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In Norse mythology, Muspelheim (Old Norse: Múspellsheimr), also called Muspell (Old Norse: Múspell), is a realm of fire. This realm is one of the Nine Worlds, ruled by Surtr with his consort Sinmara in some accounts. The denizens of Muspelheim were usually referred to as the eldjötnar ("Fire Giants") in Norse tradition, though they were also identified by other epithets in Eddic poetry, such as the Múspellssynir (or Múspellsmegir — "sons of Muspell") and the Rjúfendr (from rjúfa — "to break, tear asunder", Destroyers of Doomsday). [1][2] Both of these terms sometimes described an entirely separate mythological species that dwelled alongside or in place of the eldjötnar within this fiery realm. Muspelheim is fire; and the land to the North, Niflheim, is ice. The two mixed and created water from the melting ice in Ginnungagap. The sun and the stars originate from Muspelheim.

According to the Ragnarök prophecies in Snorri Sturluson's Gylfaginning, the first part of his Prose Edda, the sons of Muspell will break the Bifröst bridge, signaling the end of times:

In the midst of this clash and din the heavens are rent in twain, and the sons of Muspell come riding through the opening. Surtr rides first, and before him and after him flames burning fire. He has a very good sword, which shines brighter than the sun. As they ride over Bifrost it breaks to pieces, as has before been stated. The sons of Muspel direct their course to the plain which is called Vigrid.... The sons of Muspel have there effulgent bands alone by themselves.

The etymology of "Muspelheim" is uncertain, but may come from Mund-spilli, "world-destroyers", "wreck of the world".[3][4]

In popular culture[edit]

The realm of Muspelheim appears as 'Muspel' in Gene Wolfe's book series, The Wizard Knight. It is inhabited by the dragon 'Setr', as a close parallel to Surtr.

"Muspel" is the name of a German colony in Africa in the alternate-reality novel The Afrika Reich by Guy Saville.

Muspelheim is the name of a reoccurring boss ship in the Naval Ops: Warship Gunner series.

A glimpse of Muspelheim is seen in the Marvel Studios film Thor: The Dark World.

The realm is also referenced in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode "Repairs" when technician Tobias Ford is trapped between cosmic realms following the explosion of a StatiCorp Particle Acceleration Complex. He repeatedly traverses between Earth and another plane of existence, described by Tobias as "Hell." When Fitz and Simmons generate digital scans of the portal generated by the explosion, a fiery, mountain-filled realm can be seen that shares a significant resemblance to Muspelheim.

Múspelheim appears in the science fiction novel Resonance: Ragnarok: Volume Three (Kindle Location 3488) by John Meaney

In the Video Game Valkyrie Profile, Muspelheim is mentioned within the magic words that compose the great Magic "Ifreet Caress": "I invoke the rites of fiery Muspelheim, now give up thy soul to inferno's embrace! Ifreet Caress!"

In the videogame La Mulana 2, Múspelheim (spelled "Muspellheim") is an area within the ruins Eg'Lana and is known as the "Blazing Frost Canopy", a land that's both frozen and on fire. This technically makes it both Múspelheim and Niflheim in one.

In the Japanese light novel Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei, Muspelheim is the name of a magic spell that creates a field where immense heat, capable of creating plasma, is generated.

In the Amon Amarth song "Destroyer of the Universe", Muspelheim is mentioned in the first verse.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ "Court poetry, vol. I. ", pg. 183; "Court poetry, vol. II", pg. 472, s.v. "Demon World-Destroyers"
  2. ^ Germanic Lexicon Project:
  3. ^ Tilton, Theodore (1897). The complete poetical works of Theodore Tilton in one volume: with a preface on ballad-making and an appendix on old Norse myths & fables. London: T. Fisher Unwin. p. 705. Retrieved 2013-01-05. 
  4. ^ Vigfússon, Guðbrandur; Frederick York Powell (1883). Corpus poeticum boreale: Court poetry, vol. II. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 471. Retrieved 2013-01-05.