Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent, is the vast sea-monster of Norse mythology that lies coiled around the entire world of humankind. Child of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, the serpent is grown so great that it grasps its own tail — and it is the eternal enemy of Thor.
Who is Jörmungandr?
Jörmungandr (Old Norse Miðgarðsormr, "Midgard's serpent") is the middle of Loki's three monstrous children, brother to the wolf Fenrir and to Hel. When the gods learned the danger these siblings posed, Odin hurled the young serpent into the deep ocean that rings Midgard, the world of mortals. There it did not die but grew, until its body encircled the whole earth and its jaws closed on its own tail. Should it ever release that tail, the world will end.
Myths and encounters
The serpent's rivalry with Thor runs through several of the greatest myths. On a fishing voyage with the giant Hymir, Thor baited a line with the head of an ox and cast into the depths. Jörmungandr took the bait, and Thor hauled with all his god's strength until the monster's venom-dripping head broke the surface, the two locked eye to eye. As Thor reached for his hammer to strike, the terrified Hymir cut the line, and the serpent sank back into the sea.
In the hall of the giant Útgarða-Loki, Thor was challenged to lift a large grey cat from the floor. Strain as he might, he could raise only a single paw — for the cat was Jörmungandr in disguise, and to shift it at all was a feat that dismayed the giants.
Jörmungandr at Ragnarök
At the end of days the Midgard Serpent releases its tail and writhes ashore, thrashing the seas into fury and spitting venom across sky and water. On the field of Ragnarök it meets Thor for the last time. The thunder-god crushes the serpent with Mjölnir, but the victory is fatal: choking on the poison already coursing through him, Thor walks nine steps from the dead monster and falls. Their mutual destruction is one of the fixed certainties of Norse prophecy.
Symbols and legacy
Coiled endlessly about the world, Jörmungandr is the North's own image of the ouroboros — the serpent that binds the cosmos and marks the boundary between the ordered and the unknowable deep. Its element is the encircling sea, the domain of the rune Laguz, water that both sustains and drowns. As the World Serpent it remains among the most iconic figures of Norse myth, its clash with Thor retold in poetry, art, and modern film alike.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jörmungandr in Norse mythology?
Jörmungandr is the Midgard Serpent, a vast sea-serpent that encircles the world of humankind. It is the middle child of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, and the sworn enemy of Thor.
Why is Jörmungandr called the World Serpent?
Odin cast the serpent into the ocean that surrounds Midgard, the world of humans. There it grew so enormous that it circles the whole world and grasps its own tail, giving it the names Midgard Serpent and World Serpent.
What is the relationship between Thor and Jörmungandr?
Thor and Jörmungandr are destined enemies. Thor once nearly hauled the serpent from the sea on a fishing trip with the giant Hymir, and the two are fated to kill each other at Ragnarök.
How does Jörmungandr die?
At Ragnarök Thor slays Jörmungandr, but the serpent's venom is already upon him. Thor staggers nine steps from the dying serpent and falls dead from its poison.
Is Jörmungandr one of Loki's children?
Yes. Jörmungandr is the second of the three monstrous children Loki fathered on Angrboða, alongside the wolf Fenrir and Hel, ruler of the dead.