Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri

In Norse mythology, Norðri, Suðri, Austri and Vestri ("Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western") were four dwarves in the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning who each supported one of the four cardinal points. Together, they upheld the heavenly dome, created from the skull of the giant Ymir. They probably represent the four winds,^[1], corresponding to the four deer of the cosmic tree Yggdrasill.^[2] Compare the four giants who personify the winds in Greek mythology.

[edit] Notes

^ Jacob Grim & James Steven Stallybrass, Teutonic Mythology, 2004, vol. 2, p. 631.
^ Finnur Magnússon, Eddalæren og dens oprindelse, 1824, p. 144.

v • d • e Norse Paganism and Mythology

The Æsir	Baldr • Frigg • Heimdall • Hel • Hermóðr • Höðr • Hœnir • Idunn • Loki • Mímir • Odin • Thor • Týr • Ullr • Váli • Viðarr • Vili and Vé

The Vanir	Freyr • Freyja • Njörðr • Óðr

Other races	Dís (Norns) • Dwarves • Einherjar • Elves (Light elves • Dark elves) • Giants • Trolls • Valkyries

Locations	Asgard • Bifröst • Ginnungagap • Hel • Midgard • Muspelheim • Niflheim • Yggdrasil

Sources	Poetic Edda • Prose Edda • Sagas • Gesta Danorum • Volsung Cycle • Tyrfing Cycle • Runestones • Old Norse language • Orthography • Later influence

Origins	Germanic paganism

Society	Viking Age • Skald • Völva • Kenning • Heiti • Blót • Félag • Seid • Runic calendar • Germanic calendar • Numbers • Mead hall

See also:	Norse gods • People, places and things • Æsir-Vanir War‎ • Ragnarök • Asatru