From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Alfheim in Norse mythology is the Realm of the Alfar, in English, the Elves of light, one of the worlds of Yggdrasil. It was sometimes called "Ljossalfheim": "the home of the bright elves". This was a region of forest and meadow, sea and islands; a pleasant and sunny place where dwelt the Elven peoples.
J. R. R. Tolkien portrays the Nordic Elven type in his famous fantasy trilogy, Lord of the Rings. As not drastically different than Humans; somewhat taller, much more nobly proportioned and fair to look upon and longer lived. In that work, Jotunheim lies in the East, Muspellheim is clearly South, and Niflheim is just as obviously North, so one might infer that Alfheim is in the West, beyond the seas.
