Nordic mythology is kept alive at Grand Hótel Reykjavik

When walking through the main entrance of the Grand Hótel Reykjavík you are greeted with the creation of the world by Völuspá (Prophecy of the Völva) a phenomenal glass artwork by the Icelandic artist Leifur Breiðfjörð. Völuspá is the first and best known poem of the Poetic Edda.
In Völuspá Óðinn, the greatest of the gods, raises a far-sighted giantess,  völva, from the dead to interrogate her about the gods' fate. Her prophecy is a history of the world from its beginnings to the Ragnarök (destruction of the gods) and beyond.

The heart of Grand Hótel Reykjavík is beating with wisdom from Hávamál (Sayings of the high one) that is presented as a single poem in the Poetic Edda.
The poem itself a combination of different poems and is largely gnomic, presenting advice for living, proper conduct and wisdom.

Grand Hótel Reykjavík takes great pride in its reception area loaded in Miðgarður where we tell you beforehand how we will great and meet you as our guest. Miðgarður is the name of one of nine worlds in Norse cosmology and is the home of humans and is protected by Thor, God of Thunder and his Hammer. Miðgarður (or Midgard) is roughly translates to "middle earth" or "middle place" pictured as place somewhere in the middle of Yggdrasil, and is surrounded by a world of water, or ocean, that is impassable.

Our front desk is decorated with small poems that are from Hávamál.

Givers, hail!
A guest is come in:
where shall he sit?
In much hast is he,
who on the ways has
to try his luck.

To his friend
a man should be a friend,
to him and to his friend;
but of his foe
no man shall
the friend’s friend be.

In Norse mythology, Miðgarður became applied to the wall around the world that the gods constructed from the eyebrows of the giant Ymir as a defence against the Jotuns who lived in Jotunheim. In Miðgarður  at Grand Hótel Reykjavík our guests dwell and are well protected.

Miðgarður is designed in the theme of Nordic mythology and  with the glass ceiling and the modem furniture it also tells a story of the true colors of Iceland water for the waterfall, fire for the fireplace and ice for the glass flooring.

Overlooking the Bistro Bar at Miðgarður, where you can enjoy a drink or two while reading how Óðinn wants us to drink and drink well.

Let a man hold the cup,
yet of the mead drink moderately,
speak sensibly or be silent.
As of a fault
no man will admonish thee,
if thou goest betimes to sleep

Something great
is not (always) to be given,
praise is often for a trifle bought.
With half a loaf
and a tilted vessel
I got myself a comrade

The Bistro bar Miðgarður has the largest glass art work by Breiðfjörð, called Ragnarök.
Ragnarök refers in the norse mythology as the final destination of the gods and  is a series of major events, including a great battle foretold to ultimately result in the death of a number of major figures (including the gods Odin, Thor, Freyr, Heimdall, and the jötunn Loki), the occurrence of various natural disasters, and the subsequent submersion of the world in water. Afterward, the world resurfaces a new and fertile, the surviving gods meet, and the world is repopulated by two human survivors.
Ragnarök is an important event in the Norse canon. Miðgarður Bisto bar is great place for group lunch or even dinner, or a drink or two to take the stress away after your busy day in Iceland.

We welcome our guests at Grand Hotel Reykjavik with the nordic  mythology.

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