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Líf and Lífþrasir

Líf ok Lífþrasir

The two humans who survive the end of the world hidden in Hoddmímir's wood, living on the morning dew, and from whom the new world is peopled.

Líf and Lífthrasir by Lorenz Frølich
Líf and Lífthrasir by Lorenz Frølich, Lorenz Frølich (1895). Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Líf and Lífþrasir are the two people who live through the end of the world. In Vafþrúðnismál Odin asks what will be left of mankind "when at last there comes / The mighty winter to men," and the giant answers that they will hide in Hoddmímir's wood, and "The morning dews for meat shall they have" Vafþrúðnismál 44-45.

Snorri repeats this with two changes. He has them hide not from the winter but "during the Fire of Surtr," and he adds that "From these folk shall come so numerous an offspring that all the world shall be peopled" Gylfaginning 53. So they are a second Ask and Embla, the first couple of the new world.

The name of their refuge, Hoddmímir's Holt ("the wood of treasure-Mímir"), seems to involve Mímir, and many readers take it to mean Yggdrasil itself, which shakes but is never said to fall Völuspá 47. That identification is attractive, and widely made, but it is an inference; the sources never explain the place. Neither source says which of the two is the woman, though Líf is usually taken to be.

In the sources

Quoted from the hosted translations; each line is checked against the text when the site is built. Select a reference to read it in context.

In Hoddmimir's wood shall hide themselves Lif and Lifthrasir then; The morning dews for meat shall they have
Vafþrúðnismál 45 The giant tells Odin who of mankind will survive the great winter.
In the place called Hoddmímir's Holt there shall lie hidden during the Fire of Surtr two of mankind, who are called thus: Líf and Lífthrasir, and for food they shall have the morning-dews.
Gylfaginning 53 Snorri places their hiding during Surtr's fire and makes them the ancestors of the new world.

Where the sources disagree or fall silent

  • Vafþrúðnismál has them hide from 'the mighty winter' (Vafþrúðnismál 44-45); Snorri says they hide 'during the Fire of Surtr' (Gylfaginning 53).
  • Hoddmímir's wood is often taken to be Yggdrasil, since Mímir's well lies at its root, but no source says so.

Myths with Líf and Lífþrasir

Ask and Embla: the first humans Three gods walking by the shore find two lifeless pieces of wood, Ask and Embla, and give them breath, mind, warmth and colour. Völuspá and Snorri agree on the gifts but not on who gave them. Odin's contest of wisdom with Vafþrúðnir Against Frigg's advice, Odin goes in disguise to the wisest of the giants and stakes his head on a contest of questions about the creation, the gods and the end of the world. He wins with a question only he can answer. The world reborn After Ragnarök a green earth rises from the sea. Surviving gods meet on Iðavöllr, Baldr returns from Hel, two humans come out of hiding, and a new sun rides the sky. The sources do not agree on who survives.

Related

Ragnarök The foretold end of the gods' world: wolves swallow sun and moon, Loki and the monsters break loose, the gods fall in battle, Surtr burns the earth, and a new world rises. Yggdrasil Yggdrasill The world-ash at the centre of the Norse cosmos: its roots reach the realms of gods, giants and the dead, and the gods hold court beneath it every day. Surtr The fire-giant who guards Múspell with a flaming sword; at Ragnarök he rides out from the south, kills Freyr and burns the whole world. Mímir The wise guardian of the well beneath Yggdrasil, where Odin pledged an eye for a drink. In the poems only his head survives, and Odin consults it for secret knowledge. Ask and Embla Askr ok Embla The first man and woman, made by three gods from two pieces of wood found on the shore. All humankind descends from them. Gimlé A golden-roofed hall brighter than the sun, where the righteous will live after Ragnarök; Snorri says it already stands at the southern end of heaven.