Álfheimr

Álfheimr

English

Proper noun

Álfheimr

1. The modern Swedish province of Bohuslän.
2. (Norse mythology) home of the Ljósálfar (Light Elves) and one of the nine realms, also called Ljosalfheim.

Coordinate terms

• (The Nine Realms): Asgard, Jötunheimr, Midgard, Múspellsheimr, Niðavellir, Niflheimr, Svartálfaheimr, Vanaheimr

---

Old Norse

Proper noun

Álfheimr m

1. The home of the Ljósálfar (light elves, álfar, divine beings), located up in the sky, according to Norse mythology.
   • 1220c, Sturluson, Snorri. Gylfaginning (The Fooling Of Gylfe):

     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.

     "There are many magnificient dwellings. One is there called Alfheim. There dwell the folk that are called light-elves; but the dark-elves dwell down in the earth."

   • 12th century, Grímnismál (Sayings of Grímnir), from Codex Regius:

     Alfheim Freý / gáfo i ardaga / tivar at tannfe.

     "And Alfheim the gods | to Freyr once gave."

2. Elfland.
3. Possibly heaven.

Antonyms

• Svartálfaheim

Derived terms

• Álfheim

References

• Wikisource:Poetic Edda/Grímnismál (Sayings of Grímnir), in English. Accessed Apr. 16, 2007
• Grímnismál in Old Norse. Accessed Apr. 16, 2007.
• Wikisource:Prose Edda/Gylfaginning (The Fooling Of Gylfe) by Sturluson, Snorri, in English. Accessed Apr. 16, 2007
• Gylfaginning in Old Norse Accessed Apr. 16, 2007.
• Marshall Jones Company (1930). Mythology of All Races Series, Volume 2 Eddic, Great Britain: Marshall Jones Company, 1930, pp. 220-221.