Asgardian

Asgardian refers to anything relating to Asgard, the mythical realm in Norse cosmology, or to its inhabitants. In traditional Norse literature, Asgard is the residence of the Aesir, one principal group of gods, and is connected to Midgard, the world of humans, by the rainbow bridge Bifrost. Asgard serves as a center of power and culture for the Aesir and features halls such as Valhalla, associated with warriors who die in battle. The Aesir include deities such as Odin, Thor, Frigg, Tyr, and Heimdall, among others, and they figure prominently in mythic narratives about fate, honor, and cosmic order. Asgard is described as one of the Nine Realms in Norse myth, a cosmological framework later popularized in modern retellings.

In modern popular culture, the term "Asgardian" is widely used to describe residents of Asgard in Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel’s Asgardians are a humanoid, long-lived species with mastery of both science and magic, often depicted as possessing superhuman physical abilities. They are led by figures such as Odin and Thor, with Loki also prominent in their stories. The concept blends ancient mythic elements with futuristic technology and fantasy, and has been developed by creators including Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby.

Etymologically, Asgard comes from Old Norse Ásgarðr, meaning "enclosure of the Aesir" (áss meaning gods, garðr meaning enclosure or fortress). The term "Asgardian" thus denotes something of or relating to Asgard, whether in traditional myth or in its modern fictional representations.