Fenrir – The Mighty Wolf
Norse mythology is full of some of the more fearsome monsters, most with the power to cause catastrophic destruction to the 9 worlds of the cosmos.
The wolf Fenrir is regarded as one of the most dangerous and important of them all. It plays a key role amongst the beasts of Norse mythology as he is fated to slay Odin during the final battle of the apocalypse known as Ragnarok, a testament to the strength he posseses.
One of the many children of the frost giant Loki and the giantess Angrboda, it means Fenrir is actually a member of the giant race and not a wolf at all. Although almost all depictions portray him as such.
Despite the name, giants in Norse mythology were not typically of an enormous size, despite this Fenrir grew to a size larger than any other giant. His size was so large that opening his jaws wide he could reach from the ground to up in the sky. The wolf was also said to have had unrivalled strength.
Fenrir is not an only child of the giants Loki and Angrboda, but rather one of three. Jormungandr, the midgard serpent and another terrifying beast, and Hel a giantess who rules over the dead lands known as Helheim are the other two.
All three of these children of Loki and Angrboda were considered so monstrous and such a threat to the 9 worlds, that the Asgardian gods decided that acrion was needed to safeguard the cosmos, placing them where they could limit the havoc they could potentially wreak.
The gods launches Jormungandr into the oceans of midgard, the world men called home. Hel was banished to the underworld and Fenrir, by far the most dangerous and fearsome was sentenced to imprisonment, a task which proved to be no easy feat.
Read more about the Binding of Fenrir!
According to the prophecy, when the apocalypse begins and Ragnarok is underway a series of earthquakes will rock the cosmos. These quakes will destroy the rock to which chains binding Fenrir are attached. The wolf will be of such a size and strength at this time that he will finally break free of the chains that have shackled him.
Once Fenrir has his freedom he will rampage around the cosmos, devouring everything in his path. Accompanying him will be Hat and Skoll, the children of Fenrir who have spent aeons chasing after the sun and moon. They will finally succeed, gobbling up the sun, moon and stars and sending the 9 worlds into chaos and darkness.
Fenrir’s rampage will eventually bring him to Asgard, where he will finally meet Odin in battle. The prophecy foretells that the mighty wolf will prove victorious, devouring the all-powerful king of the Gods. Druing the battle, Odin will be avenged by Vioarr, one of his sons.
A magical boot allows him to stand in Fenrir’s mouth without being devoured. Using his own mighty strength, he will kill the wolf by tearing apart it’s jaws. This vengeance will ultimately be in vain, shortly after the death of Fenrir Ragnarok will consume the 9 worlds and the Norse cosmos will fall.
In Norse mythology Fenrir was a symbol of the chaotic forces of the universe, which take strength, courage and ingenuity to overcome.