Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index

Alfheim

Alfheim in Norse mythology is the Realm of the Alfar, in English, the Elves of light, one of the worlds of Yggdrasil. It was sometimes called "Ljossalfheim" the home of the bright elves. This was a region of forest and meadow, sea and islands; a pleasant and sunny place where dwelt the Elven peoples. They don't seem to have been drastically different than Humans; perhaps somewhat taller, much more nobly proportioned and fair to look upon, certainly longer lived. J. R. R. Tolkien portrays the Nordic Elven type quite fairly in his famous fantasy trilogy. In that Jotunheim lies in the East, Muspellheim is clearly South, and Niflheim is just as obviously North, one can imply that Alfheim is in the West, beyond the seas.