Ragnarok: Crash Course World Mythology #24

CrashCourse2 minutes read

The Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok, is characterized by battles, earthquakes, fire, blood, a giant wolf, groaning dwarves, and Loki's treachery, involving his punishment by the Aesir gods and his eventual escape. Fimbulvinter precedes Ragnarok, with three harsh winters leading to chaos and destruction, culminating in a battle against the gods and the eventual destruction of the worlds by flames, followed by a rebirth and the retelling of Norse god stories.

Insights

  • Loki's treachery in tricking Hodr into killing Baldr leads to his punishment by the Aesir gods, showcasing themes of betrayal and consequences in Norse mythology.
  • The Ragnarok myth portrays a cyclical worldview of destruction and rebirth, emphasizing the inevitability of change and renewal in the Norse belief system, where even the end of the world leads to a new beginning.

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Recent questions

  • What are some common apocalypse myths?

    Various cultures have apocalypse myths, including Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian, Islamic, and Norse.

  • Who is Loki in Norse mythology?

    Loki is a trickster god known for his treachery and role in the Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok.

  • How is Loki punished in Norse mythology?

    Loki is tied down in a cave with a snake dripping venom onto his face, tended by his wife Sigyn.

  • What triggers the Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok?

    The Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok, is triggered by earthquakes freeing Loki and his monstrous sons.

  • What happens after the Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok?

    After Ragnarok, there is a rebirth with some gods surviving and gathering to retell the stories of the Norse gods.

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Summary

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"Norse Ragnarok: Myth of Apocalypse and Rebirth"

  • Last week, the text explored Jewish, Christian, Zoroastrian, and Islamic apocalypse myths.
  • The focus shifts to the Norse apocalypse, Ragnarok, known for battles, earthquakes, fire, blood, a giant wolf, groaning dwarves, and Loki's treachery.
  • Loki tricks Hodr into killing Baldr, leading to Loki's punishment by the Aesir gods.
  • Loki hides in a cave near Frananger Falls, transforming into a fish to evade capture by the Aesir.
  • The Aesir capture Loki using a new net after Kvasir notices a burned fishnet in Loki's fire remains.
  • Loki is punished by being tied down in a cave with a snake dripping venom onto his face, tended by his wife Sigyn.
  • The Ragnarok myth is a prediction of the world's end, with Fimbulvinter preceding it, marked by three harsh winters leading to chaos and destruction.
  • The apocalypse unfolds with earthquakes freeing Loki and his monstrous sons, leading to a battle against the Aesir and the Einherjar warriors.
  • The battle culminates in the defeat of the gods and the destruction of the worlds by flames, followed by a rebirth with some gods surviving and gathering to retell the stories of the Norse gods.
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