What Is Ragnarok In Norse Mythology and What Does the Word Ragnarok Mean In Old Norse?

Ragnarok is the time of destruction for the world and the gods.

Odin, who could see the future, knew that Ragnarok would come and that resistance was useless.

However, Odin and the gods planned to battle to the end. This story reflects the Norse belief that despite death, a man could win honor by fighting bravely until death.

At the beginning of Ragnarok, the world will be wracked by terrible wars, in which all honor and decency is corrupted by bloody atrocities.

A giant wolf will swallow the sun, condemning everything to icy cold and darkness.

The stars will fall from the sky, and the mountains will tumble as Yggdrasill shakes to its very roots. Hideous monsters will escape from their prisons, including the wolf Fenrir and Loki.

Loki will then lead the frost giants and monsters onto the Plain of Vigrid, the site of the final battle of the gods.

Heimdall, vigilantly watching from the rainbow bridge, will blow his horn in a mighty blast, alerting all the gods that the final battle is near.

From Valhalla, thousands of warriors will join the gods as they battle the giants.

Thor is destined to die from the poison of the Midgard Serpent.

Odin will be ripped apart by Fenrir, who will be clubbed to death by Odin’s son. Loki will die fighting Heimdall.

All the gods and giants will be destroyed in the battle.

Finally, a fire giant named Suit will rise and fling fire in all directions, causing all nine worlds to be consumed in flames.

When all things are reduced to ashes, the world will be swallowed by the sea.

The word Ragnarok is actually a compound of two Old Norse words, “ragna” and “rök”.

“Ragna” means “gods” or “ruling powers”.

“Rök” means “development, origin, cause, relation, fate, end.”

The word Ragnarok means “final destiny of the gods.”