MYTHOLOGY (noun.)
1. a collection of myths, especially one belonging to a particular religious or cultural tradition.
2. the study of myths
─ IN WHICH THE ADMINS GIVE YOU INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE MANY BELIEFS OF MULTIPLE MMYTHOLOGIES
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THE AFTERLIFE
In Norse mythology, there are several different places where the souls of the dead may go to in the afterlife. The three main ones are as follows, Helheim (meaning 'home of the goddess Hel'), Valhalla (meaning 'Hall of the Fallen'), and Folkvangr. Whilst the souls of those who died of either old age or disease would be received in Helheim, those who were slain in battle would travel either to Valhalla or Folkvangr.
VALHALLA!
Valhalla is a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over the god Odin. Chosen by Odin, half of those who die in combat travel to Valhalla upon death, led there by valkyries. According to the Old Norse poem Grímnismál ("The Song of the Hooded One"), the roof of the "gold-bright" Valhalla is made of shields and has spears for its rafters. Seats made of breastplates surround the many feasting tables of the vast hall. Before the hall stands the golden tree Glasir. Many creatures live around Valhalla, such as the stag Eikpyrnir and the goat Heiðrún, and its gates are guarded by wolves, and eagles fly above it.
In Valhalla, the dead join the masses of those who have died in combat known as Einherjar and various legendary heroes and kings, as they prepare to aid Odin during the events of Ragnarök.
FÓLKVANGR!
The other half of the honorable dead go to Fólkvangr, a meadow or field ruled over by the goddess Freyja. Old Norse sources say nothing about what Fólkvangr was like, or what the dead did while they were there. The Prose Edda mentions that Freya's hall within Fólkvangr was called Sessrúmnir ("Hall with Roomy Seats" or "Hall with Many Seats"). That's a rather generic name for a hall, and the passage in question says nothing about it except that it's "great and fair" – also a pretty generic description for a hall.
According to some sources, Freyja was given the right to select half of the warriors who were slain in battle. The souls of these fallen warriors would be taken to Folkvangr. The other half of the dead warriors would be taken by Odin to Valhalla. Others, however, have speculated that Valhalla was reserved for leaders, Folkvangr was the place where the souls of ordinary warriors would end up in.
HELHEIM!
Helheim is a dark and hostile world ruled by the mistress of Death, Hel. It is number eight in the spectrum of Norse Mythology and borders to Svartalfheim and Nivlheim.
This realm is where all who die from disease, old age or other causes without having accomplished something worthy of honor go to in the afterlife.
Helheim is located mostly underground, and the long road from to Hel's domains is called Hellway, where only darkness rules. The only light here can be found at the end, where the glittering, golden Gallarbridge crosses the river Gall (the thundering waters). The bridge is guarded by the surprisingly good hearted Modgunn, who asks everyone crossing the bridge why they would wish to enter Hel's domain.
Hellgate is the name of the final gate blocking the way into Hel's great halls of death, and it is guarded by the great hound Garm. Only when the Hellgate is opened can the tormented souls and undead escape to pester and haunt the living. At the end times (Ragnarok), this gate will be blown wide open, and release the undead armies within.
In Hel's domain one is always cold and hungry, even in the food courts known as Eljudne (the damp halls). Only terror and torment is to be expected in this terrible realm.
