Thor and Jörmungandr: The Eternal Rivalry That Ends in Ragnarök

Norse mythology is filled with epic battles, legendary heroes, and fearsome creatures, but few rivalries are as fated and intense as that of Thor, the god of thunder, and Jörmungandr, the world serpent. Their encounters throughout mythic history are marked by tension, foreshadowing, and an inevitable climax—the final battle at Ragnarök, where both meet their doom.

Jörmungandr, also known as the Midgard Serpent, is one of the monstrous offspring of Loki and the giantess Angrboda. Alongside his siblings—Fenrir, the great wolf, and Hel, the ruler of the underworld—Jörmungandr was feared by the gods. According to prophecy, these beings would bring great destruction upon the world. Odin, in an attempt to delay this fate, cast Jörmungandr into the ocean surrounding Midgard.

The serpent grew immensely, so much so that it encircled the entire world, grasping its own tail. This act, reminiscent of the Ouroboros symbol, represented both eternity and the impending doom that would one day unfold at Ragnarök.

Another notable encounter took place when Thor visited the realm of the giants in Gylfaginning. He was challenged to a series of impossible tests by the illusionist giant king, Utgarda-Loki. One of these tests required Thor to lift a seemingly ordinary cat off the ground.

Unbeknownst to him, this "cat" was actually Jörmungandr, disguised through Utgard-Loki’s magic. Try as he might, Thor could only manage to lift one of the serpent’s massive paws, much to the shock of the onlookers. Utgarda-Loki later revealed the deception, emphasizing that Thor’s mere attempt had shaken the foundation of the world. This was the first encounter between Thor and Jörmungandr, and although it seemed rather innocuous at the time, it sparked the god's deep hatred for the world serpent. 

[Read the full story here: Thor and the Tale of Utgarda-Loki]

Long before their final clash at Ragnarök, Thor and Jörmungandr crossed paths in a legendary encounter at sea—one that nearly changed the fate of the world.

One day, Thor found himself in the company of the giant Hymir, a formidable but wary figure who lived near the edge of the world. Thor, always eager for a challenge, convinced Hymir to take him out to sea on a fishing trip, eager to prove his strength. The giant, however, was reluctant. He knew what lurked beneath the waves—the great Midgard Serpent, whose size and power made even the bravest warriors tremble.

Still, Thor insisted, and so the two set sail, rowing far from the shore until the land was nothing more than a distant shadow. When they reached the deep waters, Hymir cast his line with the intent of catching whales, using small bait. But Thor had something far greater in mind. Unimpressed by Hymir’s meager bait, he reached for something far more fitting for a god’s quarry—a massive ox head, freshly severed, dripping with blood. With a grin, Thor skewered the bait onto his line and cast it into the abyss.

For a moment, all was still. Then, the water churned violently. A force unlike anything Thor had ever felt yanked the line, and the ocean itself seemed to rise in fury. The waves roared, the sky darkened, and then—out of the depths—came Jörmungandr. The monstrous serpent had taken the bait.

The sea foamed as the two ancient enemies locked in a battle of strength. Thor planted his feet firmly against the wooden planks of the boat, his muscles straining as he pulled with all his might. The serpent thrashed, its massive coils rising from the depths, its golden eyes burning with venomous hatred. The sheer force of its movements sent waves crashing in every direction, threatening to capsize the boat.

Then, in one mighty heave, Thor wrenched Jörmungandr to the surface. For the first time, the god and the serpent faced each other directly. Jörmungandr hissed, its massive fangs dripping with lethal venom, its body writhing with enough force to shatter mountains. Thor, unshaken, raised Mjölnir high above his head, ready to deliver a blow that would shatter the beast once and for all.

But just as Thor was about to strike, fate intervened. Hymir, overcome with terror, acted out of desperation. He feared that if the serpent died, its wrathful death throes would sink them both. In a moment of cowardice, the giant seized a knife and slashed Thor’s fishing line.

With a deafening roar, Jörmungandr plummeted back into the sea, disappearing beneath the waves. The ocean slowly calmed, and the sky cleared, but Thor stood there seething with rage, his hammer still raised, his enemy having slipped away. Though the battle had been interrupted, he knew their fight was not yet over.

As the boat drifted back toward shore, Thor remained silent, gripping Mjölnir tightly. He had faced the beast and nearly won, but destiny had other plans. Their true battle was still to come—at Ragnarök, where neither god nor serpent would walk away victorious.

Thor and Jörmungandr’s destiny was sealed long before their final battle. When Ragnarök—the end of days—begins, chaos consumes the world. The seas rise, the sky is torn asunder, and the great serpent emerges from the ocean, releasing its deadly venom into the air.

Thor, ever the champion of the gods, charges into battle wielding Mjölnir. The two clash in a cataclysmic struggle that shakes the very fabric of existence. With his unparalleled strength and divine fury, Thor delivers a crushing blow, finally slaying Jörmungandr.

But victory comes at a terrible cost. The serpent’s venom courses through Thor’s veins, and though he triumphs, he does not survive. Taking nine staggering steps, the god of thunder falls to his death, fulfilling the grim prophecy that had loomed over him since their first encounter.

With the deaths of both Thor and Jörmungandr, one of Norse mythology’s greatest rivalries comes to an end. Yet, Ragnarök is not just about destruction—it is about renewal. The old gods fall, but the world is reborn, paving the way for a new generation to rise.

The epic struggle between Thor and Jörmungandr is more than just a battle; it represents the eternal conflict between order and chaos, a cycle that repeats throughout time. Their story, told through the sagas, remains one of the most iconic and dramatic tales in Norse mythology.