Chapter 51

Then Gangleri asked, ‘What is to be said about Ragnarok? I have not heard it spoken of before.’

High replied: ‘There are many important things to be said about it. First will come the winter called Fimbulvetr [Extreme Winter]. Snow will drive in from all directions; the cold will be severe and the winds will be fierce. The sun will be of no use. Three of these winters will come, one after the other, with no summer in between. But before that there will have been another three winters with great battles taking place throughout the world. Brothers will kill brothers for the sake of greed, and neither father nor son will be spared in the killings and the collapse of kinship.¹ So it is said in The Sibyl’s Prophecy:

Brothers will fight, bringing death to each other. Sons of sisters will split their kin bonds. Hard times for men, rampant depravity, age of axes, age of swords, shields split, wind age, wolf age, until the world falls into ruin.

(The Sibyl’s Prophecy. 45)

‘Next will come an event thought to be of much importance. The wolf will swallow the sun, and mankind will think it has suffered a terrible disaster. Then the other wolf will catch the moon, and he too will cause much ruin. The stars will disappear from the heavens.

‘So, also, there is this to be told: the whole earth, together with the mountains, will start to shake so that the trees will loosen from the ground, the mountains will fall, and all fetters and bonds will sever and break. Then the Fenriswolf will break free. The sea will surge on to the land as the Midgard Serpent writhes in giant fury and advances up on the land. Then it also will happen that the ship Naglfar loosens from its moorings. It is made from the nails of dead men, and for this reason it is worth considering the warning that if a person dies with untrimmed nails he contributes crucial material to Naglfar, a ship that both gods and men would prefer not to see built. On the flooding sea, Naglfar comes floating. The giant steering Naglfar is named Hrym. Meanwhile, the Fenriswolf advances with its mouth gaping: its upper jaw reaches to the heavens and the lower one drops down to the earth. He would open it still wider, if only there were room. Flames shoot out of his eyes and nostrils. The Midgard Serpent spews out so much venom that it spatters throughout the air and into the sea. He is terrible and will be on one side of the wolf.

‘Amid this din the sky splits apart and in ride the sons of Muspell. Surt comes first, riding with fires burning both before and behind him. His sword is magnificent, and the glare from it is brighter than that from the sun. As they ride across Bifrost, it will break, as was told earlier. Muspell’s sons advance until they reach the plain called Vigrid [Battle Plain]. The Fenriswolf and the Midgard Serpent also go there. Then Loki arrives and also Hrym. The latter is accompanied by all the frost giants, while all of Hel’s own follow Loki. The sons of Muspell have their own battle troop, and it shines brilliantly. The field Vigrid lies a hundred leagues in each direction.²

‘As these events occur, Heimdall stands up and blows the Gjallarhorn with all his strength. He wakens all the gods, who then hold an assembly. Odin now rides to Mimir’s Well, seeking Mimir’s counsel for both himself and his followers. The ash Yggdrasil shakes, and nothing, whether in heaven or on earth, is without fear.

‘The Æsir and all the Einherjar dress for war and advance on to the field. Odin rides in front of them. He wears a gold helmet and a magnificent coat of mail, and he carries his spear called Gungnir. He goes against the Fenriswolf with Thor advancing at his side. Thor will be unable to assist Odin because he will have his hands full fighting the Midgard Serpent. Frey will fight against Surt, and it will be a fierce exchange before Frey falls. His death will come about because he lacks the good sword, the one that he gave to Skirnir. By now the hound Garm, who was bound in front of Gnipahellir,³ will also have broken free. He, the worst of monsters, will fight against Tyr. They will be each other’s death.

‘Thor will kill the Midgard Serpent, and then he will step back nine feet. Because of the poison the serpent spits on him, he will fall to the earth, dead. The wolf will swallow Odin, and that will be his death. But immediately afterwards Vidar will stride forward and thrust one of his feet into the lower jaw of the wolf. He wears on that foot the shoe that has been assembled through the ages by collecting the extra pieces that people cut away from the toes and heels when fashioning their shoes. Thus those who want to help the Æsir should throw these extra pieces away. With one hand he takes hold of the wolf’s upper jaw and rips apart its mouth, and this will be the wolf’s death. Loki will battle with Heimdall, and they will be the death of each other. Next Surt will throw fire over the earth and burn the whole world. So says The Sibyl’s Prophecy:

Heimdall blows loudly his horn in the air. Odin speaks to Mimir’s head. The ash of Yggdrasil trembles as it stands, the old tree groans and the giant breaks free.[^fn80]

What of the Æsir? What of the elves? All Giant Land groans. The Æsir meet in assembly. The dwarves moan before their doors of stone, they who know the cliffs. Do you know now or what?

Hrym drives from the east, holding his shield before him; Jormungand thrashes in giant wrath. The serpent lashes the waves; the eagle screeches, Nidfol, rips apart corpses.[^fn81] Naglfar breaks loose.

A ship sails from the east, Muspell’s followers are coming across the sea, and Loki is steering. There with the Wolf[^fn82] are all the giant sons. With them on the voyage is Byleist’s brother [Loki].

Surt comes from the south with the fiery destruction of branches. The sun shines from the sword of the gods of the slain. Stone cliffs tumble and troll witches stumble. Men tread the Road to Hel as the sky splits apart.[^fn83]

Then comes to Hlin [Frigg] her second sorrow when Odin goes to fight with the wolf, and Beli’s bright bane [Frey] advances against Surt. There Frigg’s beloved [Odin] will fall.

Odin’s son goes to fight with the wolf, Vidar on the way to the carrion beast; he lets his sword hew to the heart of Hvedrung’s son [the wolf Fenrir]. Thus the father is avenged.

Steps back the renowned son of Earth[^fn84] [Thor] doomed from the serpent, fearing no shame. All men will abandon their world when Midgard’s protector strikes in rage.

The sun grows black, the earth sinks into the sea. The bright stars vanish from the heavens. Steam surges up and the fire rages.[^fn85] Heat reaches high against heaven itself.

(The Sibyl’s Prophecy. 46–57)

‘Here it is also said:

Vigrid is the plain’s name where Surt and the dear gods meet in battle. One hundred leagues it extends in each direction. That field is destined for them.’

(The Lay of Vafthrudnir. 18)