Norse mythology is filled with beings whose stories stretch far beyond the human world: a wolf strong enough to threaten Odin, a serpent encircling the earth, and figures who shape the course of life and battle.
This guide explores Fenrir, Jörmungandr, the Norns, and the Valkyries from Norse mythology, alongside the Kraken of later Nordic maritime folklore.
1. Fenrir: The Wolf Bound Until Ragnarök
Fenrir is the giant wolf born to Loki and the giantess Angrboða. Raised among the gods, he grows so powerful that they fear what he will become. Tyr alone is brave enough to approach and feed him.
The gods try to bind Fenrir, but he breaks their first two restraints. They then turn to the dwarfs, who create Gleipnir: a seemingly delicate binding made from impossible ingredients, including the sound of a cat's footsteps and the roots of a mountain.
Suspicious of the challenge, Fenrir demands a pledge of good faith. Tyr places his hand in the wolf's mouth. When the gods refuse to release Fenrir, the wolf bites it off. Fenrir remains bound until Ragnarök, when he breaks free and kills Odin before being killed by Odin's son Víðarr.
Fenrir Ring, Sterling Silver: The Wolf in Detailed Silverwork
The Fenrir Ring, Sterling Silver brings the giant wolf into a handmade 925 sterling silver design. Its detailed depiction of Fenrir gives readers drawn to the legend an alternative to a pendant: a substantial ring that keeps the mythological subject at the centre of the piece.
For those interested in Fenrir's story, the ring offers a personal connection to the wolf's imagery through carefully worked silver.
2. Jörmungandr: The Serpent Around the World
Jörmungandr, also called the Midgard Serpent or World Serpent, is another child of Loki and Angrboða. Cast into the sea by Odin, the serpent grows until it encircles the human world and grasps its own tail.
Thor is the serpent's great opponent. In one famous episode, he encounters it during a fishing expedition. Their final confrontation comes at Ragnarök: Thor kills Jörmungandr, but walks only nine steps before falling to its venom.
Large Jormungandr Thor’s Hammer Pendant: Two Rivals in One Design
The Large Jormungandr Thor’s Hammer Pendant, 925 Sterling Silver brings Thor's hammer and the Midgard Serpent together in a substantial, double-sided design. Crafted from solid 925 sterling silver and weighing 49 g, it combines Jörmungandr motifs with intricate Norse knotwork.
For readers drawn to the confrontation between Thor and the World Serpent, the pendant brings both mythological subjects into one bold piece of silverwork.
3. The Kraken: A Legend of the Nordic Seas
The Kraken is an immense sea creature of later Nordic maritime folklore, associated with the danger of the open sea and stories of ships threatened by something vast beneath the surface.
Descriptions of enormous marine beings changed as sailors' accounts, natural history, and imaginative retellings circulated. The familiar image of a gigantic tentacled creature belongs to that evolving tradition.
Modern novels, films, and games have carried the Kraken into new settings, making it one of the most recognisable sea monsters in popular culture.
4. The Norns: Beings Who Shape Fate
The Norns are supernatural female beings associated with fate. The best-known names are Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld, figures connected with the well beneath Yggdrasil, the World Tree.
In the Prose Edda, the three emerge from a hall beside the well and determine the course of human lives. The text also describes other Norns, with origins among the gods, elves, and dwarfs.
Their names are often associated with past, present, and future. Threads and weaving have become familiar images of their connection with fate in artistic representations.
5. The Valkyries: Choosers of the Slain
The Valkyries are female figures associated with battle, Odin, and the choosing of the slain. They appear in both mythological and heroic traditions, where their actions connect the battlefield with the destiny of individual warriors.
They are linked with bringing chosen warriors to Valhalla and serving drink there. The wider tradition also connects Freyja with a share of the slain.
Modern illustrations often portray Valkyries as mounted warriors, with different artists giving their clothing, armour, and appearance individual interpretations.
Beings of Myth and Folklore
Fenrir and Jörmungandr appear in the stories of Ragnarök; the Norns are associated with fate; and the Valkyries with battle and the fallen. The Kraken belongs to the later maritime legends of the Nordic seas.
These figures continue to appear in literature, visual art, and modern design, carrying their stories to new audiences.