Bifröst

They chose a suitable place far above the earth on the other side of the great river which flowed from the home of mist where the giants dwelled, and here they made for their abode Asgard, wherein they dwelt in peace and happiness, and from whence they could look down upon the sons of men.

From Asgard to Midgard they built a beautiful bridge of many colors to which men gave the name of Rainbow Bridge, and up and down which the gods could pass on their journeys to and from the earth.

Here in Asgard stood the mighty forge where the gods fashioned their weapons wherewith they fought the giants, and the tools wherewith they built their palaces of gold and silver.

Meantime no human creature lived upon the earth, and the giants dared not cross its borders for fear of the gods.

Near the roots of the tree of life is a sacred well of sweet water from which the three weird sisters who know all that shall come to pass sprinkle the tree and keep it fresh and green.

And the water as it trickles down from the leaves falls as drops of honey on the earth, and the bees take it for their food.

Close to this sacred well is the council hall of the gods to which every morning they rode over the Rainbow Bridge to hold converse together.

And this is the end of the tale of how all things began.

Then were created the queer little dwarfs, who lived underground in the caverns of the mountains, working at their mines of metal and precious stones.

Last of all, the gods made men to dwell in Midgard, the good world that we know, between which and the glorious home of the Aesir stretched Bifrost, the bridge of rainbows.

In those days, folks say, there was a mighty ash tree named Yggdrasil, so vast that its branches shaded the whole earth and stretched up into heaven where the Aesir dwelt, while its roots sank far down below the lowest depth.

In the branches of the big ash tree lived a queer family of creatures.

Then said Gungleri, What is the way to heaven from earth? Then Har answered and laughed aloud, Now that is not wisely asked.

Has it not been told thee that the gods made a bridge from earth to heaven called Bifrost? Thou must have seen it.

It may be that ye call it rainbow.

It is of three colors and very strong, and made with cunning and with more magic art than other works of craftsmanship.

Then said Gungleri, To my thinking the gods did not build the bridge honestly, seeing that it could be broken and they able to make it as they would.

Then Har replied, The gods are not deserving of reproof because of this work of skill.

A good bridge is Bifrost, but nothing in this world is of such nature that it may be relied on when the sons of Muspel go a harrying.

Fourteen.

Ivaldi's sons went in days of old, Skidbladnir to form of ships the best for the bright fray near Ord's benign son.

Yggdrasil's ashes of all trees most excellent and of all ships Skidbladnir of the Aesir, Odin and his horses Sleipnir, Bifrost of bridges and of scalds Bragi, Hebrok of hawks and of dogs Garm, Grimnir of swords.

Now I my face have raised to the gods' triumphant sons at that will welcome help awake from all the Aesir that shall penetrate to Ogre's bench, to Ogre's compotation.

I am called Grim, I am called Gangleri, Herian and Hjalmburi, Thek and Thridi, Thund and Ud, Helblindi and Har.

Sigurd: Tell me, Fafnir, as thou art wise declared, and many things to know, how that home is called where Surt and the Aesir will sword-liquor together mingle.

Fafnir: Oskopnir it is called; there shall the gods with lances play.

Bifrost shall be broken when they go forth, and their steeds in the rivers swim.

An Aegis-helm I bore among the sons of men while I o'er the treasures lay.

Suddenly a lightning storm forms and Thor appears, transported to Earth by Odin and Heimdall's dark magic.

They fixed the Bifrost.

Thor's so dramatic.

Thor takes Loki from the team's custody and carries him to a nearby forest.

Nidavellir, land of dwarves, and Svartalheim, home of the dark elves, all sit on the middle level.

The great rainbow bridge, the Bifrost, links these middle realms up to the level of the gods.

Down below, on the last level, are the realms of Niflheim, or Hell, and Muspell, Realm of Fire.

The Great Tree has three strong roots that plunge into each of the levels.