Creatures & Beasts
Fenrir, the World Serpent, eight-legged Sleipnir, and the beasts that live in the world-tree.
Fenrir
Monstrous wolfThe great wolf, son of Loki, bound by the gods with the dwarven ribbon Gleipnir at the cost of Týr's hand — fated to break free and devour Odin at Ragnarök.
Jörmungandr
The Midgard SerpentThe serpent so vast it circles the world beneath the sea, biting its own tail; Thor's destined enemy — each will kill the other at Ragnarök.
Sleipnir
Odin's eight-legged horseThe eight-legged grey horse of Odin, best of all horses, able to ride between the worlds of the living and the dead — foaled, strangely, by Loki.
Huginn and MuninnHuginn ok Muninn
Odin's ravensThought and Memory — the two ravens who fly across all the worlds each day and return to whisper what they have seen into Odin's ears.
Níðhöggr
Corpse-eating dragonThe dragon that gnaws the deepest root of Yggdrasil and chews the corpses of the worst of the dead — oath-breakers, murderers, and betrayers.
Ratatoskr
The squirrel of YggdrasilThe squirrel who runs up and down the world-tree Yggdrasil, ferrying insults between the eagle at its crown and the dragon Níðhöggr at its root.
Garmr
The hound of HelThe blood-chested hound bound before the cave Gnipahellir at the gates of Hel, whose howl announces Ragnarök; he and Týr slay each other.
Auðumbla
The primordial cowThe primeval cow formed from the melting ice of Ginnungagap, who fed the first giant Ymir and licked the ancestor of the gods out of the salty rime.
Sköll and HatiSköll ok Hati
The wolves that chase the sun and moonTwo wolves of the Ironwood brood who chase the sun and moon across the sky every day — and catch them at Ragnarök.
Geri and FrekiGeri ok Freki
Odin's wolves'Greedy' and 'Ravenous' — the two wolves who flank Odin's throne and eat all his food, since the Allfather lives on wine alone.
Gullinbursti
Freyr's golden boarThe dwarf-forged boar with bristles of living gold that shine in the dark, who runs through air and over sea faster than any horse.
Heiðrún
The mead-goat of ValhallaThe goat who stands on Valhalla's roof eating the tree Læraðr — and fills a vat with clear mead enough for every warrior, every day, forever.
Sæhrímnir
The ever-renewing boar of ValhallaThe boar cooked every day in Valhalla to feed the chosen slain — and whole again every evening, ready to be eaten forever.
Tanngrisnir and TanngnjóstrTanngrisnir ok Tanngnjóstr
Thor's chariot goats'Teeth-Barer' and 'Teeth-Grinder', the goats who pull Thor's chariot across the sky — and can be eaten at night and resurrected by hammer in the morning.
Svaðilfari
The wall-builder's stallionThe stallion who hauled stone so tirelessly that Asgard's wall nearly cost the gods the sun, the moon, and Freyja — until a mare with Loki's eyes trotted out of the woods.
Fáfnir
The dragon of the cursed goldThe dwarf's son who murdered his father for Andvari's cursed hoard and became a dragon guarding it on the Gnita-heath — slain from below by Sigurðr.
The Eagle of Yggdrasil
The unnamed eagle at the world-tree's crownThe wise, nameless eagle perched at the top of Yggdrasil, with the hawk Veðrfölnir sitting between its eyes — locked in an eternal insult-feud with the dragon below.
Brokkr and SindriBrokkr ok Sindri
Dwarves — forgers of MjölnirThe dwarf brothers who bet Loki his head that they could out-forge the sons of Ivaldi — and won with Mjölnir, Draupnir, and Gullinbursti.
The Sons of IvaldiÍvalda synir
Dwarves — forgers of the first treasuresThe dwarf brothers who forged Sif's golden hair, the spear Gungnir, and the folding ship Skíðblaðnir — the first half of the gods' armoury.
Andvari
Dwarf — owner of the cursed goldThe dwarf who lived as a pike beneath a waterfall, hoarding gold — until Loki netted him, stripped him of everything, and took the ring he cursed on the spot.
Fjalar and GalarFjalarr ok Galarr
Dwarves — murderers of KvasirThe dwarf brothers who murdered the wisest being alive and brewed his blood into the Mead of Poetry — then lost it all as blood-money for their next two murders.
Móðguðr
Guardian maiden of the Hel-road bridgeThe maiden who keeps the gold-roofed bridge over the river Gjöll on the road to Hel, asking every dead traveller their name and errand.
The DwarvesDvergar
The master-smiths under the earthBorn as maggots in Ymir's flesh and given wit by the gods, the dwarves forged every treasure the gods own — and turn to stone in sunlight.