Jormungandr also known as the Midgard Serpent, is a figure from Norse mythology. It is a gigantic sea serpent that plays a significant role in the mythology of the Vikings and other Germanic peoples.
Source – Wikepedia
Jormungandr meaning
In Norse mythology, Jormungandr is one of the three children of the god Loki and the giantess Angrboða, along with the wolf Fenrir and the half-dead, half-living Hel.
According to the myth, Odin, the All-Father, cast Jormungandr into the great ocean that encircles the world, known as the Midgard Sea , where it grew to immense size.
The serpent was said to be so long that it could encircle the entire world and grasp its own tail.
Jormungandr’s role in Norse mythology is intricately connected to the events of Ragnarok, the prophesied apocalyptic battle that would lead to the destruction of the gods and the end of the world.
During Ragnarok, Jormungandr and Thor, the thunder god are destined to face each other in a final epic battle.
The serpent’s venomous breath and powerful strikes would ultimately lead to Thor’s demise and in return, Thor’s final act of killing Jormungandr would cause the serpent’s venom to flood the earth, causing further devastation.
Jormungandr is seen as a powerful and fearsome force in Norse mythology, symbolizing the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the natural world.
Its depiction as a world-encircling serpent reinforces the idea of its vast and all-encompassing reach.
The myth of Jormungandr and its role in Ragnarok also highlights the Norse belief in the cyclical nature of existence with the world being destroyed and reborn after the cataclysmic events of the final battle.
