The Midgard Serpent: Jörmundgander

The Midgard Serpent is a fearsome creature from Norse mythology. It is known to be the child of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, and dwells in the sea surrounding Midgard, the world of humans. The gods Æsir decided to confront her because of her evil deeds. Thor, one of the most powerful gods, had three legendary confrontations with Jörmundgander. However, the last confrontation will occur in Ragnarök, marking the end of both the serpent and Thor. In addition, the Midgard serpent has also been represented in different works of popular culture, such as the video games God of War.

Origin and characteristics of the Midgard Serpent

Jörmundgander, also called “the ribbon of the world” due to its immense size, is capable of embracing the entire Earth by biting its tail. This peculiarity gives it unique knowledge, as it can see both its own birth and death, which implies that it possesses the ability to see the past and the future.

His relationship with Loki and the giantess Angrboða

As mentioned above, Jörmundgander is the son of Loki and the giantess Angrboða. Loki, a cunning and often troublesome god, is known to be the father of many dangerous and fearsome creatures in Norse mythology, and Jörmundgander is one of them. The relationship between Loki and Jörmundgander represents the connection between evil and destruction.

Inhabitant of the sea around Midgard

Jörmundgander dwells in the sea surrounding Midgard, the world of humans. His presence in this place symbolizes a constant threat to gods and humans. The serpent is said to be trapped in the sea until the day of Ragnarök, the apocalyptic event that will mark the total destruction.

The confrontation of the gods with Jörmundgander

The Midgard serpent, Jörmundgander, had become a great threat to the Æsir gods. Aware of the terrible deeds that this creature would carry out, they decided to confront it. Thor, with his immense power, became the main protagonist in the fight against the serpent.

The Æsir’s decision to confront the serpent

Faced with the danger that Jörmundgander represented, the Æsir gods took the courageous determination to confront this fearsome creature. They knew they had to act before chaos and destruction overtook the world of humans, Midgard.

The three legendary clashes between Jörmundgander and Thor

Throughout Norse mythology, three legendary confrontations between Jörmundgander and Thor are recounted. In one of these confrontations, the serpent was disguised as a giant cat by the giant king Útgarða-Loki, as part of a challenge to Thor. In another legend, Thor and Hymir ventured in search of a cauldron and there encountered Jörmundgander in the sea. Despite the serpent’s venomous attacks, Thor managed to escape.

Jörmundgander and his ability to see the past and the future

A fascinating aspect of Jörmundgander is his ability to see his own birth and death, giving him knowledge of the past and future. This gift gave him an advantage, as he could anticipate the movements of his opponents and act accordingly. However, despite this ability, he could not avoid his fate in Ragnarök.

Ragnarök and the final showdown

Ragnarök, also known as the twilight of the gods, is the event that will mark the total destruction. In this apocalyptic event, the Midgard serpent, Jörmundgander, will play a fundamental role.

El papel de Jörmundgander en el Ragnarök

The Midgard Serpent will emerge from the ocean during Ragnarök in an attempt to poison the skies and unleash the final battle. Its poisonous power and colossal size make it a fearsome threat to the gods and the entire known world.

The final battle between Thor and the serpent

In this epic confrontation, Thor, one of the most powerful gods, will face Jörmundgander in a life and death struggle. Thor, armed with his hammer Mjölnir, will fight bravely to defeat the serpent and preserve order in the cosmos.

The tragic outcome for Jörmundgander and Thor

Although Thor manages to kill Jörmundgander, the victory is not without consequences. During the battle, the serpent will succeed in poisoning the god of thunder, condemning him to lose his life. In his sacrifice, Thor will have put an end to the serpent’s threat, but at a high personal cost.

Representations of the Midgard serpent in popular culture.

The Midgard serpent, Jörmundgander, has left his mark on popular culture beyond Norse mythology. His fascinating figure and his role in Ragnarök have inspired various representations in different media, especially in the world of video games.

Jörmundgander in the video games God of War

One of the video game franchises that has explored the theme of the Midgard serpent is God of War. In the fourth installment of the saga, titled God of War 4, players have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a mythological world where they encounter Jörmundgander as part of the story.

In the game, Jörmundgander is portrayed as a giant snake that surrounds the world and is central to the development of the plot. The protagonist, Kratos, interacts with the snake and faces various challenges that test his bravery and abilities.

In addition, it has been announced that the next video game in the series, God of War Ragnarök, will delve even deeper into the role of Jörmundgander and the events related to Ragnarök. Players will be able to experience the experience of facing the serpent and witnessing the final battle between Thor and Jörmundgander.

Exploration of Ragnarök themes and the figure of Jörmundgander.

The Midgard serpent, with its link to Ragnarök, has been a source of inspiration for exploring apocalyptic and mythological themes in different forms of artistic expression.

In films, series and novels, the prophecies of Ragnarök and the role of Jörmundgander as a destructive and fatal figure have been addressed. These depictions explore the conflicts between gods and supernatural beings, as well as the struggle of good against evil. The Midgard serpent becomes a symbol of the inevitable confrontation between the forces of chaos and order.

Jörmundgander’s imposing and terrifying image has also been depicted in works of art and sculptures to convey the magnitude of his power and influence in Norse mythology.

There are many ways to approach Norse mythology and the serpent of Midgard, but few are as entertaining as a good PS5 game of God of War Ragnarok.