Thor and the Midgard Serpent (Illustration by Robert B, Chew)
The last time I read about the Midgard Serpent, the giant sea serpent from the Viking lore, it was in the legend of Thor's reception in Utgarda's castle. Back then, after being humiliated by the magician giant, Thor swore to take his vengeance on the serpent, since it was the only one who could be easily found - Utgarda disappeared, and the ocean and the Old Age can not be beaten. So, their second encounter went like this...
"Travelling in the guise of a youth, Thor stayed the night with a giant called Hymir who lived by the sea. In the morning when Hymir was preparing to go fishing, Thor asked if he could go too. The giant agreed, but reluctantly as he said could see little advantage in having such a stripling in his boat. And when Thor asked what sort of bait he should bring, Hymir replied offhandedly that he should go and find his own bait. So Thor went over to the largest of the giant's bulls nearby, wrenched off its head and tossed it casually into the bottom of the boat. Then he took the oars and started rowing vigorously out to sea. Despite himself, Hymir was impressed, and somewhat afraid. When they reached the spot where he usually fished, Hymir told Thor to stop rowing. But Thor ignored him and carried on out towards the edge of the world. Then Hymir pleaded with him to stop because if they went much further they might meet the Midgard Serpent. Ignoring him again, Thor rowed on till he felt sure that they would find the serpent. Then he fixed the bull's head to a great hook on a strong line and dropped it over the side.
By chance the Midgard Serpent happened to be passing and took the dainty morsel into its mouth. But when it felt the hook it jerked so hard that Thor was dragged to the gunwale. Summoning all his strength, he pulled back with such might that his feet burst through the bottom of the boat. Then followed a furious battle as slowly Thor hauled up the serpent till they were eye to glaring eye with each other, and it seemed as if a thunderstorm was raging between them.
The giant was terrified by both the serpent and the water rushing into the boat, and as Thor raised his hammer to end the struggle, Hymir quickly reached across and cut the line. The serpent slithered gratefully back into the deep water. Thor desperately threw his hammer after it but was too late to prevent its escape. In fury Thor turned and dealt such a blow to Hymir that the giant fell overboard and was drowned.
Thereafter the Midgard Serpent, terrified by her close shave, took care to hide in the depths where Thor might not find her and is now only rarely seen by humans. Although Thor swore to complete his revenge on the Midgard Serpent, he is not destined to do so until Ragnarok, the end of the world, when heaven, earth and the underworld will be destroyed."
"Travelling in the guise of a youth, Thor stayed the night with a giant called Hymir who lived by the sea. In the morning when Hymir was preparing to go fishing, Thor asked if he could go too. The giant agreed, but reluctantly as he said could see little advantage in having such a stripling in his boat. And when Thor asked what sort of bait he should bring, Hymir replied offhandedly that he should go and find his own bait. So Thor went over to the largest of the giant's bulls nearby, wrenched off its head and tossed it casually into the bottom of the boat. Then he took the oars and started rowing vigorously out to sea. Despite himself, Hymir was impressed, and somewhat afraid. When they reached the spot where he usually fished, Hymir told Thor to stop rowing. But Thor ignored him and carried on out towards the edge of the world. Then Hymir pleaded with him to stop because if they went much further they might meet the Midgard Serpent. Ignoring him again, Thor rowed on till he felt sure that they would find the serpent. Then he fixed the bull's head to a great hook on a strong line and dropped it over the side.
By chance the Midgard Serpent happened to be passing and took the dainty morsel into its mouth. But when it felt the hook it jerked so hard that Thor was dragged to the gunwale. Summoning all his strength, he pulled back with such might that his feet burst through the bottom of the boat. Then followed a furious battle as slowly Thor hauled up the serpent till they were eye to glaring eye with each other, and it seemed as if a thunderstorm was raging between them.
The giant was terrified by both the serpent and the water rushing into the boat, and as Thor raised his hammer to end the struggle, Hymir quickly reached across and cut the line. The serpent slithered gratefully back into the deep water. Thor desperately threw his hammer after it but was too late to prevent its escape. In fury Thor turned and dealt such a blow to Hymir that the giant fell overboard and was drowned.
Thereafter the Midgard Serpent, terrified by her close shave, took care to hide in the depths where Thor might not find her and is now only rarely seen by humans. Although Thor swore to complete his revenge on the Midgard Serpent, he is not destined to do so until Ragnarok, the end of the world, when heaven, earth and the underworld will be destroyed."
~Ally
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