frumuhlutar

Frumuhlutar is a term used in Icelandic to describe the primordial elements or fundamental building blocks of existence. It is a concept that can be found within various Icelandic sagas and Eddic poetry, often appearing in cosmogonic narratives. The precise nature and number of frumuhlutar can vary depending on the specific text and interpretation, but they are generally understood as the basic substances or forces from which the universe and everything within it originated.

These elements are not typically described in a systematic, scientific manner as in modern physics, but rather through a more metaphorical and mythopoetic lens. They represent a foundational layer of reality, preceding the formation of gods, humans, and the structured world. Understanding frumuhlutar is key to comprehending certain aspects of Norse mythology and the worldview it encapsulates, particularly regarding creation and the underlying order of the cosmos.