English

Proper noun

Álfheimr

1. The name for the modern Swedish province of Bohuslän

Old Norse

Proper noun

Álfheimr m

1. The home of the Ljósálfar (light elves, álfar, divine beings), located up in the sky, according to Norse mythology.
   • 1220c, Sturluson, Snorri. Gylfaginning (The Fooling Of Gylfe):

     Margir staðir eru þar göfugligir. Sá er einn staðr þar, er kallaðr er Álfheimr. Þar byggvir fólk þat, er Ljósálfar heita, en Dökkálfar búa niðri í jörðu, ok eru þeir ólíkir þeim sýnum ok miklu ólíkari reyndum.

     (Wikisource translation: "There are many magnificient dwellings. One is there called Alfheim. There dwell the folk that are called light-elves; but the dark-elves dwell down in the earth.")

   • 12th century, Grímnismál (Sayings of Grímnir), from Codex Regius:

     Alfheim Freý / gáfo i ardaga / tivar at tannfe.

     (Wikisource translation: "And Alfheim the gods | to Freyr once gave.")

2. Elfland.
3. Possibly heaven.

Derived terms

• Álfheim

Antonyms

• Svartálfaheim

References

• Wikisource:Poetic Edda/Grímnismál (Sayings of Grímnir), in English. Accessed Apr. 16, 2007
• Grímnismál in Old Norse. Accessed Apr. 16, 2007.
• Wikisource:Prose Edda/Gylfaginning (The Fooling Of Gylfe) by Sturluson, Snorri, in English. Accessed Apr. 16, 2007
• Gylfaginning in Old Norse Accessed Apr. 16, 2007.
• Marshall Jones Company (1930). Mythology of All Races Series, Volume 2 Eddic, Great Britain: Marshall Jones Company, 1930, pp. 220-221.