The Pillars of the Sky
Among the most important of all the dwarfs are four whose task holds up the very heavens. When Odin and his brothers slew the primordial giant Ymir, they used his body to shape the world. From his skull they made the great dome of the sky, arching over the earth.
To keep the heavens in place, the gods set a dwarf at each of the four corners of the world to bear its weight. Their names are the four directions themselves: Nordri in the north, Sudri in the south, Austri in the east, and Vestri in the west.
Because of these four, the Norse spoke of the corners of the sky by the dwarfs' names. They stand unseen at the edges of creation, enduring reminders that the ordered world was built upon the body of a slain giant.
The Four Corners
Nordri
Holds the northern corner of the sky
Sudri
Holds the southern corner of the sky
Austri
Holds the eastern corner of the sky
Vestri
Holds the western corner of the sky
Quick Facts
Made from Ymir
The Sky
Raised from the giant's skull over the whole of the earth.
Its Four Corners
Each held up by a dwarf, keeping the heavens from falling.
Where They Stand
The Corners of the World
At the north, south, east, and west edges of creation, bearing the weight of the sky.