Ragnarok: The end of the World

Ragnarok was the doom of the gods and the humans. It would be the final battle between the Aesir and Jotuns. The battle will take place on the plains called Vigrid.

There are warning signs that Ragnarok “the end of the world” is coming near. The murder of Balder, the son of Odin and Frigg, this would be the first sign.

Another warning sign was a long and cold winter that, would last for three years with no summer between.

The name of these uninterrupted winters are called “Fimbulwinter”

During these three years, the world would be plagued by wars, and brothers will kill brothers.

A beautiful red rooster “Fjalar” which means the “All knowner”, would warn all the giants that the beginning of Ragnarok was started.

At the same time in Niflheim would a red rooster warn all the dead, that the war was started.

And also in Asgard, would a red rooster “Gullinkambi” warn all the gods.

Heimdall would blow his horn so loud as he could and that would be the warning for all at Valhalla that the war has started.

This would be the battle to end all battles, and was the day that all the Vikings “Einherjar” from Valhalla who had died in battle, would fight side by side with the Aesir against the Jotuns. Balder and Hod returned from the dead, to fight one last time. Odin with his eagle helmet equipped and spear in his hand, would lead the enormous army of all the brave humans to the battleground Vigrid. The Jotuns would together with Hel, and all her dishonorable dead, sail in the ship Naglfar, which was made from the fingernails of all the dead. Sail to the plains of Vigrid, which was the battleground for the last battle. The dragon Nidhug would come flying over the battlefield, and gather as many corpses for his never ending hunger.

During Ragnarok the walls of Asgard, the homes of the Aesir, and the huge bridge Bifrost, would be set on fire by Surt the fire giant. The mighty Midgard serpent would be emerging from the turbulent sea and engulf the Vigrid plains, while it splashes its tail and sprays poison in all directions, causing huge waves crashing towards the land. The Fenrir wolf will break free of his chains and spread death and destruction. The sun and the moon will be swallowed by the wolfs Sköll and Hati. Even the world tree Yggdrasil, will shake the ground.

Odin would be killed by the Fenrir wolf and Thor and the Midgard Serpent will kill each other. Loki will turn on the Aesir, and fight Heimdall, and they will kill each other.
Tyr and the watchdog “Garm” from Hel, will kill each other.
Freyr will be killed by the fire giant named Surt.

Finally Surt will set all the nine worlds, in a flaming inferno and they will sink into the boiling sea.

There was nothing the gods could do to prevent Ragnarok. Odins only comfort was that, he could predict that Ragnarok, would not be the end of the world.

When most of the gods had perished in the mutually destruction with the Jotuns, it was predetermined that a new world would rise up from the water, beautiful and green.

Before the battle had two people, Lif “a woman” and Liftraser “a man”, found sheltering in the sacred tree Yggdrasil. And when the battle was over, they would come out and populate the earth again. Several of the gods would survive, among them Odin’s sons Vidar and Vali and his brother Honir. Thor’s sons Modi and Magni they would inherit their father’s hammer Mjölnir.

The few gods who survived went to Idavoll, which had remained untouched. And here they built new houses, the greatest of the houses was Gimli, that had a roof of gold.

There was also a new place called Brimir, on the place called Okolnir “Never cold”. It was in the mountains of Nidafjoll.

But there was also a terrible place, a great hall on Nastrond, the shore of corpses. All its doors faces north to greet the screaming winds. The walls were made of writhing snakes that poured their venom into a river that flowed through the hall. This was the new underground, full of thieves and murderers, and when they died the great dragon Nidhug, was there to feed upon their corpses.