The drawing above is a representation of the Norse conception of the universe as an enormous tree around which is the Earth. At the root of the tree are the world of the Dead, that of the gods, and that of the giants.
Bifrost
Bifrost, the rainbow, was the bridge leading from the Earth, called
Midgard, to Asgard, the home of the gods.
Only the gods could cross this bridge, which was guarded by the god Heimdall.
This bridge has also been associated with the
Milky Way.
It was believed that a great battle between good and evil would end in the destruction of the gods. During the battle, Bifrost shattered due to the weight of the monsters.
In the story, all the gods and everything on Earth perished under the sea. However, Earth rose from the waters and life began again.
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