Ragnarǫk (Old Norse = 'final destiny of the gods') is the term for the Nordic eschatology (combination of RAGN and RÖKK).
Several things will happen at Ragnarǫk:
- Heimdallr blows the Gjallarhorn to warn the gods of the coming events
- Óðinn asks Mímir's head for advice
- The gods hold a council
- The powers of the underworld approach on all sides
- Naglfar is set afloat and arrives with the giants, steered by Hrymr or Loki
- Surtr leads the Muspells synir into battle against the gods
- The Einherjar go into battle on the side of the gods
- Óðinn fights against the Fenris wolf and falls, but is avenged by Víðarr
- Þórr kills the Miðgarðsormr but dies from its poison
- Freyr fights with Surtr but dies becaus he has no sword
- Týr and Garmr and Heimdallr and Loki kill each other
- Surtr kindles the world-fire which will destroy everything
The destruction of the world is characterized by four events:
- The fimbulvetr (Old Norse = Big Winter)
- The world-fire
- The sinking of the earth into the ocean which has been whipped up by the Miðgarðsormr
- The darkening of the sun which has been devoured by the Fenris wolf
These events are followed by earth quakes and falling rocks. The world-tree Yggdrasill shakes and Bifrǫst collapses.
The destruction is not total: A new pure world will arise out of the sea and some of the gods will survive: Víðarr, Vali, Móði, Magni, Baldr and Hǫðr, as well as two people: Líf and Lífþrasir. [1]
References
- ↑ Rudolf Simek: Dictionary of Northern Mythology (1993)