Does any god survive Ragnarok?

Does Any God Survive Ragnarök?

Ragnarök, the end of the world and twilight of the gods, is a catastrophic event in Norse mythology. It is a series of impending events that will lead to the destruction of the cosmos and the downfall of the gods. But do any gods survive this apocalyptic event? In this article, we will explore the answer to this question and delve into the details of Ragnarök.

The Gods of Ragnarök

Before we dive into the question of whether any gods survive Ragnarök, let’s take a look at the gods involved in this event. The primary gods of Ragnarök are the Æsir, a group of gods and goddesses who inhabit Asgard, the realm of the gods. The Æsir include Odin, the All-Father and king of the gods; Thor, the god of thunder; Freyja, the goddess of love and beauty; and many others.

The Events of Ragnarök

Ragnarök is a series of events that will unfold over a period of three days. The first day will see the fire giant Surtur emerge from the south and ignite the world with fire. The second day will see the Midgard Serpent, Jörmungandr, rise from the ocean and wreak havoc on the world. The third and final day will see the final battle between the gods and the giants, known as the Æsir-Giant War.

The Fates of the Gods

So, do any gods survive Ragnarök? The answer is yes, but not without significant losses. According to the Poetic Edda, a medieval Icelandic manuscript of Old Norse poetry, the following gods will survive Ragnarök:

• Hoenir: The god of wisdom and wit will survive Ragnarök, but not without being blinded by the giant Þiazi.
• Magni: The son of Thor and the god of strength will survive Ragnarök and inherit his father’s hammer, Mjolnir.
• Modi: The son of Thor and the god of war will survive Ragnarök and fight alongside his brother Magni.
• Njord: The god of the sea and the father of Freyja and Freyr will survive Ragnarök.
• Vidar: The god of silence and the son of Odin will survive Ragnarök, but not without being injured in the battle.
• Vali: The god of archery and the son of Odin will survive Ragnarök and kill the god of fire, Surtur.
• Baldur: The god of light and purity will be resurrected after being killed by the giant Þiazi.

The Fates of the Goddesses

The goddesses of Ragnarök fare slightly better than the gods. According to the Poetic Edda, the following goddesses will survive Ragnarök:

• Freyja: The goddess of love and beauty will survive Ragnarök and lose her necklace, Brisingamen, which holds the power to bring her lovers back from the dead.
• Sif: The goddess of fertility and the wife of Thor will survive Ragnarök, but not without being shorn of her golden hair by the god Loki.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while many gods and goddesses will fall in the battle of Ragnarök, a select few will survive to inherit the new world. The survivors will include Hoenir, Magni, Modi, Njord, Vidar, Vali, Baldur, Freyja, and Sif. These gods and goddesses will play a crucial role in the rebuilding of the world and the establishment of a new order.

Table: The Gods and Goddesses of Ragnarök

Bibliography

• The Poetic Edda. Translated by Henry Adams Bellows. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1926.
• The Prose Edda. Translated by Andrew Cauthery. London: Penguin Books, 2005.
• The Vikings: A Very Short Introduction. By Julian D. Richards. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.