Sent in by CHARLESWith an analysis of the Ural-Altaic Language group and the Myths and Folklore it contains, we can see the emergence of an ancient Mythology that predates the so-called Chaldean Language (which was only a regional language). The Brothers Grimm, and Grimm's Fairy Tales have much to teach us about Bible Myths.
Rag-na-rok: ('rag-nuh-rahk) n. The Doom of the Gods, another name for it is Götterdämmerung, meaning the end of the cosmos in Norse mythology. Following this "Apocalypse of the Gods" would be Fimbulvetr, the winter to end all winters. Three of these harsh winters will follow with no signs of ending, no summers! Fights and arguments will break out, even between families, and all morals will disappear. 'Tis the beginning of the end.'
The wolf Skoll will finally swallow the sun, and his brother Hati will, in turn, devour the moon leaving the world in utter darkness.
All stars will vanish from the sky, the cock Fjalar will crow to the giants and the golden cock, Gullinkambi, will crow to the Gods. The third cock, Unknown, will raise the dead.
Earthquakes will ravage the Earth, every single fetter and chain shall shatter, loosing such terrible creatures as Fenrir the wolf.
The sea shall explode with rage, for the great sea serpent, Jormungand, will be twisting and coiling in fury, preparing for his journey to mainland. Every exhalation of his rancid and putrid breath will taint the sky and soil around him, never to be grown in again. The waves caused by Jormungand's unprecedented arising will set free the ship Naglfar, and with the giant Hymir as their leader they shall all sail towards the battlefield. From the depths of Hell, another ship will set sail carrying the dead with Loki as their commander. The fire giants, led by the giant Surt, will leave Muspell in the south to join the battle against the Gods. Surt carries a sword that burns like the sun itself and it will scorch the earth.
Heimdall will blow his horn calling Odins sons and heroes to the battlefield and from all parts of the world gods, giants, dwarves, demons and elves will ride towards the huge plain of Vigrid ("battle shaker") where the final and deciding battle shall be fought. Odin himself will seek to destroy Fenrir while Thor engages Jormungand. Thor shall be victorious but the evil snake's poison will eventually kill Thor the righteous Thunder God. Surt will demolish the swordless Freyr. The one-handed Tyr will encounter the brutish hound Garm, and they will slaughter each other. Loki and Heimdall, age-old enemies, will meet for a final time, and they will both butcher each other. Going back to the battle between Odin and Fenrir, Odin will exhaust while Fenrir is still going strong and finally the dreadful Fenrir will strike Odin down and swallow him whole! Odin's son Vidar will at once lunge at Fenrir and with such wrath that he will kill him with his bare hands, ripping the wolf's jaws apart.
Then Surt will sling fire in every direction. All nine worlds will burn, friends and foes will perish alike and the earth will sink into the sea.
After the destruction, a new picturesque world will arise from the sea and the new world will be filled with copious supplies. Some of the Gods will survive, some won't and some will be reborn. This new world has no woe or suffering. The descendants of Lif and Liftrasir will inhabit this earth.
Ragnarök does not mean "Twilight of the Gods": that phrase is the result of a famous mistranslation. "Ragnarökr" or "Ragnarøkr" means "doom of the powers" or "destruction of the powers" (where "powers" means "gods").
Tyr = JHVH (War God)
Odin = elohim (Creator God)
and so forth
Cheers,
Chas
from
PRACTICAL MAGIC IN THE NORTHERN TRADITION
GUEST ARTICLES
