Ragnarok, the end of the world according to the Vikings, begins with the death of mortal Vikings. After their death Vikings are relegated to one place or another in the afterlife. Those who die in battle end up in Valhalla, where they battle, hunt and fight every day, keeping their skills sharp for the end. Dead Vikings involuntarily contribute their fingernails to the building of the great ship Naglfar.
Portents of Ragnarok
According to Dr. Jackson Crawford, ragnarok begins with a rooster crowing in the realms of Asgard, Jotunheimr, and Hel, where Garmr the dog breaks his chains. The sun turns black. Earthquakes shake the worlds, and Heimdall sounds his Gjallarhorn, warning the gods that Ragnarok has begun. Loki captains Naglfar loaded with giants and monsters.
Back on Midgard
A terrible winter begins, lasting three years, and men fight among themselves. Brother versus brother, cousin versus cousin. Loyalty doesn’t mean anything. Storms and wolves have their time. Shields are destroyed.
Gods Versus Giants
In a valley, which is given three names in three different sources (Vigridr, Oskopnir, and/or Oskapt), the giants face off against the gods. The unarmed god Freyr confronts the giant Surtr, who wields a flaming sword. Surtr’s victory is certain.
Thor faces Jormungandr, the giant serpent that circles the Earth. The battle ends in a draw with both the serpent and Thor dead. Without their protector god, humans become extinct.
Odin, carrying the spear that can’t miss Gungnir, rides the eight-legged horse Sleipnir against Loki’s son, Fenrir, a monster wolf. The wolf is so large that he swallows Odin with no problem. Vidarr, a god born for the purpose, avenges Odin and kills Fenrir with a sword.
Loki battles Heimdall. Tyr, the one-handed dog faces off against Garmr.
Ragnarok: End of the World
Surtr burns the worlds, including the Yggdrasil. When Surtr’s flame goes out, the world is born again. Baldur and his brother Hodr, who accidentally slayed him, return. Odin’s avenger Vidarr, Baldr’s avenger Vali, Honir, one of the creators of humans, and Thor’s sons Modi and Magni, inheritors of Mjolnir, also return.
Lif (Life) and Lifthrasir (Pulsing with Life) are the only human survivors. They live in Hoddmimi’s Grove, eating morning dew. There is the possibility that Odin’s warriors, the Einherjar, have also survived to see the new world, Gimle, a paradise. Thus is Ragnarok, the end of the world, and a new beginning.
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