The Midgard Serpent, also called Jormungandr, was one of the most terrifying monsters in Norse mythology. According to the legend, it was one of Loki’s children. When the gods saw how dangerous it was even as a baby, Odin threw it into the deep ocean that surrounded the human world.
Down in the cold sea, the serpent kept growing. And growing. According to the legend, it grew so enormous that it eventually wrapped all the way around the entire world. It bit down on its own tail to hold itself in a giant ring. Vikings believed the sea was so vast because of how big the snake’s coils were.
Thor and the Midgard Serpent hated each other. The myths say they fought twice. The first time, Thor caught the snake on a fishing line. The second time would be during Ragnarök, when the serpent would finally let go of its tail and rise up. Thor would defeat it, but die from its venom right afterward.
