Surtr

Overview

Surtr is the central fire figure in Ragnarok. Chapter 51 has him come from the south, his sword brighter than the sun, and after battle he casts fire over the earth and burns the world. Voluspo also drives the doom scene through southern fire and Surtr.

Relationships

• Muspellcomes from southern fire

  Surtr is linked with Muspell’s fire and enters doom from the south.

• Freyrfells

  Freyr fights Surtr and falls.

• Ragnarokburns the world

  After the battle, Surtr burns the world with fire.

Story appearances

• RagnarokFire figure who burns the world

  Surtr comes from the south, fells Freyr and finally burns the world.

Ancient sources

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

• Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 51, Naglfar, Hrym, Loki, Surtr, Muspell’s sons, Bifrost breaking and Vigrid
• 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 51, Surtr casts fire over the earth and burns the world
• Anonymous, Poetic Edda, Voluspo, Bellows stanzas 40-58, wolves, Garm, Gjallarhorn, Yggdrasil, Hrym, Naglfar, Loki, Surtr, Odin and Fenrir, Vidar, Thor and Jormungandr