Fenrir
The great wolf among Loki's children, bound with Gleipnir under divine fear and prophecy.
Overview
Fenrir is Loki and Angrboda's wolf-child and one of the earliest signs of doom the gods must face directly. Gylfaginning 34 says the Aesir raise him among themselves, that only Tyr dares feed him, that he grows daily, and that prophecy marks him as a danger to the gods. His binding is therefore more than a strength contest; it is a crisis of fear, fame, pledge, artifact and future destiny.
Key facts
Raised among the gods
Chapter 34 says the Aesir bring the wolf home and raise him there, with Tyr alone daring to feed him.
Further spoiler details are available in the interactive atlas.
Relationships
- Lokifather of
Gylfaginning 34 lists Fenrir among the children of Loki and Angrboda.
- Angrbodamother of
Chapter 34 says Angrboda bears Fenrir with Loki.
- Odinbrings before the gods
Odin has Loki's children brought before him because prophecy and fear mark the kindred as dangerous.
- Tyrfeeds
As Fenrir grows among the gods, Tyr alone dares to approach and feed him.
- Binding of Fenrirbreaks Laedingr
Fenrir lets the gods place the first iron fetter, Laedingr, on him and breaks it by force.
- Binding of Fenrirbreaks Dromi
Fenrir accepts the stronger second fetter, Dromi, and still breaks it apart.
- Gleipnirbinds
Gleipnir tightens as Fenrir struggles and finally binds him effectively.
- Tyrpledges hand to
Fenrir demands a hand in his mouth as pledge, and Tyr gives his right hand.
- Tyrbites off hand
When the gods do not free Fenrir, he bites off the hand Tyr placed in his mouth.
- Ragnarokremains until
The binding does not erase prophecy; Fenrir remains fastened until Ragnarok.
- Ragnarokbreaks free
When all fetters break, Fenrir gets free and the earlier delay ends.
- Odinfights
Odin fights Fenrir.
- Odinswallows
Fenrir swallows Odin, turning prophecy into battle outcome.
- Vidarslays in vengeance
Vidar sets his foot on Fenrir’s lower jaw and tears the wolf’s mouth apart, avenging Odin.
- Vidar Avenges Odingathers the vengeance
The event Vidar Avenges Odin gathers the response after Fenrir swallows Odin.
- Laedingrtries to bind
Laedingr is the first restraint the gods place on Fenrir, but Fenrir breaks it.
- Dromitries again to bind
Dromi is stronger than Laedingr, yet still cannot bind Fenrir.
- Sword in Fenrir's Mouthprops open the jaws
The gods set a sword in Fenrir’s mouth, forcing the wolf’s jaws open.
- River Vanslaver forms river
The slaver running from Fenrir’s mouth forms River Van.
Story appearances
- Binding of FenrirWolf defined by prophecy, fear and binding
Fenrir moves from prophetic danger to visible force, breaks ordinary fetters, and is finally held by the seemingly soft Gleipnir.
- RagnarokFreed wolf who swallows Odin
Fenrir gets free when bonds break, then swallows Odin and is killed by Vidar.
- Oaths, Treasures and Giant AftershocksBound threat
Fenrir leaves traces of pain through the named restraints, sword and River Van.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 34, the gods taking Loki's children, Fenrir's growth and Tyr feeding him
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 34, Gleipnir tightening, Gelgja, Gjoll, Thviti, the sword and river Van
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 51, sun and moon swallowed, stars vanish, earth shakes, fetters break, Fenrir is freed and Jormungandr comes ashore
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 51, Odin and Fenrir, Vidar’s vengeance, Thor and Jormungandr, Freyr and Surtr, Tyr and Garm, Loki and Heimdall
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 34, Fenrir remaining until Ragnarok and the prophecy that he will be Odin's bane