Was it Ireland...? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Melephelwen · 06-12-2002, 08:15 AM

This is probably not important, but...

In the religion of the vikings (those tall, blond men from the north, sailing all around Europe and all the way to America around 1000 years ago) the land of Men is called Midgård (the gods lived in Asgård and the giants (similar to trolls or orcs I believe) lived in Udgård).
The Danish word for Middle-earth is 'Midgård' (which means 'world in the middle' - not directly, but it's the best translation)
Asgård means 'world of the As'es (one god = one as)
Udgård means 'the world outside' or something like that.

Could Tolkien in some way have been inspired by that?

06-12-2002, 08:15 AM	#14
Melephelwen Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: May 2002 Location: the Middle of Nowhere Posts: 291	This is probably not important, but... In the religion of the vikings (those tall, blond men from the north, sailing all around Europe and all the way to America around 1000 years ago) the land of Men is called Midgård (the gods lived in Asgård and the giants (similar to trolls or orcs I believe) lived in Udgård). The Danish word for Middle-earth is 'Midgård' (which means 'world in the middle' - not directly, but it's the best translation) Asgård means 'world of the As'es (one god = one as) Udgård means 'the world outside' or something like that. Could Tolkien in some way have been inspired by that? __________________ We're all following a strange melody We're all summoned by a tune We're following the piper And we dance beneath the moon

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