Event

Binding of Fenrir

The gods bind Fenrir with Gleipnir; Tyr loses his hand and Fenrir remains fastened until Ragnarok.

MythWeave AI-generated editorial illustration, Norse portrait v1 full approved batch

Overview

The Binding of Fenrir is a scene where divine fear tries to manage prophecy through a binding oath. The gods test the wolf with two iron fetters, fail, and then obtain Gleipnir. Fenrir senses deceit and demands that someone place a hand in his mouth as pledge. Tyr accepts the pledge; once Gleipnir tightens and the gods do not free Fenrir, Tyr loses his hand, and the wolf is fastened, gagged and left until Ragnarok.

Key facts

Three binding attempts

Chapter 34 sequences Laedingr, Dromi and Gleipnir so that a test of strength turns into craft and pledge.

Further spoiler details are available in the interactive atlas.

Relationships

Fenrirbreaks Laedingr
Fenrir lets the gods place the first iron fetter, Laedingr, on him and breaks it by force.
Fenrirbreaks Dromi
Fenrir accepts the stronger second fetter, Dromi, and still breaks it apart.
Amsvartnir and Lyngvitakes place at
The gods take Fenrir to Lyngvi in Lake Amsvartnir, where the trial and binding with Gleipnir take place.

Story appearances

Binding of FenrirEvent that gathers the trials into one decision
The binding is not one action, but a sequence made from two failures, Gleipnir's making, Tyr's pledge and the final fastening.
Oaths, Treasures and Giant AftershocksBinding scene
Fenrir’s binding becomes a scene where artifacts and place-names gather.

Ancient sources

MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.

Open in the interactive atlas →