In order to best prepare you for the launch of God of War Ragnarok, we offer you a series of articles dedicated to the important elements of its universe, such as its characters or the world that surrounds Kratos and Atreus. Here we will see the final battle that this episode takes as its title, the terrifying ragnarök with its meaning in Norse mythology.
The Ragnarök Prophecy
The word Ragnarök means the " final fate of the gods ", it is an apocalypse story taken up in several Norse texts and probably from earlier oral traditions. After several episodes, the living and even the dead clash there in a final battle . Many gods and creatures die there, wreaking havoc and even leading to the annihilation of some of the nine realms. This end of the world is prophesied by a Völva , a woman who is both priestess and clairvoyant.
Fimbulvetr and the Fate of the Gods
In the beginning, Fimbulvetr
Ragnarök is announced by a winter that lasts three years, Fimbulvetr (literally the " great winter ") : the wolf Sköll will devour the sun and his brother the moon, causing summers without heat or light. The Jötun or giants will then approach Asgard and Heimdall , Guardian of the Rainbow Bridge, will blow his horn named Gjallarhorn to warn the nine realms of the start of the fighting. The chains will then break and the creatures locked up such as Fenrir or Loki will be released.
Both sides
This final fight will take place on the plain of Vigrid . Two camps will then face each other, led on one side by Odin and on the other by Loki . With Odin, we find the major Aesir gods of the pantheon as well as the Einherjars or fallen warriors led by Odin in Valhalla awaiting Ragnarök. With Loki, monstrous creatures like Fenrir the giant wolf and Jörmungand the giant serpent, and Jötuns or ice giants. He will also be accompanied by the army of the dead from the frozen depths of Helheim.
The Final Showdown: Counting the Dead
Fenrir will kill Odin, who will be avenged by his son Vidar. Thor meanwhile will face Jörmungand and finish him off before perishing in turn, a victim of the beast's poison. Loki will confront his enemy Heimdall and they will end up killing each other. Freyr, brother of Freyja, will face Surt the giant of Muspelheim, Tyr will fight the giant dog Garm. Surt will finally set the world on fire and the sea will overwhelm the earth.
Ragnarök and after?
The alive
The end of the known world will give rise to a new world . Only two humans will survive, sheltered by the roots of Yggdrasil, and repopulate the earth. The waters recede and the land regains its beauty. On the side of the gods, some return to live in Idavoll , where Asgard was formerly located.
The dead
Those who have perished in battle will go to live in different homes : the best, the one that will welcome good and brave beings, will be Gimlé . To Nastrandir go liars and murderers. The worst is Hvergelmir , where the dead will be tortured by the dragon Nidhogg .
