Garm (Norse mythology)

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In Norse mythology, Garm is a huge wolf which guards Hel, the land of the dead, alongside of Hræsvelgr and living in a cave called Gnipahellir. Garm was the greatest of all wolves (excluding the Fenris Wolf), and his howling will be the signal of the end of the world. During Ragnarök, Garm and Týr will kill each other. In Völuspá, the line Geyr Garmr mjök / fyr Gnipahelli (Garm howls loud / before the Gnipa-cave) is repeated three times. After the first occurrence, the Fimbulwinter is related; the second occurrence is succeeded by the invasion of giants in the world of gods; after the last occurrence, the rise of a new and better world is described. In some descriptions Garm is giant wolf with a bloodstained breast.

[edit] References in popular culture

  • Kristoffer Rygg, a black metal/experimental musician, went by the stage name of Garm.

[edit] See also

Norse mythology
List of Norse gods | Æsir | Vanir | Giants | Elves | Dwarves | Troll | Valkyries | Einherjar | Norns | Odin | Thor | Freyr | Freyja | Loki | Balder | Týr | Yggdrasil | Ginnungagap | Ragnarök
Sources: Poetic Edda | Prose Edda | The Sagas | Volsung Cycle | Tyrfing Cycle | Rune stones | Old Norse language | Orthography | Later influence
Society: Viking Age | Skald | Kenning | Blót | Seid | Numbers
People, places and things