This is a world about which almost nothing can be said. It is not known when it appeared and where its inhabitants came from; the Vans themselves are practically not involved anywhere. This country to the west of Mitgard and Asgard, inhabited by kind, smart and very rich spirits.
The next geographical analogies lead us to Central America, where Indian tribes lived that fit this description quite well. The gold of Central America alone, which has been raved about by gold miners for centuries, proves the wealth of the Incas, Mayans and others. The achievements of these peoples in science and art are very great. It is quite possible that the Vikings had some contacts with the Indians of Central America, since the northerners sailed almost the whole world. In any case, at the beginning of the colonization of these places, the aborigines were waiting for the return of tall people with white hair. However, the "Saga of the Ynglings" describes Vanaheim as a real country, the location of which is described as "From the north, from the mountains that are beyond the inhabited areas, a river flows through Sweden, called Tanakvisl. It flows into the Black Sea. The area at its mouth was then called the Country of the Vanir, or the Dwelling of the Vanir. This river divides thirds of the world. The one to the east is called Asia, and the one to the west is called Europe." What kind of river is this? If the Black Sea is the Black Sea to which everyone is accustomed, then the Vans’ Dwelling turns out to be somewhere in the vicinity of Kievan Rus. Interestingly, the Yngling Saga is trying to bring Asgard down to earth and is looking for a place for it east of Tanaquisl (so that Vanaheim remains west of Asgard). These attempts lead to the following thoughts: when the campaigns and travels of the Vikings opened up the world to them, they hastily began to remake their religion, trying to find prototypes for the Aesir in the form of real people who lived, and for Vanaheim and Asgard - real territories. Why they needed this is unclear. In the Saga of the Ynglings, Niflheim and Muspelheim are completely thrown out, they are not even mentioned, but they talk about the desert territories of northern Sweden and the Great Country of Black People, which is deserted due to the heat. Perhaps travel to Africa (and this, of course, is it) dispelled the myths about the fire giants, as well as close acquaintance with the polar regions - the myths about the inhabitants of Niflheim. Be that as it may, these remade myths are no longer nearly as logical and less interesting to study. Further, all worlds are described without taking into account the “modernized sagas”, based only on the older ones.
Now about the Vans. Vans are kind spirits of nature who help make the soil fertile. These spirits do not go beyond Vanaheim and do not meet with the Aesir and people. They fought once - then the Aesir attacked their country, but the Vanir put them to flight and besieged Asgard, after which the Aesir immediately surrendered and exchanged hostages with the Vanir. In the future, the Aesir and the Vanir always remained good friends. Vanaheim's element is Air.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru