Norse Mythology · giant

Surt

Surt
giantthe fire-giantthe end of the world

The fire-giant of Muspelheim, who wields the great flame-sword and will destroy the world at Ragnarök.

Freyr and Surt do battle at Ragnarök, by Frølich — Freyr and Surt do battle at Ragnarök
Freyr and Surt do battle at Ragnarök · Lorenz Frølich · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain
The account

Who they are

Surt is the fire-giant of Muspelheim, who wields a sword whose flame shines brighter than the sun [S1]S1 · Poetic Edda (Codex Regius)c. 1270 (preserves earlier oral poetry)textOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. At Ragnarök he marches against the gods, and he slays Freyr (who is unarmed, having given away his sword) [S1]S1 · Poetic Edda (Codex Regius)c. 1270 (preserves earlier oral poetry)textOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. Finally Surt hurls his flame over the whole world, destroying it [S1]S1 · Poetic Edda (Codex Regius)c. 1270 (preserves earlier oral poetry)textOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Worth knowing
  • The fire-giant of Muspelheim [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
  • His flame-sword shines brighter than the sun [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
  • Slays Freyr at Ragnarök, then burns the world [S1]S1 · Poetic Edda (Codex Regius)c. 1270 (preserves earlier oral poetry)textOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Relationships (3)

Connections

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDFreyr — Freyr will be slain by Surt at Ragnarök (having given away his sword).[S1] [S2]
KILLEDFreyr — Freyr will be slain by Surt at Ragnarök.[S1] [S2]
KILLEDFreyr — Surt will slay Freyr at Ragnarök.[S1] [S2]
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Their corner of the divine world

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NORSE · 40variantvariantvariant♥♥♥♥♥♥BrísingamenGjallarhornDraupnirGungnirSkíðblaðnirMjölnirAngerboagiantthe giantess mother of the monsters4 relationsAuðhumblacreaturethe primordial cow2 relationsBestlagiantthe giantess mother of the gods3 relationsBúrideitythe first god3 relationsFriggdeitymarriage2 relationsGerðrgiantthe giantess beloved of Freyr2 relationsGinnungagaprealmthe void2 relationsHöðrdeitythe blind brother of Baldr4 relationsHrungnirgiantthe giant of the iron head2 relationsJárnsaxa (Járnsaxa)giantthe giantess mother of Thor's sons2 relationsLokitrickstercunning11 relationsMuspel (fire)realmfire0 relationsNannadeitythe wife of Baldr3 relationsNiflheim (ice)realmice0 relationsNjorddeitythe sea3 relationsSídgiantthe giantess who bore Sleipnir (in one accou…2 relationsSifdeitythe wife of Thor2 relationsSkaðideitythe huntress1 relationsSurtgiantthe fire-giant3 relationsTýrdeitywar1 relationsYmirgiantthe primordial giant5 relationsBorrdeitythe ancestor of the gods4 relationsFenrirmonsterthe great wolf8 relationsFreyjadeitylove3 relationsFreyrdeityfertility7 relationsHeldeitythe dead3 relationsJörmungandrmonsterthe world-serpent4 relationsSleipnircreaturethe eight-legged horse of Odin2 relationsOdindeitywisdom15 relationsVédeityone of the three brothers who made the world5 relationsVilideityone of the three brothers who made the world5 relationsBaldrdeitylight10 relationsHeimdalldeitythe watchman3 relationsThordeitythunder10 relationsVálideitythe avenger of Baldr2 relationsVíðarrdeitysilence2 relationsFosite (Forsétir)deitypeace3 relationsMagnideitystrength3 relationsMóðideitystrength4 relationsUllrdeitythe archer1 relations
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Myths featuring Surt

1 story

Ragnarök (The Fate of the Gods)

At the end of the world, a great winter (the Fimbulwinter) precedes Ragnarök. The bonds break: Fenrir breaks free, Jörmungandr rises from the sea, and the ship Naglfar (built from the nails of the dead) sails with the hosts of the dead. Heimdall sounds the horn Gjallarhorn; the gods ride to the field of Vígríðr. In the great battle, Odin is swallowed by Fenrir (avenged by Víðarr), Thor slays Jörmungandr but dies of his venom, Freyr is slain by Surt (having given away his sword), and Heimdall and Loki kill each other. Surt's fire destroys the world; from the ashes, a new world rises [S1]S1 · Poetic Edda (Codex Regius)c. 1270 (preserves earlier oral poetry)textOpen source ↗[S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.

READ THE STORY →

Artworks

Depictions

Freyr and Surt do battle at Ragnarök, by Frølich — Freyr and Surt do battle at Ragnarök
Freyr and Surt do battle at Ragnarök · Lorenz Frølich · undated · Wikimedia Commons (institution in source file) · Public domain
Freyr and Surt do battle at Ragnarök · undated
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