Editing Bifröst (section)

===''Prose Edda''===

[[File:Kampf der untergehenden Götter by F. W. Heine.jpg|thumb|Bifröst appears in the background as the gods do battle in ''Battle of the Doomed Gods'' (1882) by [[Friedrich Wilhelm Heine]].]]

[[File:The twilight of the gods by Willy Pogany.png|thumb|Bifröst is shattered in ''The Twilight of the Gods'' (1920) by [[Willy Pogany]].]]

The bridge is mentioned in the ''Prose Edda'' books ''[[Gylfaginning]]'' and ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', where it is referred to as ''Bifröst''. In chapter 13 of ''Gylfaginning'', [[Gylfi|Gangleri]] (King [[Gylfi]] in disguise) asks the enthroned figure of [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|High]] what way exists between heaven and earth. Laughing, High replies that the question isn't an intelligent one, and goes on to explain that the gods built a bridge from heaven and earth. He incredulously asks Gangleri if he has not heard the story before. High says that Gangleri must have seen it, and notes that Gangleri may call it a [[rainbow]]. High says that the bridge consists of three colors, has great strength, "and is built with art and skill to a greater extent than other constructions."<ref name=FAULKES15>{{harvnb|Faulkes|1995|p=15}}</ref>

High notes that, although the bridge is strong, it will break when "[[Muspelheim|Muspell]]'s lads" attempt to cross it, and their horses will have to make do with swimming over "great rivers." Gangleri says that it doesn't seem that the gods "built the bridge in good faith if it is liable to break, considering that they can do as they please." High responds that the gods do not deserve blame for the breaking of the bridge, for "there is nothing in this world that will be secure when Muspell's sons attack."<ref name=FAULKES15/>

In chapter 15 of ''Gylfaginning'', [[High, Just-As-High, and Third|Just-As-High]] says that Bifröst is also called ''Asbrú'', and that every day the gods ride [[Horses of the Æsir|their horses]] across it (with the exception of Thor, who instead wades through the boiling waters of the rivers [[Körmt and Örmt]]) to reach [[Urðarbrunnr]], a holy well where the gods have their court. As a reference, Just-As-High quotes the second of the two stanzas in ''Grímnismál'' that mention the bridge (see above). Gangleri asks if fire burns over Bifröst. High says that the red in the bridge is burning fire, and, without it, the frost jotnar and mountain jotnar would "go up into heaven" if anyone who wanted could cross Bifröst. High adds that, in heaven, "there are many beautiful places" and that "everywhere there has divine protection around it."<ref name=FAULKES17-18>{{harvnb|Faulkes|1995|pp=17–18}}</ref>

In chapter 17, High tells Gangleri that the location of [[Himinbjörg]] "stands at the edge of heaven where Bifrost reaches heaven."<ref name=FAULKES20>{{harvnb|Faulkes|1995|p=20}}</ref> While describing the god [[Heimdallr]] in chapter 27, High says that Heimdallr lives in Himinbjörg by Bifröst, and guards the bridge from mountain jotnar while sitting at the edge of heaven.<ref name=FAULKES25>{{harvnb|Faulkes|1995|p=25}}</ref> In chapter 34, High quotes the first of the two ''Grímnismál'' stanzas that mention the bridge.<ref name=FAULKES34>{{harvnb|Faulkes|1995|p=34}}</ref> In chapter 51, High foretells the events of [[Ragnarök]]. High says that, during Ragnarök, the sky will split open, and from the split will ride forth the "sons of [[Muspelheim|Muspell]]". When the "sons of Muspell" ride over Bifröst it will break, "as was said above."<ref name=FAULKES53>{{harvnb|Faulkes|1995|p=53}}</ref>

In the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', the bridge receives a single mention. In chapter 16, a work by the 10th century [[skald]] [[Úlfr Uggason]] is provided, where Bifröst is referred to as "the powers' way."<ref name=FAULKES77>{{harvnb|Faulkes|1995|p=77}}</ref>