Surtur
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In the Icelandic Eddas Surtur (Old Norse Surtr) is the leader of the fire giants in the south, the ruler of Muspel, the realm of fire. His name means "Swart" or Black, and at the end of the world, his hoards will rush north like a south wind to overwhelm the gods.
In Wagner's opera Götterdämmerung (1876), Surtur was married to Sinmore. She is, however, an invention of Wagner - and not found elsewhere in Norse Mythology. In Snorri Sturluson's Edda (1179-1241): "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.
The familiar version of this mythological holocaust is the last scene of Richard Wagner's opera 'Götterdämmerung' ('Twilight of the Gods').
Surtsey is a new volcanic island that surfaced off the south coast of Iceland in 1963. Its name in Icelandic means 'Surt's Island.'
In the final battle, Surtur 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."
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
Other names
- Surtr, Surt
External links
- Gimlé Gylfaginning text. (http://www.unishade.com/gylfaginning.html)da:Surt