Midgard, or the middle world, was made for the habitation of man; but before we describe it, we must glance at the other worlds with which it was connected. According to both the poetic and the prose Edda, there were _nine_.
I tell of nine worlds And of nine heavens.
The giant Vafthrudnis has the same boast; and Alvis, the dwarf, tells Thor,
All the nine worlds Have I passed through And every being known.
These worlds, which were all vertically arranged, except Utgard, which was on the same plane with Midgard, are thus specified by Magnussen:—
1. _Gimlè_, the residence of the Supreme Being, the eternal Alfadur. Connected with it was Liosalfaheim, the abode of the benevolent light elves (of whom an account in the proper place). This region is to be the everlasting abode of the good after the destruction of the universe.
2. _Muspelheim_, the world of Surtur and his fiery genii, which lay far below Liosalfaheim. This world was _perhaps_ uncreated and _perhaps_ will not be destroyed.
3. _Asgard_ (Aser-yard), or _Godheim_, the residence of the Aser, or gods; the starry firmament, which lay far below Muspelheim.
4. _Vanaheim_, the residence of the Vanir or spirits of air: it was also called _Vindheim_, the home of the winds. Its position was the atmosphere below Asgard.
5. _Midgard_ (mid-yard), so called because it was the middle world, between Gimlè above, and Nifleheim below. It was also called _Manheim_, from its being the home of men.
6. _Utgard_ (outer-yard), or _Jotunheim_, the home of the giants, lay beyond the vast sea which, according to the Scandinavian cosmography, encompasses Midgard. Midgard and Utgard are horizontal with each other.
7. _Swartalfaheim_, the home of the black elves or dwarfs, the spirits of darkness, is situated in the bowels of the earth.
8. _Helheim_, the palace of Hela, the goddess of death, lower far than Swartalfaheim, and the abode of all, however good, who die a natural death.
9. _Nifleheim_, the world of mist, the lowest of all the worlds. It contains the poisonous fountain and rivers in which the bad are to be punished.
Of these worlds six are to perish,—perhaps seven, for there is some doubt as to Muspelheim. The virtuous are to enjoy an eternity of happiness in Gimlè; the wicked an eternity of punishment in Nifleheim.