Ragnarǫk

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.