How the Norse viewed the structure of their universe through the world tree
In short: Norse mythology organized the universe into nine distinct realms connected by the world tree, Yggdrasil. This video examines how these realms coexisted and functioned, drawing on the foundational works of Snorri Sturluson to map a complex cosmology that defined the Norse worldview until the cataclysm of Ragnarok.
At the heart of the Norse universe stood Yggdrasil, a world tree that served as the central axis from which the nine realms extended or emerged from its roots. Because early Eddic and Skaldic poetry often assumed the audience already understood this structure, many specific details about individual locations remain obscure to modern scholars.
The nine realms identified in the writings of Snorri Sturluson include Asgard, Alfheim, Hel, Jotunheim, Midgard, Nidavellir or Svartalfheim, Niflheim, and Vanaheim. Beyond these realms, the roots of Yggdrasil housed the Norns, three supernatural women who wove the destinies of both gods and humans. This interconnected system persisted until the final destruction of the world, known as Ragnarok.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Nine Realms of Norse Cosmology
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