Halls of the Norse Gods

Written by

Elin aka Mooselady

BA in Cultural heritage and BA in Archaeology from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Huge runestone enthusiast and history buff. Elin is using social media to bring awareness to the runestones, petroglyphs and early history of Scandinavia.

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Halls of the Norse Gods

In the world creation of the Yggdrasil there are spectacular halls high and low. In this blogpost we will go over the more known and unknown halls around the Yggdrasil, from the deepest oceans and the winter storms of Nifelheim to Asgard and around the wonderful ash’s roots.

Besides the literary sources that can be found in the form of old poems, songs and the Eddas, there are a couple of archaeological artefacts that illustrate examples of the gods and their halls. Some of these artefacts are the picture-stones of Gotland, Sweden. They are dated around the year 400 A.D., which means they predate the majority of the thousands of runestones found around Scandinavia. These picture stones were made during the Scandinavian Migration Period and Vendel Era, hundreds of years before the Viking Age. An example of these picture-stones can be found below in this text, where it seems like Odin's Valhalla is depicted in the background next to Odin and Sleipnir, with its many doors, and a Wolf depicted next to a Valkyrie carrying mead horns.

Possible depiction of Valhalla with me besides it! We see Sleipnir down there and we know Valhalla was said to have many doors and being held up by spears as well as some shields seem to be depicted on it

Another depiction that is very similar to the one up there, notice the similarities and also a depiction of likely Valhalla again

And a depiction of likely Odin, Thor and Freyr with their weapons a spear, hammer and sickle/sword. Having a jolly ol' time perhaps on their way to Thors place from Aegirs lit party?

Thor’s Trudheim

Thors part of Asgard is called Trudheim, and that is where we find his hall of Bilskirner. According to the Eddas, Bilskirner is bigger than Odin’s Valhalla, 540-640 rooms big to be exact, depending on how you translate these texts. It is however mentioned that Thor’s hall is the bigger one of the two. It’s name is theorised to mean “what is lighten up by thunder”, which would be very suiting. The god of thunder is a loud and forward being, and nothing is surprising that he has the biggest hall of Asgard. But (besides it’s size or what the name Bilskirner means) most information of Thor’s halls is unknown.

“Soil that is holy
where I see lay
where aesir and elves close are;
There in Trudheim
where Thor shall live
until the powers are pulled apart”
Grímnismál

Ullr’s Ydalir

Ydalar translaters basically to Valley of the Yews, which is also very fitting with Ullr being associated to be a god of hunting, winter and skiing. There isn’t much information in the Eddas of Ullr, however he is thought to be depicted on runestones and his name is mentioned a lot in old location names around Scandinavia.

“Out in Ydalir
Ullr has
his halls let built...”
Grímnismál

Freyr’s Alfheimr

The Vanir god Freyr lives together in Alfheimr with the lightelves, which are mystical creatures similar to the dwarfs, but are described as more beautiful and goodhearted. It is a fitting place for the god of crops, sun and the rain.

“… Alfheimr was given
by the gods to Freyr
as a rich gift in the morning of tomorrow.”
Grímnismál

Odin’s halls

Odin does not only have the hall of Valhalla but owns several halls around Asgard.

“There is a third hall,
where kind gods
the halls with silver had covered;
Valaskalf built
with wisdom for self
in ancient times the aesir himself.”
Grímnismál

Valaskalf is a big hall covered with silver, and this is also the location of Odin’s tall throne Hlidskjalf. From Hlidskjalf Odin could see everything going on throughout the universe. It was said that when the storms blew over Midgard, that it was Odin moving above them while traveling to his tall throne. There also Odin’s loyal wolves Geri and Freki had their den, where Odin who didn’t need to eat, gave them all of the hall’s delicacies.

“Sökkvabäck was the fourth;
from over
cool waves roars;
Odin and Saga
there in forever
happily out of goldenbowls drink…”
Grímnismál

Sökkvabäck is the Hall of the goddess Saga (who is theorised to be Freyja by some), where it also seems like Odin occupies a lot since they’re said to feast there together forever. The only real knowledge we have of Sökkvabäck is that it is mentioned to be big according to Snorri. The name Sökkvabäck is thought to mean “the sinking stream”. Bäck still means stream in Swedish.

“Gladsheimr is the fifth,
where the golden shimmering
Valhalla widely reaches.
There Ropt coaches
from struggle and battle
daily the warkilled.

Easily they see
who to Odin travel,
what a hall they all see:
the trusses are of spears,
the rood is of shields,
the benches are covered with chainmail.

Easily they see,
who to Odin travel,
what a hall they see:
wolf is hanging
west of the door,
and eagle above.”
Grímnismál

This is a couple of examples of the first mentions of the hall of Valhalla in this poem. We get to know that Valhalla is situated in the location of Gladsheimr. Gladsheimr is also according to Snorri where the male aesir hold their meetings, in a hall containing thirteen tall high seats. In old norse Gladsheimr translates into “bright home”. We also get to know in this poem that the outside of Valhalla is remarkable.

“Five hundred doors,
and yet another forty
I know on Valhalla exists;
Eight hundred einhärjar
against the wolf they walk,
all at once pull every door.”
Grímnismál

Here we get to know that Valhalla is huge and withholds a lot of Einhärjar, warriors of the slain that goes to Valhalla after they’ve fallen in battle. Eight hundred Einhärjar can walk through every door at once, that’s a lot of room to say the least.

Tjasse’s Trymheim

Here we get to know about Trymheim, where Tjasse the jötunn lives before he is killed off by Thor. He is the father of Skadi, goddess of skiing and hunting. Tjasse is a clever old jötunn, and manages to make fools out of Hoenir, Loki and Odin at the same time once. That story evolves to Tjasse then kidnapping Idun, together with the golden apples. All of it would however eventually lead to his downfall, as mentioned earlier Thor does not take kindly to Tjasse after the whole ordeal.

“Trymheim is the sixth,
where Tjasse lives,
very powerful jötunn.
Now Skadi is building,
maiden of the gods, the clean,
on her father’s ancient lands.”
Grímnismál

Baldur’s Breidablick

Baldur is said to be living in Breidablick together with his wife Nanna. It is a heavenly place at the outskirts of Asgard, where nothing unclean can step foot.

“Breidablick is the seventh,
where Baldur have
his halls build
Oh that place,
where I know there is
but shy runes of misfortune.”
Grímnismál

Heimdallr’s Himinbjörg

By the rainbowbridge Bitfrost Heimdallr has his halls. There he can keep watch until Ragnarök is upon the worlds. Except that it is a happy place, not much is written down about it.

“Himinbjörg is the eight,
where Heimdallr is said
over sanctuaries rule;
godwatcher drinks
in house of the joyous
cheerfully drinks his good mead”
Grímnismál

Freyja’s Folkvangr

Since Freyja is a war goddess just as much as Odin is a war god, half out of all the fallen warriors of Midgard goes to Freyja’s hall Sessrumne. After these warriors have fallen, they get taken to the realm of Folkvangr (which translates into battlemeadow). Freyja is known to act as a patron over young warriors and helps them to become successful in their search for glory. The hall of Sessrumne is huge, and just like in the halls of Valhalla, the warriors get to fight eachother. Not only does warriors go to Sessrumne, but also high regarded and brave women end up there.

“Folkvangr is the nineth,
where Freyja decides,
how the seats in the halls is divided;
half of the choices
she chooses,
the other half is owned by Odin.”
Grímnismál

Forseti’s Glitnir

Forseti is the son of Nanna and Baldur, and is the god of justice. The hall of Glitnir is said to make any arguing parts to agree after they’ve exited its doors. It is the best location for any justice. The name Glitnir means “the shimmering”.

“Glitnir is the tenth;
on a golden structure lays
the hall’s silver roof;
there lives Forseti,
who in forever peace
between the battling decides.”
Grímnismál

Njordr’s Noatun

Noatun is translated to “ship’s place” which makes sense since Njordr is associated with fishing, ships and weather. Noatun is perfect for Njordr, perfect enough for him to divorce from Skadi in order to keep on living there.

“Noatun is the eleventh,
where Njordr has
his halls built…”
Grímnismál

Vidar’s Vide

This poem hints to how Vidar will avenge his father Odin during Ragnarök. Vide translates to “forest lands”. Vidar is referred to as the “silent god” and a god of vengeance. Vide has also been used as a family name for bushtrees (Salicaceae) with 36 different kinds in Sweden alone, since Vide is described as a hall of grass and brushwood one can understand why that name was chosen within botanical context.

“With brushwood covered
and high grass
Vidar’s land, Vide;
there already sits
son upon horseback,
ready a father to avenge.”
Grímnismál

Aegir’s Glistening Hall

Deep underneath the sea, Ægir and Rán have their mysterious hall. It is well known for being made out of all of the treasures that have been lost at sea, therefore it is glistening in pure gold. In their hall the tables are magically set by themselves and food and drinks are carried out by invisible hands. Ægir’s hall is a place of big feasts, and where his specially made ale is served to the gods and other guests. There is a saying that goes: - When the ocean is foaming, then Ægir’s ale has brewed and is finished. In Lokasenna the hall of Ægir is mentioned, since that is the scenery where Loki thinks it is a good idea to get a bit drunk and roast the other gods and goddesses.

“Bragi sung:
- Were I outside
as well as currently indoors,
out of the hall of Ægir,
carried your head
in my hand;
it seems suitable for your lie enough.”
Lokasenna

Final words!

These are some of the examples of the halls that can be found around the Yggdrasil, but there are so many more places there to discover. I will let you take these twelve examples in for this time before continuing to the other exciting locations around the world creation.

Best regards!
– Elin aka MooseLady