Iðavöllr (Old Norse: Iðavǫllr, meaning “Field of Splendour” or “Resplendent Plain”) is a significant location in Norse mythology, appearing in both the creation and post-apocalyptic cycles of the cosmos.
Location: In Asgard, the realm of the Aesir gods.
In the Beginning
Iðavöllr is described as the place where the Aesir gods first gathered to establish their home after the creation of the world.
It is depicted as a sacred and central place of assembly where the gods built their halls, including Gladsheim (the hall of the gods) and Vingolf (a hall for goddesses).
Here, they forged their society, laws, and shared responsibilities and to work with wood, craft, and forge
After Ragnarök
Following Ragnarök, the apocalyptic battle that leads to the destruction of much of the cosmos, Iðavöllr is mentioned again as the site of renewal.
The surviving gods—Baldr, Höðr, Víðarr, Váli, and Móði and Magni (Thor’s sons)—return to Iðavöllr to rebuild their world.
They discover the golden chess pieces of the earlier gods, symbolizing a return to order and recreation of the cosmos.
Symbolism
Iðavöllr in the Beginning: It represents unity, strength, and the establishment of divine order.
Iðavöllr After Ragnarök: It symbolizes rebirth, renewal, and the cyclical nature of time and existence in Norse cosmology.
