Twilight Of The Gods
Axe Time, Sword Time, Wind Time, Wolf Time
Ragnarök is one of the best know elements of Old Norse mythology, a final apocalyptic battle that
looms over the myths. Odin is seen perpetually seeking out information about Ragnarök.
First comes fimbul-winter (mighty/mysterious winter). Three winters together, when many battles will
be fought and brothers shall kill each other.
Two different terms for Ragnarök used in ON literature. In the Völuspá it is Ragnarøk, doom, fate, or
significant events of the gods.
In Snorra Edda it is Ragnarøkkr, twilight of the gods.
Snorri thought of Ragnarök fundamentally differently to his source. Potentially Ragnarök didn’t
always have the apocalyptic overtones that it does now.
“Twilight of the gods” is far more final and apocalyptic than “doom”.
The ”twilight of the gods” terms is also used in Lokasenna by Tyr, so it does appear in the Poetic
Edda.
Ragnarök is a series of interlocking catastrophes: environmental, social, mythic, and martial.
Environmental
Three winters back to back, causing an enormous famine. (Snorri)
Yggdrasil shakes and groans. (Völuspá)
Mighty earthquakes occur. (Völuspá)
The sun turns black, the land is consumed by the sea, the stars go out, things burn. (Völuspá)
Wolves devour the sun and moon. (Snorri)
The trees are uprooted and mountains fall. (Snorri)
Fetters and bonds snap and break, including the bonds of Fenris. (Snorri)
In Snorri’s account the natural turmoil comes first, giving rise to the mythic catastrophe. In Völuspá
this is less clear, and the natural destruction is the climax.
Chris Adbram suggests that Völuspá is a mythologisation of volcanic activity, a very Icelandic end.
Social
Snorri claims that Ragnarök begins with great battles. Kinslaying and depravity are rampant.
This is one of the few occasions that we learn about the fates of humans in Ragnarök. Snorri and the
Völuspá poet mainly have eyes for the destinies of the gods. Human death is collateral damage.
Vafthrudnismal makes reference to two human survivors.
Humans are also the basis of Odin’s army in Ragnarök, as they are the Einheriar. We know this to be
the purpose for which Odin has been accruing the great heroes of the Einheriar.
Loki’s slaying of Baldr (at Hod’s hands) is the early social breakdown that leads to Ragnarök. It’s
another chain of causality – avenging the kinslaying leads to yet further vengeance, forever. Odin
begets another son, Vali, specifically to kill Hod, which continues the kinslaying.
Snorri somewhat sidesteps this issue by focusing on the punishment of Loki.
Mythic
Odin vs Fenrir (Vidar fucking GETS him)
Thor vs Iormungandr (in spite of Thor’s giant heritage, he fights at the side of the gods)
Freyr vs Surtr (the other Vanir are conspicuously absent, as are the Asyniur)
Tyr vs Garm
Heimdall vs Loki (only in Snorri)
In Vafthrudnismal, Niord is said to return to the Vanir. Presumably to watch the hearth?
A mythic catastrophe for everyone!
After
In Völuspá, the seeress sees this:
Baldr and Hodr also come back.
So what are we dealing with?
Three major schools of thought.
The confluence of two or more myths: motifs from separate religious traditions that were combined
into a large single myth.
Descended from Indo-European heritage, from a very very old myth indeed.
And finally, was it the fucking Christians. Disparate pre-Christian myths about the end of the world
organised into a single source under Christianity.
Come on man what the fuck is this.