Bifröst

“The trembling path” or “the shimmering path.” The burning rainbow bridge connecting Miðgarðr to Ásgarðr. The red color comes from actual fire—the bridge is on fire, and that fire is its defence against the frost giants.

The gods ride across Bifröst each day to hold court at the Well of Urðr. It is the strongest bridge ever made, and yet it will break.

At Ragnarök, the sons of Múspell will ride across Bifröst, and the strongest thing the gods ever made will shatter under their march. This reminds us of a core truth in Norse mythology: nothing the gods build is permanent. Everything will break.

At Bifröst’s Ásgarðr end stands Heimdallr, the watchman of the gods, who needs less sleep than a bird and can see and hear across all the worlds.