Niflheim
Niflheim ("Land of Mists") is the realm of ice and cold in Norse mythology. It is located north of Ginnungagap and there dwells the hrimthursar (Frost Giants) and here is also located Hel. The tree Yggdrasill has a root here in the spring Hvergelmir, and it is gnawed away at by the serpent Nidhogg.
Niflheim is ruled by the goddess Hel, daughter to Loki by the giantess Angrboda, personally appointed by Odin to rule over Niflheim. Hel, also called Hela in some cases, rules over Helheim in addition to this. Half of her body is normal, while the other half is that of a rotting corpse. Possibly, Helheim and Niflheim are the same thing, but this will not fit in with the nine worlds of Norse mythology mentioned in various mythology books. Niflheim is broken into several layers. One level designed for heroes and gods, where Hel would preside over the festivities for them. Another is reserved for the elderly, the sick, and those who are unable to die gloriously in battle and enter Valhalla. The lowest level resembles the Christian version of Hell[citation needed], where the wicked are forced to live forever.
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See also
- Nibelheim
Some say that Hel (realm) is a subworld of Niflheim. This is heavily debated.
Other References
- In the Namco RPG Tales of Symphonia, Niflheim is an optional level one can play after a certain point late in the game. It is very difficult, and is reliant on your ability to keep fire energy, thus making reference to the Norse idea of Niflheim being a cold and dark place.
- In the Gravity Corp. MMORPG Ragnarok Online, Nifflheim is a realm of the dead which contains myriad undead and demon monsters. It is accessed through Umbala Dungeon level 3; Hvergelmir's Fountain.
- The symphonic metal band Therion has a song called Niflheim on the album Secret of the Runes.
- In an episode of Johnny Bravo, Johnny aquires the powers of Thor and is sent to fight a frost giant in Niffleheim, descirbed as "a dark realm where no one has anything nice to say about anybody"
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