Seiðr Loom

place

Iðavöllr

The plain at the heart of the gods' home where they first built their temples and forges, and where the surviving gods meet again after Ragnarök.

Iðavöllr is the plain where the gods' history begins and ends. Völuspá uses it twice, at the two ends of its story.

At the beginning, once the sun and moon have been given their courses, "At Ithavoll met the mighty gods". They build shrines and temples, set up forges, work ore and make tongs and tools; they play at tables in their dwellings and have no lack of gold, until three giant maidens arrive from Jötunheim Völuspá 7 Völuspá 8. Snorri says the same place, "Ida-field", lay "in the midst of the town" of Ásgard, and that there the gods built their court with twelve seats and Odin's high seat, the hall Gladsheim Gylfaginning 14.

At the end, after Ragnarök, the earth rises green from the sea and "the gods in Ithavoll meet together". They talk of the world-serpent and remember the past, and the golden gaming pieces of the old days are found again in the grass Völuspá 60 Völuspá 61. Snorri names who will be there: Víðarr and Váli, Móði and Magni with Mjöllnir, then Baldr and Höðr back from Hel. They dwell "at Ida-Plain, where Ásgard was before" Gylfaginning 53.

In Völuspá the new world begins in the same place as the old one.

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.

At Ithavoll met the mighty gods, Shrines and temples they timbered high; Forges they set, and they smithied ore
Völuspá 7 In the first days the gods meet at Iðavöllr, build shrines and set up forges.
The gods in Ithavoll meet together, Of the terrible girdler of earth they talk
Völuspá 60 After the world's destruction the gods meet there again and remember the past.
that was in the place which is called Ida-field, in the midst of the town.
Gylfaginning 14 Snorri places Iðavöllr in the middle of Ásgard, where the gods' court of twelve seats is built.
they shall dwell at Ida-Plain, where Ásgard was before.
Gylfaginning 53 Snorri: Víðarr and Váli, Thor's sons, Baldr and Höðr will live at Iðavöllr after Ragnarök.

Where the sources disagree or fall silent

  • The meaning of the first element, Iða-, is not known.

Myths with Iðavöllr

The making of the world Before anything existed there was only a yawning gap. Fire and ice met in it, the giant Ymir woke out of the melting rime, and Odin and his brothers killed him and built the world from his body. 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

Asgard Ásgarðr The stronghold of the Æsir, walled against the giants, full of halls such as Valhall and Bilskirnir; Snorri also identifies it, confusingly, with Troy. The Æsir Æsir The main family of Norse gods, led by Odin and living in Asgard: Thor, Baldr, Týr, Heimdall and others, with the goddesses called Ásynjur. They fought and made peace with the Vanir. 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. Víðarr The silent son of Odin and the giantess Gríðr, nearly as strong as Thor. At Ragnarök he avenges his father by tearing apart the wolf Fenrir, and he survives into the new world. Váli Odin's son by Rindr, born to avenge Baldr: at one night old, unwashed and uncombed, he killed Baldr's slayer Höðr. He survives Ragnarök. Baldr Odin and Frigg's son, the brightest and best-loved of the gods. His death by a mistletoe dart, thrown by his blind brother Höðr, is the first great loss on the road to Ragnarök. Glaðsheimr The gold-bright place where Valhalla stands, according to Grímnismál; Snorri makes it the golden hall of the gods' twelve judgment seats. 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.