, Lif and Lifthrasir (also spelled Life and Leifthrasir) were two people designated to be the sole human survivors after Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world. In the battle of Ragnarok, all the gods were doomed to be destroyed, but the forces of evil would also be killed.
Who is the strongest giant in Ragnarok? ›It's obvious that Ymir is the most powerful out of all, being the first being in existence with his brother Surtr coming second, reason why I didn't add him in because out of all the dead Jotunn, it's very unlikely that we'll see him in Ragnarok and seems like he died very easily against Odin, Ve, and Vili.
Who kills Odin in Ragnarok? ›Fenrir swallows Odin, though immediately afterwards his son Víðarr kicks his foot into Fenrir's lower jaw, grips the upper jaw, and rips apart Fenrir's mouth, killing the great wolf.
Where does the elves come from? ›The idea of elves we have today comes from Norse mythology. The elves in Norse mythology were called the Álfar and were believed to cause illness, have strong magic, and be very beautiful.
Where do elves come from in Skyrim? ›The Aldmer, also known as the "First Folk," are the very first Elven race, originally settling in the Summerset Isle during the Merethic Era. The Aldmer are widely considered to be the first highly intelligent race in Nirn, with the ancient Beast species refraining from using any forms of technology.
Where do real elves come from? ›Elves are humanoid beings which originate from Germanic mythology and English folklore. They are commonly depicted in one of two different forms: Small nature spirits affiliated with the fairies. These are the kind usually found in Celtic mythology.
What is a female elf called? ›
elven (plural elvens) Originally, a female elf, a fairy, a nymph; (by extension) any elf. [
Who first created elf? ›What is the Elf on the Shelf story? In 2005, creator Carol Aebersold (a stay-at-home mom at the time) and her daughter, Chanda Bell, published a children's book called The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition, based on their family's own Scandinavian holiday tradition that started in the 1970s.
Who was the first elf? ›The first Elves to awaken were three pairs: Imin ("First") and his wife Iminyë, Tata ("Second") and Tatië, and Enel ("Third") and Enelyë. They walked through the forests, finding other pairs of Elves, who became their folk.