The Fenrir Wolf. Modern drawing. From open access.
In accordance with Norse mythology, both this world and its neighboring realms are destined for Ragnarok—a northern variant of the Apocalypse. This final battle will see the triumph of evil over good, and the world will freeze in eternal ice. The Scandinavians, accustomed to limited sunlight and vitamins, have embraced these apocalyptic predictions. In certain versions of the Ragnarok tales, there's mention of the world's eventual rebirth. A handful of survivors will repopulate the Earth, though the timing remains uncertain.
Ragnarok will bring forth a series of intriguing events.
Emerging from the depths of the netherworld will be Naglfar, a ship constructed from the nails of the deceased. Onboard, frost giants—antagonists of the Aesir gods—will arrive, ready to engage in battle.
Rising from the obscurity of ocean abysses, Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent, will ascend. Its solemn duty will be to submerge the human realm, engulfing it in monumental waves.
"And so it begins with the liberation of the colossal wolf Fenrir. Fenrir was born of the god of deceit, Loki, with the sole purpose of annihilating the gods - known as the Aesir to the Scandinavians. In Fenrir, the gods' destruction is foretold. However, during his initial outbreak, Fenrir couldn't fully unleash his fury; he merely bit off the hand of Tyr, the god of courage, when the Aesir craftily bound the mighty wolf with the magical Gleipnir chain.”
"Visually, the Gleipnir chain appears soft and thin. However, its strength is sufficient to restrain the monster, whose mouth was also pierced with a sword - the wound still bleeds to this day, and from this blood and Fenrir's saliva, an entire river was born. This river is called the Milky Way. Fenrir is definitely no small wolf."
When Fenrir is ultimately unbound, his progeny, Skoll and Hati, will consume the Sun and Moon. Additionally, Fenrir himself will vanquish Odin, the chief Aesir god, ultimately sealing the gods' demise in Ragnarok.
Can Fenrir be set free? You be the judge. The Gleipnir chain is crafted from remarkably sturdy and notably rare materials. It consists of:
1. A woman's beard
2. Fish voices,
3. Fish breathing,
4. Bird saliva
5, The sound of cat footsteps
6. Bear nerves.
At first glance, these elements may appear exotic:
Naglfar. Modern drawing. From open access.
1. Bearded women are familiar to both science and society. Vivian Wheeler, a U.S. citizen, is documented in the Guinness World Records with a 28 cm beard. Vivian suffers from the rare genetic condition hypertrichosis, which leads to an unexpectedly abundant growth of hair.
2. Not all fish remain mute or breathe solely through gills. The fish referred to as the "snakehead" or "mudfish" can breathe through its skin, although this process seems to displease it, as a pulled-out snakehead emits discontented squeaks. It breathes through its skin and squeaks.
3. Salivary glands exist in all birds, yet they are particularly developed in crows. However, in parrots, these glands are underdeveloped.
4. In ancient Scandinavia, things might have been different, but in modern times, cats not only stroll but also tread heavily, especially in the mornings—a fact well known to all cat owners.
5. Bear nerves... One way or another, based on our knowledge of human encounters with bears, this animal's nerves are intact. It's best not to mess with them unless one's intention is to shatter the Gleipnir chain.
Johannes Gehrts . Ragnarok. Illustration of the 19th century / Alamy
References
Snorri Sturluson's "Prose Edda," "Lenand," 2022.