midgard

Midgard, or Miðgarðr in Old Norse, is the world of humanity in Norse mythology. It is one of the Nine Worlds and sits at the center of the cosmos, linked to Asgard, the realm of the gods, and to Jotunheim, the realm of giants, via Yggdrasil, the world tree, and the rainbow bridge Bifröst.

The name Miðgarðr is usually translated as "middle enclosure" or "middle yard," reflecting its position at the world’s center.

In Norse cosmogony, Midgard is encircled by a great sea and is connected to the other realms by Yggdrasil. The world serpent Jörmungandr is said to encircle Midgard in some traditions, and mortals live within its bounds.

Humans are descended from Ask and Embla, the first humans formed by the gods. The inhabitants’ fate is affected by the Norns, and the gods sometimes visit Midgard for counsel, feasts, or mortal affairs. Ragnarok foretells the destruction or renewal of Midgard and its people.

Primary sources for Midgard are the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, compiled in the 13th century by the Icelandic scholar Snorri Sturluson, drawing on older Norse tradition.

In modern usage, Midgard is often used to refer to Earth in fantasy and popular culture, including Marvel Comics, where it denotes the human world; the term appears in various Nordic-inspired works.