There is a fish not yet mentioned which it is scarcely advisable to speak about on account of its size, which to most men will seem incredible. 1250), after spending time discussing tens of different whales and how to hunt them: Thanks so much for reading.From "Konungs skuggsjá" (Norway, ca. For just $2 a month, you can read lengthier articles and help me to increase the quantity and quality of my articles. You can like, comment and share my posts, or you can do it directly by subscribing to my Patreon page. If you find my work valuable, there are many ways you can support it. Hafgufa was the mother of all sea monsters and fed on whales, ships, men, and anything it could catch. It is described as a massive fish that looked more like an island than like a living thing. Hafgufa is a colossal sea monster that is said to live deep underwater, off the coast of Greenland. It is said that the story of Moby Dick was inspired by the legend of Lyngbakr.ġ2. According to the myths, he could swallow entire ships whole. Lyngbakr is the largest whale in the seven seas, whose monstrous size has made him a legend of nautical folklore. When Garmr lets out his blood-curdling howl, Surtr will lead the sons of “Múspell” (fire giants) into the field of Vígríðr where they will make battle with the Aesir.ġ1. Surtr is a primordial giant from Norse mythology, who rules over the fiery realm Múspell. His arch enemy is Thor, the god of thunder.ġ0. He is so enormous that his body forms a circle around the entirety of Middle Earth. Jörmungandr (also known as the Midgard Serpent), lives in the ocean that surrounds Midgard. She is described as half blue and half flesh-coloured with a gloomy countenance.ĩ. Hel is a giantess who presides over the realm of the dead in Nifelheim, where she receives a portion of the dead who have died of sickness or old age. By chewing at the roots of the Yggdrasil, Níðhöggr hopes to destroy the world tree, returning the world to chaos.Ĩ. He is called the “devourer” for he constantly gnaws on the roots of Yggdrasil. Níðhöggr is a primordial dragon who dwells beneath the world-tree Yggdrasil. It is foretold that Garmr will remain in his cave until Ragnarök, at which time he will herald in the end of days with a chilling howl before breaking free of his bonds.ħ. Garmr is a blood-stained dog who guards the gates of Hel (the realm of the dead). It was prophecised that Fenrir would grow to a monstrous size and kill the god Odin during Ragnarök, so the gods bound him in order to prevent him from wreaking havoc throughout the Nine Worlds.Ħ. Fenrir is the most infamous wolf in Norse mythology. These undead beings possessed superhuman strength, could increase their size at will and carried the stench of decay.ĥ. The Draugr are undead people known as revenants or “again walkers”. It lives at the bottom of the sea and surfaces in search of food or when disturbed by a large ship.Ĥ. It is generally described as an octopus, squid or in some cases a giant crab. The Kraken is a legendary sea monster said to be a mile long. Sköll chases the Sun (personified as the goddess Sól), while Hati chases the Moon (personified as the god Máni).ģ. Sköll and Hati are two monstrous wolves who pursue the sun and the moon in the hope of devouring them. Eventually, the curse turned Fáfnir into a gruesome dragon. Consumed by greed, he slew his father in order to attain his treasure. Fáfnir, son of the dwarf king Hreidmar, was cursed by his father’s treasure. They are often linked to an event called Ragnarök, which will bring about an end of days as the great tree Yggdrasil is consumed by chaos and fire.ġ. The monsters of Norse mythology may not number as high as the ones found in the Greek or Hindu legends, but what they lack in number, they more than make up for in sheer size.
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