The New Student's Reference Work/Jötunheim

Jötunheim (yẽ′ tŭn-hīm′). The ancient Scandinavians believed that besides Odin and the gods there lived giants of the frost, of the mountains etc., who had their separate home and feasting hall, Jötunheim. These giants after all were the forces of nature; hence, when Thor visits Jötunheim and would contend with them, he is easily worsted; for not even a god can shatter the earth, consume like fire, race with thought or wrestle with time and age. The giants lived before the gods; but some day they and the gods together would perish to make way for a happier earth.