ASGARD
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ASGARD : THE FORTRESS HOME OF THE AESIR
When the time came to create a Godrealm for themselves, the fierce warriors and dedicated protectors of Northern Europe crafted Asgard, a world as challenging and dynamic as they themselves were. Lush green pastures, thigh-high with fertile grasses, run along the bases of great majestic mountains whose snow-capped peaks stretch far into an impossibly blue sky. Great sea-lakes encompass vast portions of the realm, with deep fjord inlets, black pebble beaches and sheer glacial cliff walls on their shores. Raging rivers crisscross the land, with more peaceful tributaries feathering out from them to provide water for the realm’s cities, villages and halls.
At the center of the realm is the city of Asgard, surrounded by the Plain of Idavoll where the residents of Valhalla come each day to practice their warcraft. The final battle of Ragnarök is prophesied to take place on this plain
Valaskjalf -- Valhalla was, indeed, the hall where Odin received the souls of the warriors who perished in valiant battle. Importantly, Odin ("The Furious") had another hall, Valaskjalf, which contained his throne (Hiloskjalf or "High Seat") from which he surveyed and contemplated the universe. As well, half of the honorably slain in battle were chosen by Freya ("Lady), the goddess of war, to go with her to Folkvangr, translated as "the field of the host" or "field of the army" among other renditions. Please note that accounts of these mythologies are not invariant which can as well be said of the orthography of some of the Norse names which are given here without diacritical marks.
