Surtr (also Surt or Surtur) is the fire giant who brings the world to an end in Norse mythology. At Ragnarök he leads the sons of Muspell, the fire giants of Muspelheim, into battle against the Aesir and Vanir gods, kills the god Freyr and then sets the whole world on fire.
That is the part of his story most people know, but Surtr does not simply appear when the final battle begins. Snorri Sturluson places him at the edge of the fiery realm of Muspelheim before the world is even made. He is there at the beginning, waiting with a burning sword, and the old sources never tell us what becomes of him after the world burns.
Surtr and Muspelheim: Waiting at the Edge of the World
Long before the gods shape the world, Snorri describes Muspelheim as a bright and burning place far in the south, on the other side of the great void Ginnungagap. Surtr sits at its border as a guardian, with a fiery sword in his hand.
Snorri says Surtr guards “the end of the world”, but here the end means its edge and not the end of time. Snorri also tells us what Surtr is waiting for. When the time comes, he will leave his post, fight the gods and burn the whole world with fire.
This gives Surtr an unusual place in the mythology. He waits outside the world before it takes shape, and he returns when that same world is about to end.
Surtr’s Role in Ragnarök
When Ragnarök begins, Surtr comes from the south. The poem Völuspá describes his arrival like this:
Surt travels from the south with the enemy of twigs [fire],
The sun shines from the swords of the carrion-gods.
This is stanza 52 of the poem, in John Lindow’s translation. “The enemy of twigs” is a poetic way of saying fire, and the “carrion-gods” are the gods of the slain. As Surtr moves north, the mountains resound, people walk the road to Hel and the sky is torn open. Earlier in the same poem, in stanza 47, even the wolf who swallows the sun is called Surtr’s companion.
Snorri’s account brings Surtr right into the battle. He rides at the front of the sons of Muspell, with fire before him and fire behind him, and his sword shines brighter than the sun.
There he meets Freyr. Völuspá tells us in stanza 53 that Freyr falls, and Snorri explains why the fight is so uneven. Long before, Freyr gave his own sword to his servant Skírnir, who used it to win the giantess Gerd for him. At Ragnarök that old choice leaves Freyr facing the fire giant without a sword.
Where Does Surtr Fight the Gods?
The Eddic poems give the battlefield two different names. In Vafþrúðnismál the place where Surtr and the gods meet is a field called Vígríðr, while in Fáfnismál the dying dragon Fáfnir speaks of an island called Óskópnir. The poems do not describe the place in quite the same way, but both see the final battle as a meeting between Surtr and the gods.
Does Surtr Die at Ragnarök?
The poems tell us how several of the gods die at Ragnarök. Odin falls to Fenrir, Thor dies from the serpent’s poison and Freyr falls to Surtr. The old sources never say that Surtr is killed, although some modern retellings claim he is.
Instead, Snorri says that after the battle Surtr casts fire over the earth and burns the entire world. The earth sinks into the sea, and Surtr is never mentioned again. Whether he survives his own fire is simply left untold.
What Happens After Surtr’s Fire?
Surtr’s fire ends the world the gods knew, but it is not the last thing the poems describe. In stanzas 50 and 51 of Vafþrúðnismál, Odin asks who will rule among the gods “when Surt’s fire dies down”, and the answer names Víðarr and Váli.
The historian John Lindow points out that the poets use Surtr and his fire almost as another name for Ragnarök itself. Saying “when Surt’s fire dies down” was their way of saying “after the end of the world”.
Völuspá then takes the story further. The earth rises from the sea again, green and new, and the surviving gods return to it. Surtr has destroyed the old world, but the poems leave room for new life after his fire.
Surtr and the Volcanoes of Iceland
It is easy to see why readers have linked Surtr with the volcanoes of Iceland. Fire can break through the ground there, and lava can bury a landscape that once seemed permanent. In 1905 the scholar Bertha Phillpotts argued that Surtr was a volcano giant.
It is an interesting way to read him, especially since the myths were written down in Iceland. But the Eddas never say that Surtr stands for a volcano, so the connection remains an interpretation rather than part of the myth itself.
Surtsey: The Island Named After Surtr
Surtr’s name does have a clear link to a real volcano. In November 1963 an eruption began beneath the sea off the south coast of Iceland, and a brand new island rose out of the water. The eruption lasted until June 1967, and the Icelanders named the island Surtsey, which means “Surtr’s island”.
Surtsey was made a protected nature reserve in 1965, while the eruption was still going on. Only scientists are allowed to go ashore, so they can study how plants and animals settle on completely new land. In 2008 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Surtr in God of War Ragnarök
Many people today know Surtr from the video game God of War Ragnarök (2022). The game keeps the familiar parts of his story, with Muspelheim, the fire giant, the burning sword and the destruction that comes at Ragnarök.
It also tells a story of its own. In the game Surtr has a partner, the frost giant Sinmara, and the two are meant to merge into a being called Ragnarök. Their love story and the plan to destroy Asgard while sparing the other realms belong to the game. In the old sources, Surtr’s fire burns the whole world. If you enjoy games set in the Viking world, you can find more in my list of Viking video games.
Frequently Asked Questions About Surtr
Who is Surtr in Norse mythology?
Surtr is a fire giant who guards the edge of Muspelheim. At Ragnarök he leads the sons of Muspell against the gods, kills Freyr and burns the world.
What does the name Surtr mean?
Surtr means “black” in Old Norse, as if something has been burnt or charred. The name was also used in Old Norse poetry as a general word for a giant.
Who kills Surtr?
The old sources do not say that anyone kills him. After Surtr burns the world, they never tell us what happens to him.
What is Surtr’s sword called?
The Eddas do not give his sword a name. They only describe it as burning and shining brighter than the sun.
Is Surtr a god?
No. Surtr is a giant (jötunn) who fights against the gods at Ragnarök.
Fire as an End and a Beginning
In Norse mythology, fire is both an end and a beginning, and Surtr carries both sides of it. He waits at the edge of the world before it is made, and his fire is what finally clears it away. Out of that fire a new green world rises, and far out in the North Atlantic a young volcanic island still carries his name.
Sources
- Völuspá, stanzas 47, 52 and 53, Poetic Edda. Quoted in the translation of John Lindow.
- Vafþrúðnismál, stanzas 17, 50 and 51, Poetic Edda.
- Fáfnismál, stanzas 14 and 15, Poetic Edda.
- Snorri Sturluson, Gylfaginning in the Prose Edda (c. 1220): Muspelheim and Surtr before creation, Freyr’s sword, and Ragnarök.
- John Lindow, Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs (Oxford University Press, 2001), “Surt”, pp. 282–283.
- Bertha S. Phillpotts, “Surt”, Arkiv för nordisk filologi 21 (1905), pp. 14–30.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre, “Surtsey” (inscribed 2008).
- Surtsey Research Society, “The protection of Surtsey” (nature reserve since 1965).