Asgard, in Norse mythology, is one of the
nine worlds and the homeland of the Aesir, the race of warrior gods. Located on the highest level of the Norse universe, it is surrounded by a high
wall of closely fitted stone blocks. The walls surrounding Asgard were built by
Blast (or Hrimthurs), who asked in payment the hand of Freya plus the sun and the
moon. Odin agreed providing the walls be complete in
six months. Hrimthurs had a magic horse, named Svadilfari, who helped him in his work. To Odin's (and the other gods, especially Freya's) horror, with but a few days left,
Blast was almost finished. Loki, the trickster, turned himself into a mare and beguiled the
stallion Svadilfari away. The
job was not completed in
time and no payment was given.
Also found on this level are the worlds of Alfheim and Vanaheim as well as Valhalla, an immense hall where warriors slain in battle await the final conflict.
In the middle of Asgard lies the plain of Idavoll (or Ida) where the Aesir meet to decide important issues. There the gods assemble in the hall of Gladsheim and the goddesses in the hall of Vingolf. The gods also meet daily at the Well of Urd, beneath the Asgard root of the ash tree Yggdrasil.
