Asgard

In Norse religion, Asgard (Old Norse: Ásgarðr; meaning "Enclosure of the Æsir" ) is one of the Nine Worlds and is the country or capital city of the Norse Gods surrounded by an incomplete wall attributed to a Hrimthurs riding the stallion Svadilfari, according to Gylfaginning. Valhalla is located within Asgard. Odin and his wife, Frigg are the rulers of Asgard.

Asgard is a realm within the universe based on the Asgard of Norse mythology and is home to the Asgardians and other beings of Norse mythology. Asgard features prominently in tales of Thor.

All Asgardians possess certain superhuman physical attributes. They are extremely long-lived (though not truly immortal like the Olympians), aging at an extremely slow rate upon reaching adulthood (through the periodic consumption of the golden apples of Idunn). Asgardian flesh and bone is about three times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to the Asgardians superhuman strength and weight. An average Asgardian male can lift about 30 tons (27.2 metric tons); an average Asgardian female can lift about 25 tons (22.7 metric tons). Asgardians are immune to all terrestrial diseases and resistant to conventional injury. The metabolism of the Asgardians gives them superhuman endurance in all physical activities.

Demons are beings of fire and tend to be about the same stature as the Asgardians.

Dwarves are smaller in stature than the Asgardians, and have short, stocky bodies. Their average height is four feet (1.2 meters).

Elves vary greatly in size from four to eight feet (1.2 to 2.4 meters). They tend toward slender bodies and proportionately longer limbs. The dark elves tend to be darker in color than the light elves. Both types have natural proclivity towards magic.

Giants are basically humanoid in appearance and color although they tend toward the neanderthalic in body and bone structure. Their most distinguishing feature is their height. The average giant is twenty feet (6 meters) tall, although some may reach thirty feet (9.1 meters). On occasion giants will produce stunted offspring who look similar to the Asgardians. Loki and the Executioner are both children of giants despite their diminutive six or seven foot (1.8 or 2.1 meter) stature.

Trolls are the least human-looking of the denizens of Asgard, possessing body characteristics that are almost simian. Trolls are stocky and massive, have thick body hair (almost fur) and tend toward a ruddy orange color. They are on average taller than the Asgardians but shorter than giants, around seven feet (2.1 meters) tall, although some trolls are considerably taller. Trolls tend to be extremely strong, stronger than the average Asgardian, dwarf or elf and on par with giants. Trolls like Ulik rival Thor in strength.
 * Aegir – Norse God of the sea. Married to Ran and lives under the waves near the island of Hlesey.
 * Balder – Norse God of wisdom.
 * Eir – Goddess of healing
 * Forseti – God of Justice. Son of Balder and Nanna.
 * Freya – Main goddess of the Vanir (fertility gods). Daughter of Njord and sister of Freyr.
 * Frigga – Main goddess. Wife of Odin and mother of Balder.
 * Heimdall – Watchman of the Norse gods and owner of the horn Gjall.
 * Hel – ruler of Helheim, the realm of the dead
 * Idun – Guardian of the golden apples of youth and wife of Bragi.
 * Lofn – Goddess of ilicit unions.
 * Loki – The sly, trickster of the Norse gods. Son of two giants. Also known as the Sly One, the Trickster, the Shape Changer and the Sky Traveller. Becomes increasingly more evil. He is responsible for the death of Balder. Bound until Ragnarok.
 * Nanna – Wife of Balder and daughter of Nep.
 * Njord – A Vanir god associated with wind.
 * Norns – Urd “fate”, Skuld “being” and Verandi “necessity”. Three goddesses of destiny.
 * Odin – King of the Norse Gods, God of poetry, battle and death. Chief god of the Aesir. Also known as the “all-father”, the “terrible one”, “one-eyed” and “father of battle”.
 * Sif – Wife of Thor whose golden hair was cut off by Loki.
 * Sigyn – Wife of Loki.
 * Sjofn – Goddess of human passion.
 * Skadi – Goddess of Winter and of the Hunt
 * Syn – Goddess of the accused at trial.
 * Thor – God of Sky, thunder and fertility. Associated with law and order in Asgard and guardian of the Norse gods. Son of Odin and Earth and husband of Sif. Also known as the “thunder god” and “charioteer”.
 * Tyr – War god. Son of Odin who sacrificed his hand in the binding of Fenrir.
 * Ull – God of archery and skiing.
 * Valkyries – Beautiful women who carried dying warriors to Valhalla.
 * Var – Goddess of marriage oaths.

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