Jǫrmungandr / Midgard Serpent / World Serpent / Miðgarðsormr

Jörmungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent or World Serpent, is a giant sea serpent in Norse mythology. He is one of the three children of Loki, the trickster god, and the giantess Angrboða. Jörmungandr plays a significant role in the cosmology of the Norse world, and he is closely tied to Ragnarök, the prophesied end of the world.

Origins and Family

1. Parentage:
   • Jörmungandr’s father, Loki, is one of the most complex figures in Norse mythology, known for his trickery and mischief. His mother, Angrboða, is a giantess, and together they had three monstrous children: Jörmungandr, Fenrir (the giant wolf), and Hel (the ruler of the underworld).
2. Connection to Midgard:
   • After Jörmungandr’s birth, the gods, particularly Odin, saw the danger he posed and decided to cast him into the sea that surrounds Midgard (the realm of humans). In the ocean, Jörmungandr grew so large that he eventually encircled the entire world, earning him the name Midgard Serpent.

Characteristics and Mythology

1. Enormous Size:
   • Jörmungandr is a massive serpent, so large that he can wrap himself around the entire earth and grasp his own tail in his mouth, creating an ouroboros-like image. His size and power make him one of the most formidable beings in Norse mythology.
2. Poisonous Nature:
   • Jörmungandr is known to be highly poisonous. His venom is deadly to both gods and humans, and it plays a crucial role in the events of Ragnarök.
3. Rivalry with Thor:
   • Jörmungandr has a fierce rivalry with Thor, the god of thunder. The two are destined to battle multiple times, with their final confrontation occurring during Ragnarök.
   • One of their most famous encounters takes place during Thor’s fishing trip with the giant Hymir. Thor attempts to catch Jörmungandr by using an ox’s head as bait. He manages to hook the serpent and pulls it to the surface, preparing to strike it with his hammer, Mjölnir. However, Hymir, terrified of the serpent, cuts the fishing line before Thor can kill it, allowing Jörmungandr to slip back into the sea.

Role in Ragnarök

1. The Prophesied Battle:
   • Jörmungandr is fated to play a key role in Ragnarök, the end-of-the-world event in Norse mythology. During this apocalyptic battle, he will emerge from the sea and poison the sky, covering the earth in his venom.
   • He and Thor will face each other in a final, cataclysmic battle. Thor will ultimately succeed in slaying Jörmungandr with his hammer, but after taking nine steps, Thor will succumb to the serpent’s venom and die.
2. Symbolism in Ragnarök:
   • Jörmungandr’s role in Ragnarök reflects the themes of inevitable destruction and cyclical renewal in Norse mythology. His battle with Thor signifies the clash between cosmic forces—chaos (Jörmungandr) and order (Thor). The death of both Thor and Jörmungandr represents the end of the old world and the beginning of a new cycle.

Symbolism of Jörmungandr

1. Ouroboros Symbolism:
   • Jörmungandr is often associated with the image of the ouroboros, a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. This symbol is ancient and represents the cyclical nature of existence, the idea of infinity, and the continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
   • In Jörmungandr’s case, his encircling of Midgard reflects his role in maintaining the balance of the cosmos until Ragnarök, at which point that balance will be destroyed.
2. Chaos and Destruction:
   • As one of Loki’s children, Jörmungandr is a representation of chaos and destruction. His enormous size, venom, and inevitable role in bringing about the end of the world embody the uncontrollable and destructive forces of nature. He is often viewed as a force of chaos that is necessary for the cosmic cycle of renewal.
3. The Power of Nature:
   • Jörmungandr’s existence as a sea serpent that encircles the earth symbolizes the power of the natural world, particularly the ocean and its immense, untamable force. In Norse mythology, the sea was seen as a dangerous and mysterious place, full of unknown creatures and forces beyond human control. Jörmungandr represents that wild, unpredictable power.

Modern Influence

1. Popular Culture:
   • Jörmungandr continues to be a popular figure in modern culture, especially in fantasy literature, video games, and art. His serpentine form and role as a world-encircling creature have made him a source of inspiration for depictions of giant serpents or dragons in many fantasy settings.
   • One notable modern appearance is in the video game “God of War” (2018), where Jörmungandr is portrayed as an ally of the main character, Kratos. His massive size and deep knowledge of the Norse world are central to the game’s story.
2. Symbol in Modern Esotericism:
   • The ouroboros, often linked to Jörmungandr, has been adopted in modern esoteric and philosophical traditions as a symbol of eternal cycles, self-reflection, and wholeness. The image of a serpent encircling the world has found resonance in discussions about the interconnectedness of life and the universe.

Conclusion

Jörmungandr is a significant figure in Norse mythology, embodying themes of chaos, destruction, and the cyclical nature of existence. As the Midgard Serpent, he plays a crucial role in both maintaining the balance of the world and bringing about its destruction during Ragnarök. His epic rivalry with Thor and his eventual death reflect the Norse belief in the inevitability of fate and the renewal that follows destruction.

Description

Jörmungandr (ᛃᛟᚱᛗᚢᛝᚨᚾᛞᚱ) Is a huge serpent in Norse mythology who is said to surround the world biting its own tail. In the Prose Edda Jörmungandr is one of the three children Loki had with the giantess Angrboða. Odin tossed Jörmungandr into the great ocean which encircles Midgård. In there it grew until it could encircle the world [1].

When Jörmungandr finally releases its tail Ragnarök is said to begin and during it, Jörmungandr will face Thor. Thor kills Jörmungandr but after walking nine paces he falls to the serpent’s venom [2].

Jörmungandr Nemesis of Thor

Throughout the tales of Thor Jörmungandr has slowly become his nemesis. Outside of their final battle, there are two other encounters between them.

Thor Lifts a Cat
Their first encounter is when Thor is challenged by the giant king Útgarða-Loki. One of the challenges is for Thor to lift a cat which is actually Jörmungandr in disguise. When Thor tries he only manages to lift one of the paws slightly above the floor. The observers are astonished and fearful seeing his great strength [3]. It is said that if Thor would have succeeded he would have altered the boundaries of the universe [4].

Thor Fishing
The second encounter between them is when Thor goes Fishing with the giant Hymir. Hymir does not want to give any bait to Thor so in response Thor strikes down Hymirs largest Ox and takes its head to use for bait. When they are out at sea they are at a spot where Hymir previously had fished whale and as Thor fishes with the ox’s head, Jörmungandr bites the line. Thor pulls up Jörmungandr who blows poison [5]. As Thor is to grab Mjölnir Hymir cuts the line in fear and Jörmungandr once more sinks into the sea [5,6].

In some early versions of the myth Thor manages to catch the serpent by striking its head with Mjölnir [6,7].

Sources:

[1]: Snorri Sturluson; Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist (trans.) (1916). The Prose Edda. New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation. Gylfaginning ch.LI , p. 109.

[2]: Snorri Sturluson (2016) Gylfaginning ch. li, pp. 78–80.

[3]: Snorri Sturluson (1916) Gylfaginning ch. xlvi, xlvii, pp. 65, 67.

[4]: Thury, Eva M.; Devinney, Margaret K. (2017). Introduction to Mythology (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 302–03. ISBN978-0-19-026298-3.

[5]: Snorri Sturluson (1916) Gylfaginning ch. xlviii, pp. 68–70.

[6]: Meulengracht Sørensen, Preben; Williams, Kirsten (trans.) (1986). “Þorr’s Fishing Expedition”. In Steinsland, Gro (ed.). Words and Objects: Towards a Dialogue Between Archaeology and History of Religion. Oslo: The Institute for Comparative Research in Human Culture; Norwegian University Press. pp. 270–71. ISBN82-00-07751-9. Meulengracht Sørensen, Preben; Williams, Kirsten (trans.) (2002). “Þorr’s Fishing Expedition (Hymiskviða)”. In Acker, Paul; Larrington, Carolyne (eds.). The Poetic Edda: Essays on Old Norse Mythology. London / New York: Routledge. pp. 130–31. ISBN0-8153-1660-7.

[7]: Clunies Ross, Margaret (1989). “Two of Þórr’s Great Fights according to Hymiskviða” (PDF). Leeds Studies in English. 20: 8–10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2019.