Norse Myths
Ragnarok
The Ultimate Judgment

When it's the time of the end of the world, three little ice ages will fall upon the world called Fimbulvertr (terrible winter) according to the Norse mythology.
At the end of the Fimbulvertr, the final battle, Ragnarok world broke out. Ragnarok, "The Doom/Destiny/Twilight of Gods" in German. The long-waiting foes would meet at the battle field, a plan named Vigrid.

1. Cosmology of Norse Mythology

1. Realms -
   In Norse myth cosmology, the world is formed by nine roots of Yggdrasil (world tree). Each of the nine roots grow into 9 different realms (highest to lowest):

1. Asgard, where the Asir (tribe of Gods) lives. The guardian is Odin.
2. Vanaheim, where the Vanir (tribe of Gods) lives. The guardian is Frey.
3. Alfheim, where the light-elves live. The guardian is Frey.
4. Midgard, where the mankind lives. The guardian is Thor.
5. Swartalfheim, where the dark elves live. The guardian is Modsognir
6. Jotuheim, where the Jotnar (giants) live. The guardian is Thrym.
7. Hel, world of the dead. The guardian is Hella.
8. Muspelheim, world of creative & destructive fire. The guardian is Surt.
9. Nifelheim, world of creative & destructive frost. The guardian is Nidhogg.

2. Major Gods (Aesir & Vanir) -
   In Norse mythology, Gods aren't immortal

1. Odin,
   1). The king of Gods, called the highest one.
   2). He is the God of war, wisdom & poetry.
   3). He has one eye.
2. Frigga
   1). She is the wife of Odin.
   2). She is wise and gentle.
   3). Her favorite son is Balder.
3. Thor
   1). He is the thunder God.
   2). He is the major enemy of the Jotnar.
4. Balder
   1). He is the summer God of joy which all gods love him.
   2). His death right before Ragnarok.
5. Vidar
   1). He is another son of Odin.
   2). He revenged for Balder's death.
   3). He has only one hand as his right hand bite off by Fenris.
6. Hod
   1). The blind winter God, Balder's twin brother.
   2). He was tricked by Loki to kill Balder
7. Heimdal
   1). The guardian of Bifrost, the bridge between the giants' & the gods' world.
   2). He has a horn named Gjallar.
8. Frey
   1). He is the god of weather and fertility
   2). He had a powerful sword, only sword that could have withstood the giants.
9. Freyja
   1). She is the goddess of fertility
   2). She is the sister of Frey and sometimes his consort.
10. Tyr, the god of war and of athletic events.
11. Mirmir, the wisest of all who doesn't involve in most conflicts.

3. Major Giants (Jotnar) -
   including Frost, Fire & Mountain Giants

1. Loki
   1). The trickiest, (shadow of Odin), blood-brother of Odin
2. Nidhogg
   1). Dragon from Nifelheim.
   2). Steer the Nagilfari during Ragnarok.
3. Surt
   1). He is the guardian of Muspelheim.
   2). Fire blaze around him all the time.
4. Jormungand
   1). Child of Loki.
   2). He is a serpent circle around Midgard.
5. Fenris
   1). Child of Loki.
   2). He is a huge wolf bonded by the god.
6. Hella
   1). Child of Loki.
   2). She is the goddess of Death.
7. Garm, the guardian dog of the death world

4. Other Parties

1. Valkyries
   1). The women warriors of Odin.
   2). Usually nine in numbers
2. Einheriar
   1). The slain warriors whom the valkyries had chosen.
   2). Odin gathered them to prepare for Ragnarok

2. Timeline

1. Fimbul -
   Three winters with no summer will fall on the entire world.
2. Great Wars in Midgard -
   Brothers will kill other for the sake of gain, and no one will spare father or son in manslaughter or in incest.
3. Disaster

1. A wolf will swallow the Sun
2. Another wolf will seize the moon
3. All stars disappear from heavens

4. Vigrid - the plain for meeting of all foes

1. Fenris the wolf will get loose and wide open its mouth (upper jaw against the sky & lower jaw on the earth) as it ran to the battle.
2. Jormungand the serpent will be writhing in giant fury trying to come ashore.
3. Nidhogg will steer all the Jotnar on the Nagilfari, the raft made from dead men's fingernails towards Vigrid, the battlefield of Ragnarok.
4. Bifrost will break as they passed.
5. Heimdal, the guardian on Bifrost will horn his Gjallar and awaken all gods.
6. Odin will ride to Mirmir's spring & ask for Mirmir's advice.
7. All Jotnar will gather at Vigrid.
8. Aesir, Vanir, Einherjar & Valkyies will be armed and met at Vigrid.

5. Ragnarok, the battle - Nobody wins

1. Odin <> Fenris <> Vidar
   1). Fight - Odin will fight Fenris and be swallowed.
   2). Past - Vidar betrayed wolf's trust when Gods bound it & Fenris bit off his arm
   3). Fight - Vidar won, but still died.
2. Thor <> Jormungand
   1). Past - Their enmity was set when Thor went on a fishing expedition before.
   2). Fight - Thor killed the serpent, but the serpent's poison also killed him.
3. Surt <> Frey
   1). Past - Their unfriendliness begins because of the possession of Frey's sword.
   2). Fight - Surt wins and Frey died
4. Loki <>Heimdal
   1). Past - They fought for the possession of Freyja's necklace, Brisingimen before.
   2). Fight - They would kill each other.
5. Tyr <> Garm - They had a long battle and killed each other.

6. Epilogue of the Battle

1. Fire of Finale -
   Surt gathers his fire demons to pour fire forth and destroy most of the Universe.
2. Ray of hope -
   Mirmir takes two human beings and hides them in the folds of the trunk of Yggdrasil asleep, slept through Ragnarok.

1. Lif (male) - English translated: Life
2. Lifthrasir (female) - English translated: Lifethirster

7. Prologue of the New World

1. The long lasting fire ended.
2. An new piece of earth raised from the ocean, better than before.
3. Lif & Lifthrasir wake and come forth to begin repopulation.
4. Some Gods reappear:

1. Balder reappear as the leader and as the symbol of peace.
2. Hod reappear to bring the world the balance of seasons.
3. Vidar & Vali, descendents of Odin who are more peaceful also reappear.

5. Life is peaceful forever.