That which is innangard (“inside the fence”) is orderly, law-abiding, and civilized, while that which is utangard (“beyond the fence”) is chaotic, anarchic, and wild. One of the primary ways the pre-Christian Norse and other Germanic peoples classified geographical spaces (as well as psychological states) was with reference to their concept of the distinction between the innangard and utangard. However, its name may contain an indication of the place’s character. It should come as no surprise, then, that the sources are completely silent as to what kind of world Vanaheim is. However, there is one authentic and reliable Old Norse poem that mentions Vanaheim by name, so we can be reasonably certain that it was a genuine element of pre-Christian Norse religion. Some scholars have gone so far as to claim that Vanaheim was invented by the thirteenth-century Icelandic Christian historian and poet Snorri Sturluson. Presumably, then, Vanaheim lies somewhere to the west of Asgard. The sole clue we have comes from the Lokasenna (“The Taunting of Loki“), one of the poems in the Poetic Edda, which states that the Vanir god Njordwent eastward when he went to Asgard as a hostage at the conclusion of the Aesir-Vanir War. The surviving sources for our information on Norse mythology and religion, as fragmentary as they are, don’t contain any explicit mention of where exactly Vanaheim is located. As the name implies, it’s the home of the Vanir tribe of deities, who tend to be somewhat more associated with fertility and what we today would call “nature” than the other tribe of Norse deities, the Aesir, who have their home in Asgard. Vanaheim (Old Norse Vanaheimr, “Homeland of the Vanir“) is one of the Nine Worlds that are situated around the world-tree Yggdrasil. It’s not only the biggest realm in game - seemingly packed with more side content than any other world, it also features a unique day/night cycle that opens and closes different paths depending on the position of the sun and the moon. Vanaheim is introduced as a major location in God of War: Ragnarök.
The Vanir realm is nevertheless freed following the demise of Asgard during Ragnarök. However, following the fallout of their union and the banishement of Freya in Midgard, the Asgardians seized the opportunity to successfully subdue Vanaheim once and for all, although they had to deal with a guerrilla warfare led by Freyr. Despite the superior militaristic power of the Aesir led by Odin, the Vanir led by Freya successfuly fought off the invasion into a stalemate thanks to their superior magic and the very environement of Vanaheim.Īfter centuries of war, an uneasy peace was brokered in the form of a marriage between the All-Father and Freya. This extreme animosity between the two realms culminated into the cataclismic Aesir-Vanir War, which devastated both Asgard and Vanaheim. The peaceful nature of the Vanir quickly clashed with the warlike Aesir, who naturally became their most steadfast enemies. Ruled by the wise and powerful Njörd, this world covered in lush jungles and inhabited by a dangerous fauna and flore is traditionally associated with Magic, Fertility and Wisdom. Vanaheim (Old Norse: Vanaheimr) is one of the Nine Realms of the World Tree and the home of the Vanir Gods. –Description of Vanaheim on the Field Notes
Just because a flower is beautiful, doesn't mean it won't try to kill you. However, be prepared for high humidity and temperamental fauna. Whether canoeing down one of its many serene rivers or strolling the sun-dappled trails of its verdant rainforests, the land of the Vanir should set any true adventurer's heart aflutter. For nature lovers, the lush realm of Vanaheim is as varied as the gods and creatures that call it home.
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