The end begins not with a bang, but with a chill. In a vision, a seeress tells the god Odin of the Fimbulwinter, a great winter lasting three years with no summer in between. Snow falls from all directions and immense frosts grip the world. The sun offers no warmth. All social bonds dissolve in what the seeress calls an 'axe-age, sword-age,' a 'wolf-age' where brothers kill each other for greed and no one spares another. This long winter deepens until two great wolves, Sköll and Hati, finally hunt down and swallow the sun and the moon. The stars fall from the sky, plunging the nine realms into an absolute, terrifying darkness.
Ragnarök: The End of the World
The prophesied end of the Norse world begins with three years of winter and ends with the earth sinking into the sea, consumed by fire.
Chapter 1
The Fimbulwinter
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ragnarök?
Ragnarök is the prophesied end of the world in Norse mythology. It involves a series of cataclysmic events, including a three-year winter, a final great battle between the gods and giants, and the complete destruction of the world by fire and flood.
How do the Norse gods die in the final battle?
The major gods die in specific duels. Odin is killed by the wolf Fenrir, Thor kills the Midgard Serpent but dies from its venom, Freyr is slain by the fire-giant Surtr, and the rivals Loki and Heimdall kill each other.
Does anything survive Ragnarök?
Yes. A new, green earth rises from the sea. Two humans, Líf and Lífþrasir, survive to repopulate it, and several gods, including Odin's sons Víðarr and Váli, also survive to inhabit the new world.
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