Jörmungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent or World Serpent, is a significant figure in Norse mythology.
Parentage and Siblings: Jörmungandr is one of the three monstrous children of the trickster god Loki and the giantess Angrboða. Jörmungandr’s siblings are Fenrir, the giant wolf, and Hel, the ruler of the realm of the dead.
Enormous Size: Jörmungandr is a massive sea serpent that encircles Midgard, the world of humans. According to the myths, it is so large that it can encircle the entire earth and grasp its own tail, symbolizing the concept of an ouroboros, a snake biting its own tail.
Prophesied Enemy of Thor: Jörmungandr is fated to have a deadly rivalry with the thunder god Thor. They encounter each other several times in the myths, with their final battle foretold to occur during Ragnarök, the end of the world. During this climactic battle, Thor kills Jörmungandr, but after walking nine steps away, he succumbs to the serpent’s venom and dies.
Encounters with Thor:
Fishing Expedition: In one myth, Thor and the giant Hymir go fishing, and Thor uses an ox’s head as bait to catch Jörmungandr. Thor manages to hook the serpent and pull it to the surface, but Hymir, terrified, cuts the line, allowing Jörmungandr to escape.
Utgard-Loki’s Challenge: In another tale, Thor visits the hall of the giant Utgard-Loki, where he is challenged to lift a giant cat. Despite his immense strength, Thor only manages to lift one of the cat’s paws off the ground. Later, Utgard-Loki reveals that the cat was actually Jörmungandr in disguise, and Thor’s lifting feat was more impressive than it seemed.
Symbolism: Jörmungandr represents chaos and destruction, particularly in its association with Ragnarök. Its encircling of the world can be seen as a symbol of the boundaries and cyclical nature of existence.
Jörmungandr’s role in Norse mythology underscores the themes of cosmic balance and the inevitable clash between order and chaos, embodied in the prophesied battle between Thor and the World Serpent during Ragnarök.
