Níðhöggr

Níðhöggr (Malice Striker, often anglicized Nidhogg[1]) in Norse mythology, is a dragon who eats the roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasill. Níðhöggr - Prose Edda. According to the Gylfaginning part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Níðhöggr is a being which gnaws one of the three roots of Yggdrasill. This root is placed over Niflheimr and Níðhöggr gnaws it from beneath. The same source also says that ...

Including:

• Níðhöggr - Prose Edda
• Níðhöggr - Poetic Edda
• Níðhöggr - Níðhöggr's name
• Níðhöggr - Popular culture

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The poem Grímnismál identifies a number of beings which live in Yggdrasill. The tree suffers great hardship from all the creatures which live on it. The poem identifies Níðhöggr as tearing at the tree from beneath and also mentions Ratatoskr as carrying messages between Níðhöggr and the eagle who lives at the top of the tree. Snorri Sturluson often quotes Grímnismál and clearly ...

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Níðhöggr, Níðhöggr - Prose Edda, Níðhöggr - Poetic Edda, Níðhöggr - Níðhöggr's name, Níðhöggr - Popular culture

Read more here: » Níðhöggr: Encyclopedia II - Níðhöggr - Poetic Edda

In European mythology, a dragon is a serpent-like legendary creature. The Latin word draco, as in the constellation Draco, comes directly from Greek δράκων, drákōn. The word for dragon in Germanic mythology and its descendants is worm (Old English: wyrm, Old High German: wurm, Old Norse: ormr), meaning snake or serpent. In Old English wyrm means "serpent", draca means "dragon". Though a winged creature, the dragon is generally to be found in its underground lair, a cave t ...

Including:

• European dragon - Dragons in modern times
• European dragon - Roman dragons
• European dragon - Dragons in Slavic mythology
• European dragon - Dragons in Germanic mythology
• European dragon - Dragons in Catalan mythology
• European dragon - Dragons in Italian mythology
• European dragon - Dragons in fantasy fiction

Read more here: » European dragon: Encyclopedia - European dragon

In Norse mythology, Yggdrasil (actually Yggdrasill [ˈygˌdrasil:]; the extra -l is a nominative case marker) also sometimes called Mimameid or Lerad was the "World tree", a gigantic tree, thought to connect all the nine worlds of Norse cosmology. It is often suggested to be an ash tree, an interpretation generally accepted in the modern Scandinavian mind. Another possibility is that the tree was formerly conceived of as a yew, consistent with its Eddic ...

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• Yggdrasil - Etymology and alternative names
• Yggdrasil - Yggdrasil in the Edda
• Yggdrasil - Popular culture

Read more here: » Yggdrasil: Encyclopedia - Yggdrasil

In Norse mythology, Ragnarok ("fate of the gods"1) is the battle at the end of the world. It would supposedly be waged between the gods (the Æsir, led by Odin) and the evils (the fire giants, the Jotuns and various monsters, led by Loki). Not only will some of the gods, giants, and monsters perish in this apocalyptic conflagration, but almost everything in the universe will be torn asunder. In the Viking warrior societies, dying in battles is a fate to admire and this is carried over into the worship of a pantheon i ...

Including:

• Ragnarok - Prelude
• Ragnarok - Portents
• Ragnarok - The final battle
• Ragnarok - Aftermath
• Ragnarok - Modern adaptations
• Ragnarok - Notes

Read more here: » Ragnarok: Encyclopedia - Ragnarok

Hvergelmir is the wellspring of cold in Niflheim in Norse mythology. The well is guarded by Ivaldi and his sons who are charged with the defence of Hel against the incursions of the storm giants. All cold rivers are said to come from here, and it was said to be the source of the eleven rivers, Elivagar. The name means approximately "The seething cauldron". Above the spring, the serpent Níðhöggr gnaws ...

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List of legendary creatures - A. Abarimon Abatwa Aitvaras Ajatar Al Amphisbaena Angel Apis Argus Aswang Aziza Anubite Automatas Argus (Mythology) Avengers List of legendary creatures - B. Bahamut Baku Balaur Bannik Banshee Barghest Barbegazi Basilisk Baxajuan ...

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List of legendary creatures, List of legendary creatures - Alphabetical list, List of legendary creatures - A, List of legendary creatures - B, List of legendary creatures - C, List of legendary creatures - D, List of legendary creatures - E, List of legendary creatures - F, List of legendary creatures - G, List of legendary creatures - H, List of legendary creatures - I, List of legendary creatures - J, List of legendary creatures - K, List of legendary creatures - L, List of legendary creatures - M, List of legendary creatures - N, List of legendary creatures - O, List of legendary creatures - P, List of legendary creatures - Q, List of legendary creatures - R, List of legendary creatures - S, List of legendary creatures - T, List of legendary creatures - U, List of legendary creatures - V, List of legendary creatures - W, List of legendary creatures - X, List of legendary creatures - Y, List of legendary creatures - Z, List of legendary creatures - Joke species, List of legendary creatures - National fictional species folktales talltales, List of legendary creatures - Legendary creatures by type, List of legendary creatures - Links

Read more here: » List of legendary creatures: Encyclopedia II - List of legendary creatures - Alphabetical list

Three roots supported the trunk, with one passing through Asgard, one through Jotunheim and one through Helheim. Beneath the Asgard root lay the sacred Well of Urd (Urðabrunnr), and there dwelt the three Nornir, over whom even the gods had no power, and who, every day, watered the tree from the primeval fountain, so that its boughs remained green. Beneath the Jotunheim root lay the spring or well of Mimir (Mímisbrunnr); and beneath the Helheim root t ...

See also:

Yggdrasil, Yggdrasil - Etymology and alternative names, Yggdrasil - Yggdrasil in the Edda

Read more here: » Yggdrasil: Encyclopedia II - Yggdrasil - Yggdrasil in the Edda

The most famous dragons in Norse mythology and Germanic mythology, are: Níðhöggr who gnawed at the roots of Yggdrasil; Jörmungandr, also called Miðgarðsormr, a form of serpent so big that the earth-disc can be encircled by it; The dragon encountered by Beowulf; Fafnir, who was killed by Siegfried. Fafnir turned into a dragon because of his greed. Lindworms are monstrous serpents of G ...

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European dragon, European dragon - Dragons in modern times, European dragon - Roman dragons, European dragon - Dragons in Slavic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Germanic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Catalan mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Italian mythology, European dragon - Dragons in fantasy fiction

Read more here: » European dragon: Encyclopedia II - European dragon - Dragons in Germanic mythology

Three roots supported the trunk, with one passing through Asgard, one through Jotunheim and one through Helheim. Beneath the Asgard root lay the sacred Well of Urd (Urðabrunnr), and there dwelt the three Nornir, over whom even the gods had no power, and who, every day, watered the tree from the primeval fountain, so that its boughs remained green. Beneath the Jotunheim root lay the spring or well of Mimir (Mímisbrunnr); and beneath the Helheim root t ...

See also:

Yggdrasil, Yggdrasil - Etymology and alternative names, Yggdrasil - Yggdrasil in the Edda, Yggdrasil - Popular culture

Read more here: » Yggdrasil: Encyclopedia II - Yggdrasil - Yggdrasil in the Edda

Ragnarok will be preceded by the Fimbulwinter, the winter of winters. Three successive winters will follow each other with no summer in between. As a result, conflicts and feuds will break out, and all morality will disappear. The wolf Skoll and his brother Hati will finally devour Sol and her brother Mani respectively, after a perpetual chase. The stars will vanish from the sky, plunging the earth into darkness. The earth will shudder, so violently that trees will be uprooted, and mountains will fall, and every bond and fetter ...

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Ragnarok, Ragnarok - Prelude, Ragnarok - Portents, Ragnarok - The final battle, Ragnarok - Aftermath, Ragnarok - Modern adaptations, Ragnarok - Notes

Read more here: » Ragnarok: Encyclopedia II - Ragnarok - Portents

After the destruction, a new earth will arise out of the sea, green and fair. Barley will ripen in fields that were never sown. The meadow Idavoll, in the now-destroyed Asgard, will have been spared. The sun will reappear as Sol before being swallowed by Skoll, who will give birth to a daughter as fair as she herself. This maiden daughter will pursue her mother's road in the new sky. A few gods will survive the ordeal: Odin's brother Vili, Odin's sons Vidar and Vali, Thor's sons Modi and Magni, who will inherit their father's magic ha ...

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Ragnarok, Ragnarok - Prelude, Ragnarok - Portents, Ragnarok - The final battle, Ragnarok - Aftermath, Ragnarok - Modern adaptations, Ragnarok - Notes

Read more here: » Ragnarok: Encyclopedia II - Ragnarok - Aftermath

Odin will make straight for Fenrir; and Thor, right beside him, will be unable to help because Jörmungand, his old enemy, will at once attack him. Freyr will fight the fire giant Surt, but will become the first of all gods to lose as he has given his own good sword to his servant Skirnir. It will still be a long struggle though, before Freyr will succumb. Tyr will manage to kill Garm, but will be so severely wounded that he will only survive until after the world is destroyed in fire. Heimdall will encounter Loki, and neither survive the ev ...

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Ragnarok, Ragnarok - Prelude, Ragnarok - Portents, Ragnarok - The final battle, Ragnarok - Aftermath, Ragnarok - Modern adaptations, Ragnarok - Notes

Read more here: » Ragnarok: Encyclopedia II - Ragnarok - The final battle

Dragons of Slavic mythology hold mixed temperaments towards humans. For example, dragons in Bulgarian mythology are either male or female, each gender having a different view of mankind. The female dragon and male dragon, often seen as brother and sister, represent different forces of agriculture. The female dragon represents harsh weather and is the destroyer of crops, the hater of mankind, and is locked in a never ending battle with her brother. The male dragon protects the humans' crops from destruction and is generally loving to humanity ...

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European dragon, European dragon - Dragons in modern times, European dragon - Roman dragons, European dragon - Dragons in Slavic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Germanic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Catalan mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Italian mythology, European dragon - Dragons in fantasy fiction

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The most commonly accepted etymology of the name is ygg "terrible" + drasil "steed". Yggr is taken to be an epithet of Odin, giving a meaning of "Odin's steed", taken to refer to the nine nights Odin is said to have spent hanging from the tree in order find the runes. The gallows are sometimes described in Old Norse poetry as the "horse of the hanged." Another interpretation of the name is "terrible horse", i. e. the association with Odin may be secondary. A third interpretation, with etymological difficulties, is "yew-c ...

See also:

Yggdrasil, Yggdrasil - Etymology and alternative names, Yggdrasil - Yggdrasil in the Edda, Yggdrasil - Popular culture

Read more here: » Yggdrasil: Encyclopedia II - Yggdrasil - Etymology and alternative names

It it is theorized that western dragons have descended from Roman dragons. Roman dragons evolved from serpentine Greek ones, combined with the dragons of Persia, in the mix that characterized the hybrid Greek/Eastern Hellenistic culture. From Babylon, the "Dragon of Marduk" in molded glazed terracotta bricks that was part of the 6th century Gate of Ishtar has come to rest at The Detroit Institute of Arts. [1]. The later Babylonian dragon worshiped by the court of the Persian Cyrus the Great, in the Hebrew narrative in Bel and the DragonSee also:

European dragon, European dragon - Dragons in modern times, European dragon - Roman dragons, European dragon - Dragons in Slavic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Germanic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Catalan mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Italian mythology, European dragon - Dragons in fantasy fiction

Read more here: » European dragon: Encyclopedia II - European dragon - Roman dragons

The most commonly accepted etymology of the name is ygg "terrible" + drasil "steed". Yggr is taken to be an epithet of Odin, giving a meaning of "Odin's steed", taken to refer to the nine nights Odin is said to have spent hanging from the tree in order find the runes. The gallows are sometimes described in Old Norse poetry as the "horse of the hanged." Another interpretation of the name is "terrible horse", i. e. the association with Odin may be secondary. A third interpretation, with etymological difficulties, is "yew-c ...

See also:

Yggdrasil, Yggdrasil - Etymology and alternative names, Yggdrasil - Yggdrasil in the Edda

Read more here: » Yggdrasil: Encyclopedia II - Yggdrasil - Etymology and alternative names

Dragons are well-known in Catalan myths and legends, in no small part because St. George (Catalon Sant Jordi) is the patron saint of Catalonia. Like most dragons, the Catalan dragon (Catalan drac) is basically an enormous serpent with two legs, or rarely, four, and sometimes a pair of wings. As in many other parts of the world, the dragon's face may be like that of some other animal, such as a lion or bull. As is common elsewhere, Catalan dragons are fire-breathers, and the dragon-fire is all-consuming. Catalan dragons als ...

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European dragon, European dragon - Dragons in modern times, European dragon - Roman dragons, European dragon - Dragons in Slavic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Germanic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Catalan mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Italian mythology, European dragon - Dragons in fantasy fiction

Read more here: » European dragon: Encyclopedia II - European dragon - Dragons in Catalan mythology

The dragon of the modern period is typically depicted as a huge fire-breathing , scaly and horned dinosaur-like creature, with leathery wings, with four legs and a long muscular tail. It is sometimes shown with feathered wings, crests, fiery manes, and various exotic colorations. Iconically it has at last combined the Chinese dragon with the western one. Asian dragons are long serpent like creatures which possess the scales of a carp, horns of a deer, feet of an eagle, the body of a snake, a feathery mane, large eyes, and can be holding a pe ...

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European dragon, European dragon - Dragons in modern times, European dragon - Roman dragons, European dragon - Dragons in Slavic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Germanic mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Catalan mythology, European dragon - Dragons in Italian mythology, European dragon - Dragons in fantasy fiction

Read more here: » European dragon: Encyclopedia II - European dragon - Dragons in modern times

According to the Gylfaginning part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Níðhöggr is a being which gnaws one of the three roots of Yggdrasill. This root is placed over Niflheimr and Níðhöggr gnaws it from beneath. The same source also says that "[t]he squirrel called Ratatöskr runs up and down the length of the Ash, bearing envious words between the eagle and Nídhöggr" (Brodeur's translation). Snorri does not specify what kind of being Níðhöggr is. All he knew about him seems to come from two of the Eddic poems; ...

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Níðhöggr, Níðhöggr - Prose Edda, Níðhöggr - Poetic Edda, Níðhöggr - Níðhöggr's name, Níðhöggr - Popular culture

Read more here: » Níðhöggr: Encyclopedia II - Níðhöggr - Prose Edda