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{{short description|Realm of the Elves}}
{{short description|Home of the elves in Nordic mythology}}
{{about|the place in Norse mythology|the historical region|Álfheimr (region)|other uses|Alfheim (disambiguation)}}
{{about|the place in Nordic mythology|the historical region|Álfheimr (region)|other uses|Alfheim (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Älvalek.jpg|thumb|right|''Dancing Elves'', by [[August Malmström]], 1866]]
[[File:Älvalek.jpg|thumb|right|''Dancing Elves'', by [[August Malmström]], 1866]]
In [[Norse cosmology]], '''Alfheim''' ({{Lang-non|Álfheimr}} {{IPA-non|ˈɑːlvˌhɛimz̠|}}, "Land Of The Elves" or "Elfland"), also called '''"Ljosalfheimr"''' ({{lang|non|Ljósálf[a]heimr}}'' {{IPA-non|ˈljoːsˌɑːlv(ɑ)ˌhɛimz̠|}}, "home of the [[Ljósálfar|light-elves]]"), is home of the [[Elf#Old_Norse_texts|Light Elves]].
In [[Norse cosmology]], '''Álfheimr''' ([[Old Norse]]: {{IPA-non|ˈɑːlvˌhɛimz̠|}}, "Land of the [[Elves]]" or "Elfland"; anglicized as '''Alfheim'''), also called '''"Ljósálfheimr"''' ({{lang|non|Ljósálf[a]heimr}} {{IPA-non|ˈljoːsˌɑːlv(ɑ)ˌhɛimz̠|}}, "home of the [[Ljósálfar|Light Elves]]"), is home of the Light Elves.


==Attestations==
==In Old Norse texts==
⚫
{{Also|Svartálfaheimr}}
Álfheim as an abode of the Elves is mentioned only twice in [[Old Norse]] texts.
Álfheim as an abode of the Elves is mentioned only twice in [[Old Norse]] texts.
===Grímnismál===
⚫
The [[Eddic poem]] ''[[Grímnismál]]'' describes twelve divine dwellings beginning the stanza 5 with:


{| width="75%"
⚫
The [[eddic poem]] ''[[Grímnismál]]'' describes twelve divine dwellings beginning in stanza 5 with:
! width="25%" | [[Old Norse]] text{{sfn|Grímnismál (ON)|loc=Stanza 5}}
⚫
<blockquote>[[Ýdalir]] call they &nbsp; &nbsp; the place where [[Ullr|Ull]]<br/>
! width="50%" | [[Henry Adams Bellows (businessman)|Bellows]] translation{{sfn|Bellows|2004|loc=Grimnismol stanza 5}}
⚫
A hall for himself hath set;<br/>
|-
⚫
And Álfheim the gods &nbsp; &nbsp; to [[Freyr|Frey]] once gave<br/>
|
⚫
As a tooth-gift in ancient times.</blockquote>
:{{lang|non|Ýdalir heita,}}
:{{lang|non|þar er Ullr hefir}}
:{{lang|non|sér of görva sali;}}
:{{lang|non|Alfheim Frey}}
:{{lang|non|gáfu í árdaga}}
:{{lang|non|tívar at tannféi.}}
|
⚫
:[[Ydalir]] call they the place where [[Ullr|Ull]]
⚫
:A hall for himself hath set;
⚫
:And Alfheim the gods to [[Freyr]] once gave
⚫
:As a tooth-gift in ancient times.
|}


A tooth-gift was a gift given to an [[infant]] on the cutting of the first tooth.
A tooth-gift is a gift given to an [[infant]] on the cutting of the first tooth.{{sfn|Bellows|2004|loc=Grimnismol stanza 5 notes}}


===Gylfaginning===
In the 12th century eddic prose ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', [[Snorri Sturluson]] relates it as the first of a series of abodes in heaven:
In the 12th&nbsp;century Eddic prose ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', [[Snorri Sturluson]] relates it in the stanza&nbsp;17 as the first of a series of abodes in heaven:
⚫
<blockquote>That which is called Álfheim is one, where dwell the peoples called ''[[ljósálfar]]'' [Light Elves]; but the ''[[dökkálfar]]'' [Dark Elves] dwell down in the earth, and they are unlike in appearance, but by far more unlike in nature. The Light-elves are fairer to look upon than the sun, but the Dark-elves are blacker than pitch.
</blockquote>
⚫
The account later, in speaking of a hall in the Highest Heaven called [[Gimlé]] that shall survive when heaven and earth have died, explains:
⚫
<blockquote>It is said that another heaven is to the southward and upward of this one, and it is called [[Andlang]] [''Andlangr'' 'Endlong'] but the third heaven is yet above that, and it is called [[Vídbláin]] [''Vídbláinn'' 'Wide-blue'] and in that heaven we think this abode is. But we believe that none but Light-Elves inhabit these mansions now.</blockquote>
It is not indicated whether these heavens are identical to Álfheim or distinct. Some texts read Vindbláin (''Vindbláinn'' 'Wind-blue') instead of Vídbláin.


{| width="100%"
Modern commentators speculate (or sometimes state as fact) that Álfheim was one of the nine worlds (''heima'') mentioned in stanza&nbsp;2 of the eddic poem ''[[Völuspá]]''.
! width="50%" | [[Old Norse]] text{{sfn|Gylfaginning (ON)|loc=Chapter 17}}
! width="50%" | [[Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur|Brodeur]] translation{{sfn|Sturluson|2018|loc=Gylfaginning, chapter 17}}
|-
|
{{lang|non|Margir staðir eru þar göfugligir. Sá er einn staðr þar, er kallaðr er Álfheimr. Þar byggvir fólk þat, er Ljósálfar heita, en Dökkálfar búa niðri í jörðu, ok eru þeir ólíkir þeim sýnum ok miklu ólíkari reyndum. Ljósálfar eru fegri en sól sýnum, en Dökkálfar eru svartari en bik.}}
|
⚫
Many places are there, and glorious. That which is called Álfheimr is one, where dwell the peoples called Light-Elves; but the Dark-Elves dwell down in the earth, and they are unlike in appearance, but by far more unlike in nature. The Light-Elves are fairer to look upon than the sun, but the Dark-Elves are blacker than pitch.
|}

⚫
Later in the section, in speaking of a hall in the Highest Heaven called [[Gimlé]] that shall survive when heaven and earth have died, explains:

{| width="100%"
! width="50%" | [[Old Norse]] text{{sfn|Gylfaginning (ON)|loc=Chapter 17}}
! width="50%" | [[Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur|Brodeur]] translation{{sfn|Sturluson|2018|loc=Gylfaginning, chapter 17}}
|-
|
{{lang|non|Svá er sagt, at annarr himinn sé suðr ok upp frá þessum himni, ok heitir sá Andlangr, en inn þriði himinn sé enn upp frá þeim, ok heitir sá Víðbláinn, ok á þeim himni hyggjum vér þenna stað vera. En Ljósálfar einir, hyggjum vér, at nú byggvi þá staði.}}
|
⚫
It is said that another heaven is to the southward and upward of this one, and it is called [[Andlangr]]; but the third heaven is yet above that, and it is called [[Víðbláinn|Vídbláinn]], and in that heaven we think this abode is. But we believe that none but Light-Elves inhabit these mansions now.
|}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Fairyland]]
* [[Álfheimr (region)]]
⚫
* [[Svartálfar | Svartálfar (black elves)]]
* [[Alfheimbjerg]]
* [[Alfheimbjerg]]
* [[Fairyland]], a folkloric location sometimes referred to as Elfame
⚫
* [[Svartálfaheimr]]
⚫
* [[Svartálfar | Svartálfar (black elves)]]


==Sources==
==Citations==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
===Primary===
* {{cite book |last1=Bellows |first1=Henry Adam |title=The poetic Edda : the mythological poems |date=2004 |publisher=Dover Publications |location=Mineola, NY |isbn=9780486437101 |url=https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/index.htm}}
* {{cite book |last1=Sturluson |first1=Snorri |translator-last=Brodeur|translator-first=Arthur Gilchrist|title=The Prose Edda |date=2018 |publisher=Franklin Classics Trade Press |isbn=9780344335013}}
* {{cite web |ref={{SfnRef|Grímnismál (ON)}}| title= Grímnismál (Old Norse) |url=https://heimskringla.no/wiki/Gr%C3%ADmnism%C3%A1l |website=heimskringla.com|access-date=3 April 2023}}
* {{cite web |ref={{SfnRef|Gylfaginning (ON)}}| title=Gylfaginning (Old Norse) |url=https://heimskringla.no/wiki/Gylfaginning |website=heimskringla.no |access-date=3 April 2023}}

==External links==
*{{Commonscatinline|Álfheimr}}


{{Elves}}
{{Elves}}
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[[Category:Elves]]
[[Category:Elves]]
[[Category:Freyr]]
[[Category:Freyr]]


{{Norse-myth-stub}}
{{saga-stub}}

Latest revision as of 09:00, 9 November 2024

This article is about the place in Nordic mythology. For the historical region, see Álfheimr (region). For other uses, see Alfheim (disambiguation).
Dancing Elves, by August Malmström, 1866

In Norse cosmology, Álfheimr (Old Norse: [ˈɑːlvˌhɛimz̠], "Land of the Elves" or "Elfland"; anglicized as Alfheim), also called "Ljósálfheimr" (Ljósálf[a]heimr [ˈljoːsˌɑːlv(ɑ)ˌhɛimz̠], "home of the Light Elves"), is home of the Light Elves.

Attestations

[edit]

Álfheim as an abode of the Elves is mentioned only twice in Old Norse texts.

Grímnismál

[edit]

The Eddic poem Grímnismál describes twelve divine dwellings beginning the stanza 5 with:

Old Norse text[1] Bellows translation[2]
Ýdalir heita,
þar er Ullr hefir
sér of görva sali;
Alfheim Frey
gáfu í árdaga
tívar at tannféi.
Ydalir call they the place where Ull
A hall for himself hath set;
And Alfheim the gods to Freyr once gave
As a tooth-gift in ancient times.

A tooth-gift is a gift given to an infant on the cutting of the first tooth.[3]

Gylfaginning

[edit]

In the 12th century Eddic prose Gylfaginning, Snorri Sturluson relates it in the stanza 17 as the first of a series of abodes in heaven:

Old Norse text[4] Brodeur translation[5]

Margir staðir eru þar göfugligir. Sá er einn staðr þar, er kallaðr er Álfheimr. Þar byggvir fólk þat, er Ljósálfar heita, en Dökkálfar búa niðri í jörðu, ok eru þeir ólíkir þeim sýnum ok miklu ólíkari reyndum. Ljósálfar eru fegri en sól sýnum, en Dökkálfar eru svartari en bik.

Many places are there, and glorious. That which is called Álfheimr is one, where dwell the peoples called Light-Elves; but the Dark-Elves dwell down in the earth, and they are unlike in appearance, but by far more unlike in nature. The Light-Elves are fairer to look upon than the sun, but the Dark-Elves are blacker than pitch.

Later in the section, in speaking of a hall in the Highest Heaven called Gimlé that shall survive when heaven and earth have died, explains:

Old Norse text[4] Brodeur translation[5]

Svá er sagt, at annarr himinn sé suðr ok upp frá þessum himni, ok heitir sá Andlangr, en inn þriði himinn sé enn upp frá þeim, ok heitir sá Víðbláinn, ok á þeim himni hyggjum vér þenna stað vera. En Ljósálfar einir, hyggjum vér, at nú byggvi þá staði.

It is said that another heaven is to the southward and upward of this one, and it is called Andlangr; but the third heaven is yet above that, and it is called Vídbláinn, and in that heaven we think this abode is. But we believe that none but Light-Elves inhabit these mansions now.

See also

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Grímnismál (ON), Stanza 5.
  2. ^ Bellows 2004, Grimnismol stanza 5.
  3. ^ Bellows 2004, Grimnismol stanza 5 notes.
  4. ^ a b Gylfaginning (ON), Chapter 17.
  5. ^ a b Sturluson 2018, Gylfaginning, chapter 17.

Bibliography

[edit]

Primary

[edit]
  • Bellows, Henry Adam (2004). The poetic Edda : the mythological poems. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications. ISBN 9780486437101.
  • Sturluson, Snorri (2018). The Prose Edda. Translated by Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist. Franklin Classics Trade Press. ISBN 9780344335013.
  • "Grímnismál (Old Norse)". heimskringla.com. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  • "Gylfaginning (Old Norse)". heimskringla.no. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
[edit]
  • Media related to Álfheimr at Wikimedia Commons
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