Álfheimr

File:Älvalek.jpg

Dancing Elves, by August Malmström, 1866

In Norse cosmology, Álfheimr (Old Norse: {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, "Land of the Elves" or "Elfland"; anglicized as Alfheim), also called "Ljósálfheimr" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:IPA|main}}, "home of the Light Elves"), is home of the Light Elves.

Etymology

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Attestations

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:

Old Norse textTemplate:Sfn	Bellows translationTemplate:Sfn
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	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.

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Gylfaginning

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 textTemplate:Sfn	Brodeur translationTemplate:Sfn
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	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 textTemplate:Sfn	Brodeur translationTemplate:Sfn
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	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

• Álfheimr (region)
• Alfheimbjerg
• Fairyland, a folkloric location sometimes referred to as Elfame
• Svartálfaheimr
• Svartálfar (black elves)

Bibliography

Primary

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External links

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