vöðvaveggja

Vöðvaveggja is a term from Old Norse mythology, referring to a type of wall or barrier that is said to separate the realms of the living and the dead. The term is derived from the Old Norse words "vöðva," meaning "dead" or "corpse," and "veggja," meaning "wall" or "barrier." In the mythological context, the vöðvaveggja serves as a physical or metaphorical boundary that prevents the dead from interfering with the living world. This concept is often associated with the realm of Hel, the Norse underworld, where the souls of the dead reside. The vöðvaveggja is a central element in the Norse understanding of the afterlife and the boundary between life and death. It is a recurring motif in Old Norse literature and poetry, where it is often described as a formidable and impenetrable barrier. The vöðvaveggja is not merely a physical structure but also a symbolic representation of the transition between the realms of the living and the dead, embodying the Norse belief in the separation of these two worlds.