Fenrir facts for kids
In Norse mythology, Fenrir (Old Norse: “he who dwells in the marshes”), also known as Fenrisúlfr (Old Norse: “Fenrir's wolf”), or Vanargand ("Monster of the River Van"), is a giant, monstrous wolf, son of Loki and the giantess Angrboða, and the brother of Hel and Jörmungandr.
Fenrir was tied up by the gods, but was destined to break free from his bonds and devour Odin during Ragnarök, afterwhich he is killed by Odin's son, Víðarr.
Fenrir is the father of the wolves Sköll and Hati Hróðvitnisson, is a son of Loki and is foretold to kill the god Odin during the events of Ragnarök, but will in turn be killed by Odin's son Víðarr.
The Legend of Fenrir
Odin found out about a prophecy that the children of Loki and Angora would cause trouble for the gods. He had Fenrir brought to him along with its brother Jörmungandr and its sister Hel.
After throwing Jörmungandr into the sea and sending Hel into the land of the dead, Odin had the wolf raised among the Æsir. Only the god Týr was brave enough to feed the growing monster. The wolf got stronger and stronger. The gods were scared that he would eventually destroy them. They tried to chain it up. He agreed to be chained two times. Both times he easily broke the chains.
Odin had the dwarfs make the chain Gleipnir ("deceiver" or "entangler"). It looked like a silken ribbon but was made of six magical ingredients: the sound of a cat's step, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, bear's sensibility, fish's breath, and bird's spittle.
The gods challenged Fenrir to break this chain as well. The wolf saw how thin and well made Gleipnir was and thought it was a trick. He agreed to try and break the chain, but only if one of the gods would put his hand in the wolf's mouth. He believed this would force them to free him if he could not break the chain. Only Týr was willing to put his hand in the wolf's mouth. Fenrir tried to break the chain. The more he tried, the tighter the chain held him. When the gods would not free him, the wolf bit off Týr's hand at the wrist.
It is said that at Ragnarök, the wolf will break free. He will join forces with the enemies of the gods and will then eat Odin. After that Viðarr, Odin's son, will slay the wolf to avenge his father's death.
Other names and spellings
- Fenrisúlfr
- Vanargand, (anglicized), "Monster of The River"
- Hróðvitnir, 'the famous wolf'
- Fenris Wolf (an English translation of Fenrisulfr)
- Fenrisulf (an Anglicized form)
- Fenris (not found in the Old Norse sources)
- Fenrisulven (modern Norwegian, Swedish and Danish form)pir
- Fenrisúlvur (Faroese)
Images for kids
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Fenrir and Naglfar on the Tullstorp Runestone. The inscription mentions the name Ulfr ("wolf"), and the name Kleppir/Glippir. The last name is not fully understood, but may have represented Glæipiʀ which is similar to Gleipnir which was the rope with which the Fenrir wolf was bound. The two male names may have inspired the theme depicted on the runestone.
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Bound of Fenrir. Dorothy Hearthy (1909).
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A 17th-century manuscript illustration of the bound Fenrir, the river Ván flowing from his jaws
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Thorwald's Cross at Kirk Andreas, Isle of Man
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Fenrir and Odin (1895) by Lorenz Frølich
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Loki's Brood (1905) by Emil Doepler
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"The Binding of Fenrir" (1908) by George Wright
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"Odin and Fenriswolf, Freyr and Surt" (1905) by Emil Doepler
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Fenrir (1874) by A. Fleming
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Fenrir bites off the hand of a sword-wielding Týr in an illustration on an 18th-century Icelandic manuscript
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