Ragnarok is the catastrophic destruction of theKosmosand everything in it – even thosegods. If Norse mythology is viewed as a chronological seriesstoriesOf course, the story of Ragnarok comes at the very end. For theviking, the myth of Ragnarok was a prophecy of what would come at some indefinite and unknown point in the future, but it had profound implications for how the Vikings understood the world in their own time. We will examine some of these effects below.
The word "Ragnarok" comes fromAltnordic Ragnarök, “fatefrom the gods." In an apparent play on words, some pieces are fromOld Norse Literaturealso designate asRagnarok, "Twilight of the Gods." The event was also occasionally referred to ascentury argument, “fate of mankind” and many other names.[1]
Without further ado, here is the story itself:
The fate of the gods
Sometime - whenever theThe Norn, those inscrutable fate-mongers, bid it—let there be a great winter (Norsefimbulvetr, sometimes Anglicized as "Fimbulwinter") like the world has never seen before. The biting winds will blow snow from every direction, and the sun's warmth will dwindle, plunging the earth into unprecedented cold. This winter is meant to last for three normal winters, with no summers in between. Mankind will search so desperately for food and other necessities of life that all laws and morals will fall away and only the mere struggle for survival will remain. It will be an age of swords and axes; Brother will kill brother, father will kill son, and son will kill father.
The WolvesScoll and Hatiwho huntedthe sun and the moonthat have roamed the skies since the dawn of time will finally catch their prey. The stars will disappear too, leaving nothing but a black void in the sky.Yggdrasil, the great tree that holds the cosmos together, will tremble, and all the trees and even the mountains will fall to the ground. theChainthat restrained the monstrous wolfFenrirwill snap and the animal will run free.Jormungand, the mighty serpent that dwells at the bottom of the ocean and encircles the land, will rise from the depths and spill the seas over all the earth when it meets land.
These tremors will shake the ship Naglfar ("Nail Ship")[2]) free from its berths. This ship, made of the fingernails and toenails of dead men and women, will sail effortlessly across the flooded earth. Its crew will be an army ofGiants, the forces of chaos and destruction. And his captain will be none other thanLoki, the traitor to the gods, who will have broken freethe chains in which the gods bound him.
Fenrir will run across the earth with fire from his eyes and nostrils, with his lower jaw on the ground and his upper jaw against the top of the sky, devouring everything in his path. Jormungand will spit his venom across the world, poisoning land, water, and air alike.
The dome of heaven will be split open, and out of the crack will come the fire giantsMuspelheim. Their leader shall become out, with a flaming sword brighter than the sun in his hand. As they march acrossBifrost, the rainbow bridge tooAsgard, home of the gods, the bridge will break and collapse behind them. An ominous horn blast sounds; This will beHeimdall, the divine guard, blows theMegaphonto herald the arrival of the moment the gods have feared.Odinwill be advisedthe head of Mimir, the wisest of all beings, for advice.
The gods will decide to go into battle, knowing what the prophecies predicted about the outcome of this clash. They will arm themselves and meet their enemies on a battlefield called Vigrid (Old Norse).Vigiðr, "Plane Where the Battle Rages"[3]).
Odin will fight against Fenrir, and by his side will be heindividual soldiers, the band of his chosen human warriors he has imprisonedWalhallajust for this moment. Odin and the champions of men will fight braver than anyone has fought before. But it won't be enough. Fenrir will devour Odin and his men. Then one of Odin's sons,Continue, burning with rage, will urge the beast to avenge its father. On one of his feet will be the shoe made just for that purpose; Crafted from every scrap of leather ever discarded by human shoemakers, Vidar will use it to keep the monster's jaws open. Then he will thrust his sword through the wolf's throat and kill it.
another wolf,Long, and the godTyrwill kill each other. Heimdall and Loki will do the same and put an end to the Trickster's betrayal once and for all, but cost the gods one of their best in the process. The GodFreyrand the giant Surt will also be the end of each other.Thorand Jormungand, those ancient enemies, will both finally have their chance to kill the other. Thor will succeed in felling the great serpent with his blowsHammer. But the serpent will have covered him with so much venom that he cannot stand much longer; He will walk nine steps before dropping dead himself, adding his blood to the already saturated earth of Vigrid.
Then the remnants of the world will sink into the sea, and nothing will be left butthe emptiness.creationand everything that has happened since will be completely undone as if it never happened.
Some say this is the end of the story - and all stories for that matter. But others believe that a new world, green and beautiful, will rise out of the water. Vidar and a few other gods –Vali,Baldur,Hodder, and Thor's sons Modi and Magni - will survive the demise of the old world and live happily in the new. A man and a woman, Lif and Lifthrasir (Old Norselifeandlife fights, “life” and “pursuit of life”[4]), will have been hiding from the catastrophe in a place called "Forest of Hoddmimir" (Hoddmímis holt), and will now come out and populate the lush land they will find themselves in. A new sun, daughter of the previous one, will rise in the sky. And all of this is headed by a new, all-powerful ruler.[5]
The meaning of Ragnarok to the Vikings
As the above suggests, two versions of the myth of Ragnarok appear to exist in the Norse sources. In one of them, Ragnarok is the final end of the cosmos, and no rebirth follows. In the other thereisa rebirth. What to make of this conflict?
in my bookThe Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion, I contend that the no-rebirth version is the older, purely pagan view, and the reincarnation story is an addition that developed under Christian influence only late in the Viking Age. Ragnarok had been reinterpreted to describe the religious transformation the Viking world was undergoing, in which the old godswaractually die, but also have been replaced by something else. A relatively short article like this is not the place to present this argument and the evidence for it, as I do in the book. So if you want to see my reasoning, read the book. Half a chapter is dedicated to this topic. But here's the gist: the rebirth adjunct comes from only three late sources, one dependent on the other two, while all previous mentions of Ragnarok only speak of destruction and never any sort of rebirth.
What would such a belief have meant for the Norsemen?
Imagine you are a Viking. You live in a world that you know will one day be wiped out. The gods themselves will perish with it. Nothing of value is spared - not even thatmemoryof everything that ever had value. How does such a world look to you in the present moment, considering that the seeds of that ultimate destruction have already been sown and that the world is inexorably heading toward that final, defining moment? Wouldn't that cast a dark hue of tragedy, futility, and futility over the world and all that transpires in it? In fact, it's hard to escape the conclusion that this is the casewarhow the Vikings saw the world on one level.
But Ragnarok had another meaning for her, one that complemented but also altered this tragic view of life.
The Myth of Ragnarok was not only a prophecy about the future, revealing much about the underlying nature of the world along the way, but also served as a paradigmatic model for human action. For the Vikings, the story brought inspiration and encouragement rather than hopelessness. Just as the gods will one day die, so will every single human being. And just as the gods go forth and meet their fate with dignity, honor, and courage, so can men. In this view, the inevitability of death and misfortune should not paralyze us, but instead spur us on to adopt noble attitudes and perform noble deeds—the kind worthy of being told by bards many generations after our death.
Looking for more great information about Norse mythology and religion? While this site offers the ultimateonlineIntroduction to the subject, my bookThe Spirit of the Vikingsoffers the ultimate introduction to Norse mythology and religionPeriod. I also wrote a popular list ofThe 10 Best Norse Mythology Books, which you will likely find helpful in your pursuit.
References:
[1]Turville-Petre, E.O.G. 1964. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. p. 280
[2]Simek, Rudolph. 1993. Dictionary of Northern Mythology. Translated by Angela Hall. p. 226
[3]Ebenda p. 361
[4]Ebenda p. 189
[5]This retelling is based on three sources: Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda (Gylfaginning, chapters 51-53) and the poems Völuspá and Vafþrúðnismál in the Poetic Edda.
FAQs
Who is the Norse God of intelligence? ›
Mímir or Mim is a figure in Norse mythology, renowned for his knowledge and wisdom, who is beheaded during the Æsir–Vanir War. Afterward, the god Odin carries around Mímir's head and it recites secret knowledge and counsel to him.
Who is Vidar Norse mythology for smart people? ›Vidar (pronounced “VIH-dar”; from Old Norse Víðarr, which might mean “The Wide-Ruling One”) is one of the younger generation of gods who survive Ragnarok, the cataclysmic end of the cosmos in Norse mythology. (In some accounts of that event, that is; in other accounts, the universe just ends, and no one survives.)
Who is Freya Norse mythology for smart people? ›Freya (Old Norse Freyja, “Lady”) is one of the preeminent goddesses in Norse mythology. She's a member of the Vanir tribe of deities, but became an honorary member of the Aesir gods after the Aesir-Vanir War. Her father is Njord. Her mother is unknown, but could be Nerthus.
What is Vidar known for? ›In Norse mythology, Víðarr (Old Norse: [ˈwiːðɑrː], possibly "wide ruler", sometimes anglicized as Vidar /ˈviːdɑːr/, Vithar, Vidarr, and Vitharr) is a god among the Æsir associated with vengeance.
Who is the kindest Norse god? ›Frigg and Freyja were two of the most revered goddesses in Norse mythology. They were especially worshipped by Vikings. Freyja is said to be the kindest among goddesses.
Who is the coolest Norse god? ›Odin. The supreme deity of Norse mythology and the greatest among the Norse gods was Odin, the Allfather of the Aesir. He was the awe-inspiring ruler of Asgard, and most revered immortal, who was on an unrelenting quest for knowledge with his two ravens, two wolves and the Valkyries.
What is Fenrir's ability? ›Immense Strength: Fenrir has tremendous levels of vast superhuman strength, being capable of destroying Odin's war machines with ease and scatter Odin's forces. Immense Durability: Fenrir, as a colossal wolf, has immense levels of superhuman durability.
Who is Drengr? ›A drengr, in its original, most literal meaning, is a rock that stands alone out at sea. From this image of a rock fortress standing alone against the buffeting waves stems the meaning of drengr for human beings in Old Norse—a person with reckless courage in the face of whatever comes along.
Who does Vidar represent in Ragnarök? ›In the Ragnarok series, Vidar represented the giants as the worst opponents of the Gods and the main challenge that Magne/Thor had to face.
What is Heimdall the god of? ›Heimdall (Old Norse: Heimdallr, Nordic: ᚺᛖᛁᛗᛞᚨᛚᛚ), also famed as the Watchman of the Aesir, the Bearer of Gjallarhorn and the Herald of Ragnarök, was the Norse God of Foresight, Surveillance, Order and Foreknowledge.
What is Baldur the god of? ›
Baldur (Old Norse: Baldr, Nordic: ᛒᛅᛚᛏᚱ), also known as the Stranger, was the Norse Aesir God of Light and Peace. He is the son of Odin and Freya, younger half-brother of Thor, Týr and Heimdall, father of Forseti, and uncle of Magni, Modi and Thrúd, and step-uncle of Ullr.
Are Freyja and Freya the same? ›Freja – goddess of the Norse pantheon
Traditionally in Old Norse, her name was written as Freyja, though the modern spelling is Freja (anglicised to Freya). It's meaning is 'lady' or 'mistress', just as her brother's name Freyr means 'lord' in Old Norse.
In both Norse mythology and the Marvel comic books, there is a prophesy that a great battle, instigated by Thor's brother Loki, will bring about Asgard's apocalypse. Surtur is said to be involved in this destruction. The cataclysmic event is known as Ragnarok.
What do the Einherjar do? ›This words means warrior who died in battle, as the warriors in Norse mythology, who after death are sent to Valhalla by the Valkyries to fight for Odin in the Ragnarok.
What is Baldur known for? ›He is best known for his dramatic death, which heralds the coming of Ragnarök, the end of the age of the Norse gods and the rebirth of the world. Baldr (also given as Baldur, Balder) is the son of Odin and Frigg. His name might mean "Lord" but is also associated with "day" and "courage".
What Norse god can't feel anything? ›Baldur was left immortal, pleasureless and painless. This inability to feel drove him to exact revenge on his mother. It would be better to die than to live this way.
Who is the darkest Norse god? ›Hod, also spelled Höd, Hoder, or Hodur, in Norse mythology, is a blind god, associated with night and darkness. Hod was the son of the principal god, Odin, and his wife, Frigg.
Who is the Norse god of chaos? ›What is Loki the god of? Loki is considered a trickster god, known for being neither fully good nor evil since his main aim was always to create chaos. Despite his father being a giant, he is still counted a member of the Aesir—a tribe of deities including Odin, Frigg, Tyr, and Thor.
Who is higher than Odin? ›He is called Asa-Thor, or Oku-Thor. He is the strongest of all gods and men, and rules over the realm which is called Þrúðvangr.
Who is the physically strongest Norse god? ›Thor. Probably the best known of the Norse Gods, thanks in no small part to Marvel basing a superhero on him, Thor, the God of Thunder, is the son of Odin and Jörð and the husband of the Goddess Sif. He is physically the strongest of the Æsir and has fierce eyes, red hair and a full beard.
Who eats Fenrir? ›
According to one version of the myth, Fenrir will devour the sun, and in the Ragnarök he will fight against the chief god Odin and swallow him.
What god kills Fenrir? ›In both the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, Fenrir is the father of the wolves Sköll and Hati Hróðvitnisson, is a son of Loki and is foretold to kill the god Odin during the events of Ragnarök, but will in turn be killed by Odin's son Víðarr.
What do Odin's wolves symbolize? ›Geri and Freki – symbolic meaning
They sometimes represent chaos and destruction, and other times they stand as symbols of wisdom, loyalty, bravery, and protection.
a valiant, gallant, chivalrous man.
What is the Viking word for coward? ›bleyða (noun f.) '°cowardice; coward'
Is the Wanderer Odin? ›Odin is the Norse leader of the Aesir, and Leader of Asgard. Odin travels as a peasant and wanders the nine realms seeking knowledge. When traveling, he uses many names.
Who is Isolde in Ragnarök? ›Ragnarok (TV Series 2020– ) - Ylva Bjørkaas Thedin as Isolde - IMDb.
Who does Saxa represent Ragnarök? ›Saxa's name refers to that of the giant Járnsaxa. According to Poetic Edda, the first book to be recorded by Völuspá (the seer's prophecy about Ragnarök), Járnsaxa was Thor's lover and had a son with him, Magni.
What is gry in Ragnarök? ›Gry Isungset (portrayed by Emma Bones) is a former main character in the Netflix Original Series Ragnarok.
What are the black Norse gods? ›In Norse mythology, the svartálfar ("black elves") or dökkálfar (" dark elves") are supernatural beings (Old Norse " vættir," wights) that are said to reside in the underground world of Svartálfheim.
Who did Heimdall have a kid with? ›
Axl Heimdallson, born Astrid Heimdallson, is the son of Heimdall and Grace who inherited Heimdall's all-seeing eyes. During his life in New Asgard, Norway, Axl became a fan of Guns N' Roses and renamed himself after their lead singer, Axl Rose.
Who survives Ragnarok? ›In Norse mythology, Lif and Lifthrasir (also spelled Life and Leifthrasir) were two people designated to be the sole human survivors after Ragnarok, the battle at the end of the world. In the battle of Ragnarok, all the gods were doomed to be destroyed, but the forces of evil would also be killed.
Who is the Norse god of courage? ›(also spelled Tiw), in Norse mythology, a god of war and of courage. A son of the chief god Odin, Tyr lost his right hand when it was bitten off at the wrist by the monstrous wolf Fenrir.
What did Odin whisper to Baldur? ›The myth itself does not say, but some speculate that Odin told his son that he (Balder) would survive the upcoming Ragnarok. Some say this could have been a prophecy from the Well of Knowledge, where Odin paid the price with the loss of his eye.
Why does mistletoe hurt Baldur? ›Mistletoe is apparently the only thing that can break the curse, which Mimir attributed to the fickle nature of the otherwise powerful Vanir magic. Since the curse causes sensory deprivation, it also prevents the sufferer from enjoying sexual pleasure, making the victim unable to feel orgasms.
What is a cool goddess name? ›Inanna (Sumerian) - goddess of love, war, and fertility. Iris (Greek) - goddess of the rainbow and messenger to the gods. Irene (Greek) - goddess of peace. Isis (Egyptian) - goddess of life and magic.
What does Freya's Tears of Gold mean? ›What is it about a woman so beautiful, yet so sad that she cries tears of gold, that resonates so deeply. We have all experienced sadness, and you can probably think of a time or two when that sadness has struck you down at your core. Freya weeps for her lost lover, something you to have likely experienced.
Is Freya Odin's daughter? ›Freyja was the daughter of Njörðr, and was Odin's concubine. Odin deeply loved Freyja, and she was "the fairest of woman of that day".
What is the wolf of Ragnarok? ›Fenrir is the great wolf in Norse Mythology who breaks free from his chains at Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods, kills Odin, and is then killed by Odin's son Vidarr. Fenrir is the son of the trickster god Loki and brother of the World Serpent Jormungandr and the jotunn Hel.
Who is the female god in Ragnarok? ›Freyja was one of the most sensual and passionate Goddesses in Norse mythology. She was associated with much of the same qualities as Frigg: love, fertility and beauty. She was the sister of Freyr. She is reincarnated as the girl, Iman Reza.
What is the prophecy of Ragnarok? ›
The sun will be darkened, the stars will vanish, and the earth will sink into the sea. Afterward, the earth will rise again, the innocent Balder will return from the dead, and the hosts of the just will live in a hall roofed with gold.
Why is Vidar important in Norse mythology? ›Vidar may be written about infrequently in the dozens of poems and stories of the Edda. He was less popular than his brother Thor. Despite this, the “avenging god” played an integral role in Norse mythology, killing Fenrir in Ragnarok, surviving those end times, and helping rule over the new earth.
What is Vidar the Norse god of? ›Vidar is the Norse God of Vengeance, Space, Silence and Footwear.
What powers does Vidar have? ›- Superhuman Strength: Vidar was superhumanly strong, significantly more so than most other Asgardians. ...
- Superhuman Speed: Vidar, despite his great size, could run and move at speeds beyond the physical capability of even the finest human athlete.
Although not much is known about Vidar, according to the 'Prose (or Younger) Edda', he was almost equal in strength to Thor and was a source of great support to the other gods in any kind of danger. During Ragnarok, the monstrous wolf Fenrir would swallow Odin and kill him.
What does Drengr of Ragnarök mean? ›There is no higher compliment in Old Norse than to call a man or woman a 'drengr,' which in the sagas implies both reckless courage and a code of fair play. ...
What is Trym in Ragnarök? ›Trym was Jutuls' hellhound pet.
Who is Baldur Ragnarök? ›Baldr is a god in Norse mythology associated with light, wisdom, and courage, although he is never specifically defined as the god of any of these. He is best known for his dramatic death, which heralds the coming of Ragnarök, the end of the age of the Norse gods and the rebirth of the world.
What is SAXA in Norse mythology? ›In Norse mythology, Járnsaxa (Old Norse: [ˈjɑːrnˌsɑksɑ]; "iron-sax") is a Jǫtunn. According to Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, she was Þórr's lover. By him she was the mother of Magni. According to the Poetic Edda poem Hyndluljóð, Járnsaxa is the name of one of the Nine Mothers of Heimdallr.