fornnáttu

Fornnáttu is an Icelandic term that translates to "ancient night" or "primordial night." It refers to a state of being before the creation of the world as described in Norse mythology. This concept is fundamental to understanding the cosmology of the Old Norse people, as it represents the ultimate void or chaos from which everything else emerged.

In the Eddic poems, particularly the Völuspá, fornnáttu is often depicted as a state of nothingness, a deep abyss before light, land, and the gods themselves existed. It is the primordial state that existed prior to Ginnungagap, the yawning void that would eventually be filled with the primal elements of fire and ice, leading to the formation of the cosmos. This concept highlights the Norse belief in a cyclical nature of existence, with periods of creation and destruction.

The idea of fornnáttu emphasizes the vastness of the unknown and the potential that lies within emptiness. It is a fundamental concept that underpins many of the creation narratives in Norse mythology, providing the canvas upon which the gods painted the world. Understanding fornnáttu is key to grasping the Norse worldview, which often saw the world as a fragile creation emerging from a state of formless darkness.