Surtr

:"For the moon of Saturn named after Surtr, see Surtur (moon)."In Norse mythology, Surtr (Old Norse "black"Orchard (1997:154).] ) is the leader of the fire jötunn in the south, the ruler of Muspelheim, the realm of fire. At Ragnarök, his hordes will rush north like a south wind to overwhelm the gods.

Attestations

"Poetic Edda"

At the end of the gods and the world, as it is said in "Völuspá"::Surtur from the south:wielding fire:The gods' swords shine in the darkness,:like stars in the night:Mountains collapse into rubble:And fiends shall fall:Man walks the road to ruin:as the sky splits in two

"Prose Edda"

In Snorri Sturluson's "Prose Edda" "Surtur is the one so named who stands on Múspell's border, guarding the land. His sword is flaming and as the world ends he will go out, make war against and triumph over the gods. And he will burn the whole world with fire" ("Gimlé Gylfaginning", iv). Only Hodmimir's Forest will remain, because that is the only thing his sword can not destroy. He will kill the unarmed god Freyr as well.

In the final battle, Surtr and his Fire-Giants burst forth: "In Surtur's grasp the Sword of Revenge blazes, adding a blood red colour to the twilight of the whole world."

Toponyms

Surtsey is a new volcanic island that surfaced off the south coast of Iceland in 1963. Its name in Icelandic means "Surtur's Island."

Notes

References

*Orchard, Andy (1997). "Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend". Cassell. ISBN 0 304 34520 2