THE VIKING PROPHECY (VI), THE POEM VÖLUSPÁ (EDDA)

After describing the homes of the frightening enemies of the gods, not only giants and dwarves but also the wicked dead from Hel's realm Nastrond (corpse-strand), the völva warns of another sign of destruction, the stealing of the moon. It would not be wrong to understand this as an eclipse.

The final battle is announced by the two apocalyptic roosters: Fjalar and Gollinkambi. Perhaps one of the ultimate signs of the impending doom would be the escape of Fenrir the wolf, the one kept in chains by the sacrifice of the god Tyr, who willingly let him bite off his hand.

Dark times will come, wind-age, wolf-age / soon the world shall fall / not even men / shall spare each other. Odin, no matter how much wisdom he has gathered, will still be slain by Fenrir. Yggdrasil is shaking.

The name ragna røk, Ragnarök, used to describe this major event, can be translated as the fate of the gods and is found in stanza 50. Other elements of chaos include Hrym, the leader of the giants, the sea-serpent encircling the world, Midgardsorm, and the terrifying ship made of dead men's nails, Naglfar.

The giant Surt brings fire from the south and fights the god of prosperity Freyr, whereas Odin fulfills his fate in front of his misfortunate wife Frigg. Thor, son of Odin and the earth, is also destined to fall in this great battle, against the sea-serpent that will kill him with its venomous breath.

The apocalypse gains momentum after the episode involving the most popular of the gods, as the sun turns black / the earth sinks in the sea / hot stars are whirled down / from heaven.

 

Leika Míms synir, en mjötuðr kyndisk
at inu galla Gjallarhorni;
hátt blæss Heimdallr, horn er á lofti,
mælir Óðinn við Míms höfuð.

Skelfr Yggdrasils askr standandi,
ymr it aldna tré, en jötunn losnar;
hræðask allir á helvegum
áðr Surtar þann sefi of gleypir.

Hvat er með ásum? Hvat er með alfum?
Gnýr allr Jötunheimr, æsir ro á þingi,
stynja dvergar fyr steindurum,
veggbergs vísir. Vituð ér enn - eða hvat?

Geyr nú Garmr mjök fyr Gnipahelli,
festr mun slitna en freki renna;
fjölð veit ek fræða, fram sé ek lengra
um ragna rök römm sigtíva.

Hrymr ekr austan, hefisk lind fyrir,
snýsk Jörmungandr í jötunmóði;
ormr knýr unnir, en ari hlakkar,
slítr nái niðfölr, Naglfar losnar. 

Kjóll ferr austan, koma munu Múspells
of lög lýðir, en Loki stýrir;
fara fíflmegir með freka allir,
þeim er bróðir Býleists í för.

Surtr ferr sunnan með sviga lævi,
skínn af sverði sól valtíva;
grjótbjörg gnata, en gífr rata,
troða halir helveg, en himinn klofnar.

Þá kemr Hlínar harmr annarr fram,
er Óðinn ferr við ulf vega,
en bani Belja bjartr at Surti;
þá mun Friggjar falla angan.

Geyr nú Garmr mjök fyr Gnipahelli,
festr mun slitna, en freki renna;
fjölð veit ek fræða, fram sé ek lengra
um ragna rök römm sigtíva

Þá kemr inn mikli mögr Sigföður,
Víðarr, vega at valdýri.
Lætr hann megi Hveðrungs mundum standa
hjör til hjarta, þá er hefnt föður.

Fast move the sons, of Mim, and fate
Is heard in the note, of the Gjallarhorn;
Loud blows Heimdall, the horn is aloft,
In fear quake all, who on Hel-roads are.

Yggdrasil shakes, and shiver on high
The ancient limbs, and the giant is loose;
To the head of Mim, does Othin give heed,
But the kinsman of Surt, shall slay him soon.

How fare the gods? How fare the elves?
All Jotunheim groans, the gods are at council;
Loud roar the dwarfs, by the doors of stone,
The masters of the rocks: would you know yet more?

Now Garm howls loud, before Gnipahellir,
The fetters will burst, and the wolf run free
Much do I know, and more can see
Of the fate of the gods, the mighty in fight.

From the east comes Hrym, with shield held high;
In giant-wrath, does the serpent writhe;
O'er the waves he twists, and the tawny eagle
Gnaws corpses screaming; Naglfar is loose. 

O'er the sea from the east, there sails a ship
With the people of Muspell, at the helm stands Loki;
After the wolf, do wild men follow,
And with them the brother, of Byleist goes.

Surt fares from the south, with the scourge of branches,
The sun of the battle-gods, shone from his sword;
The crags are sundered, the giant-women sink,
The dead throng Hel-way, and heaven is cloven.

Now comes to Hlin, yet another hurt,
When Othin fares, to fight with the wolf,
And Beli's fair slayer, seeks out Surt,
For there must fall, the joy of Frigg.

Then comes Sigfather's, mighty son,
Vithar, to fight, with the foaming wolf;
In the giant's son, does he thrust his sword
Full to the heart: his father is avenged.

Hither there comes, the son of Hlothyn,
The bright snake gapes, to heaven above;
Against the serpent, goes Othin's son.

 

 

 Gygrefuggel

Gav meg vingar
Kvite korpa
Gav meg sjon
Galdrekråka
Gav meg songen
Kvite vingar
Fylgjer meg

Spirit-bird
Gave me wings
White raven
Gave me foresight
Chanting-crow
Gave me the song
White wings
Follows me

Wardruna