NORSE MYTHOLOGY
Iðavöllr
The Heart of Asgard
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Introduction
Iðavöllr, or Iðavǫllr in Old Norse, (anglicized as Ithavoll or Idavoll), could translate to “Vibrant-Field”. The field is a significant place to the Aesir gods, located in the heart of Asgard (Old Norse: Ásgarðr), the realm of the gods in Norse Mythology. The field is attested in two key sources of Norse mythology: the Eddic poem Völuspá and The Prose Edda. In the sources, Iðavöllr is mentioned in association with the governance of the fate of men, rising order in the world, rebirth, innovation, construction, fashioning of wealth, and merry times. Even though it is briefly mentioned in the sources, it does play an important role in shaping the realm of Asgard.
In this article, we will explore all references to Iðavöllr in the sources, presenting them in direct quotes in both English and Old Norse, and draw conclusions based on these mentions. Without further delay, let’s delve into the lore of this mythological site.
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A Place of Order and Peace
In the ancient lore of the Völuspá we find the first mention of Iðavöllr in connection to the early days of the world. When the chaos of Ginnungagap has passed, and disorder is succumbing to rising order. The sons of Bur (Odin Vili, and Ve) have created the world from Ymir’s corpse, and the Aesir gods now assemble at Iðavöllr.
In stanza 7 of the poem it says:
7
The Aesir met
on Ithavoll;
they built high temples
and altars;
they made forges,
they fashioned wealth,
they made tongs
and shaped tools. [1a]
The stanza portrays Iðavöllr as a hub of activity, a place where the Aesir gather to create and build. The construction of temples and altars suggests a connection to the spiritual realm, while the forges and tools imply a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and innovation. The Aesir’s ability to fashion wealth and shape tools indicates a mastery of the material world, a testament to their power and ingenuity.
But Iðavöllr is not just a place of industry and creativity; it is also a site of leisure and recreation. The eighth stanza of the Völuspá describes the Aesir playing games in the meadow, surrounded by gold and joy:
8
They played games in the meadow,
and were merry,
there was no lack
of gold with them,
until three came,
giant maidens,
vastly powerful,
from Jotunheim. [1b]
Coupled with the previous stanza, the völva paints a picture of Iðavöllr as a significant place for the gods, a place of order, peace, and merry times. However, towards the end of the stanza, she hints at changing tides with the coming of the giantesses. These good times are not here to last. The world falls again into dark times, with the coming of Ragnarök, an event where chaos engulfs the world and order falls apart.
Then, it’s not until the end of Völuspá – after the world has been destroyed, and the earth has risen again from the sea that Iðavöllr is mentioned again. The sixtieth stanza says:
60
The Aesir will find each other
on Ithavoll,
and discuss the powerful
string of the earth,
and remember there
the mighty judgments
and the ancient runes
of Fimbultyr. [1c]
This passage suggests that Iðavöllr is a place of great knowledge and wisdom, where the Aesir come to discuss the mysteries of the earth and remember the ancient lore of their people. The “powerful string of the earth” is likely a reference to Jörmungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent, [3] a monstrous creature that encircles the world.
Finally, the sixty-first stanza of the Völuspá describes the Aesir finding wondrous golden playing-pieces in the grass, a reminder of their past glories. Stanza sixty one goes like this:
61
There will be found
wondrous golden
playing-pieces in the grass,
those which they had owned
in the ancient days. [1d]
The rediscovery of the golden playing-pieces in Iðavöllr suggest a belief in the cyclical nature of the world among the Norse. As the Aesir gather once more in the field, Iðavöllr is re-established as a symbol of order, peace, and joy, echoing the idyllic times of the world’s early days.
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At the Heart of Asgard
The location of Iðavöllr is not well defined in Völuspá. However, in another source – called The Prose Edda, a book about Norse myths and poetics, attributed to Snorri Sturluson, there is a more detailed description of the place.
In a section of the book called Gylfaginning, the following is said about the location of Iðavöllr:
Then Gangleri said: “What did All-Father [Odin] occupy himself with when Asgard was made?”
Harr said: “In the beginning, he appointed rulers and gave them seats, and asked them to determine the fate of men with him and to govern the arrangement of the town. This was at a place called Ithavoll, in the middle of the town. Their first task was to build a temple, where twelve of their seats stand, apart from the high seat which belongs to All-Father.” [4]
Þá mælti Gangleri: „Hvat hafðist Alföðr þá at, er gerr var Ásgarðr?“
Hárr mælti: „Í upphafi setti hann stjórnarmenn í sæti ok beiddi þá at dæma með sér örlög manna ok ráða um skipun borgarinnar. Þat var þar, sem heitir Iðavöllur í miðri borginni. Var þat hið fyrsta þeira verk at gera hof þat, er sæti þeira tólf standa í önnur en hásætit, þat er Alföðr á. [5a]
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The Meaning of Iðavöllr
4.1
Vibrant Green Field
4.2
The Field of Industriousness
4.3
Field of Renewal
4.4
Field of the Giant Iði
A highly speculative interpretation, but one that is worth a mention, suggests a connection between Iðavöllr and the giant (jotun) Iði, who is associated with gold in a story from the Prose Edda. In this theory, “Iða” would be the accusative declension of the noun Iði.
The giant is one of the sons of Ölvaldi, a wealthy figure who leaves behind a vast amount of gold as an inheritance for Iði and his brothers, Þjazi and Gangr. They divide this inheritance in an unusual way—by seeing how much each can carry in his mouth.
From this, it could be theorized that Iðavöllr might mean Iði’s Field. However, this idea rests largely on speculation, as there are no surviving tales directly connecting Iði to the field. One might wonder whether there was a lost myth in which Iði perhaps met a fate similar to Ymir’s, where his remains were terraformed into this field, with his inheritance of gold scattered throughout it.
The theory draws a connection between Iði’s name Iðavöllr, the giant’s association with gold, and the gold pieces used by the gods in their games, the ones that are later found again in the field after Ragnarök. However, it’s important to note that neither Völuspá nor The Prose Edda link Iði to the field or the gold pieces.
Iði himself is a relatively obscure figure, briefly mentioned in the Prose Edda and not prominent in other myths. While the theory is intriguing, it lacks strong textual support and remains speculative, without solid evidence to anchor it in the broader mythological tradition.
4.4
Conclusion: How to Translate Iðavöllr
Now that we’ve gone over some of the main possibilities by studying similar words in Old Norse and Icelandic, a language very similar to Old Norse, we will attempt to draw some conclusions regarding the meaning of the name.
Depending on the interpretation, Iðavöllr could mean Vibrant Green Field, Field of Industriousness, Field of Renewal, or Iði’s Field. Each of these sheds light on a different aspect of Iðavöllr, showing that its meaning could be tied to growth, activity, or perhaps a mythological figure.
However, We Vikings will suggest the translation Vibrant-Field to be the most plausible out of the versions discussed above; because the word vibrant can refer both to a vibrant green field and a place bustling with energy and life.
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Final Thoughts
After examining all references to Iðavöllr in the available sources, its significance to the Norse gods may be greater than the limited mentions in the surviving material suggest. Its location at the heart of their realm, serving as the site from which Asgard was constructed, underscores its importance.
In our overview we addressed contradictions within the sources, particularly regarding the purpose of Iðavöllr. The Prose Edda presents conflicting information by stating that Iðavöllr is where human fate is determined, while also claiming that fate is decided at Urðarbrunnr. In such instances, it may be prudent to rely on the Eddic poem Völuspá as a more authoritative source out of the two. Even though Snorri knew a great deal about the Norse myths, Völuspá is generally considered an older source and thus closer to the Viking Age’s understanding of Norse mythology. This is further supported by the fact that the Prose Edda quotes Völuspá to reinforce its interpretations of Norse mythology, indicating that the poem was likely regarded as an ancient text when the Prose Edda was being written. And in Völuspá, it is only stated that Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld are the ones who determine human fate at Urðarbrunnr.
Now, it’s time We Vikings conclude this comprehensive overview of Iðavöllr. If you’re interested in learning more about Norse mythology, we encourage you to browse our Library and Articles sections.
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References
[1] Eiður Eyþórsson, 2024, Völuspá: The Prophecy of the Seeress, We Vikings, stanzas 7 [a],8 [b],60 [c] & 61.[d] https://wevikings.com/library/voluspa/
[2] Guðni Jónsson, 1954, Eddukvæði (Sæmundar Edda). Völuspá, stanzas 7 [a],8 [b],60 [c] & 61.[d]
[3] Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon. (1989). -þinur, -þinurr. Íslensk orðsifjabók. https://ordsifjabok.arnastofnun.is/faersla/23473
[4] We Vikings, 2024, Prose Edda, English translation.
[5] Guðni Jónsson, 1954, Edda Snorra Sturlusonar, Prentverk Odds Björnssonar, chapters 14 [a] & 15.[b]
Note: The section can also be found online at Heimskringla: https://heimskringla.no/wiki/Gylfaginning
[7] Sören Sörenson, 1984, Ensk-íslensk orðabók, Örn og Örlygur. pages 368[a], 1225[b] & 512[c].
[8] Árni Böðvarsson, 1996, Íslensk orðabók, Mál og menning, page 450.[a][b][c]
[9] Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon. (1989). -ið. Íslensk orðsifjabók. https://ordsifjabok.arnastofnun.is/faersla/7986
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