Níðhöggr

The Evil Dragon of Norse Myth

### Titles

Malice Striker, One who Burns with Rage, Death Dragon, Hel's Pet Dragon, Tearer of Corpses, Winged Dragon of Niflheim

## Profile

### Affiliations

Náströnd (Residence), Hvergelmir (Residence), Helheim/Niflheim (Home Realm), Roots of Yggdrasil (Prison)

## Relationships

### Siblings

Kingu, Ea, Lahamu, Lahmu, Vritra, Lotan, Other Dragons and Monsters

### Other Relationships

Hel (Master), Jörmungandr ('Friend'), Hraesvelgr (Arch-Rival), Ratatoskr (Enemy), Y Ddraig Goch (Rival)

## Other

### Status

Alive

**Nidhöggr**, often anglicized as **Nidhoggr**, is an evil dragon from Norse mythology that is eternally trapped by and gnawing on the roots of the World Tree, Yggdrasil.

## Overview

Literally meaning Malice Striker in Old Norse, he now lives beneath the roots of Yggdrasil and continually gnaws at them as they are the only thing that keeps it from the world, tipping the balance of the world toward darkness. Despite being imprisoned, Nidhöggr is capable of travel towards chthonic realms connected to the roots of the Ash Tree, most notable is Helheim alongside the goddess Hel. Similar to Cerberus it is said that Nidhöggr chews on or otherwise tortures the dead. He is sometimes described as snake or at least a more snake-like dragon.

Nidhoggr lives with many other serpents in the spring of Hvergelmir in Niflheim. It rules over the evil snakes that live there. It is capable of living through Ragnarok by feeding on the slain corpses that drift to it. His role is that of a monster in his action of chewing the corpses of the inhabitants of Náströnd who are those guilty of murder, adultery, and oath-breaking. The only person capable of controlling him is the goddess Hel. Its existence is the portend of the Ragnarok that signals the end of all where he will escape as his body is "dripping with corpses" while flying low across the blazing plains.

Nidhoggr is the bitter rival of Hraesvelgr, the great eagle who lives at the top of the tree. The squirrel Ratatoskr acts as a go-between in their never-ending quarrel. Ratatoskr takes the messages of envy and hate they send to each other and exaggerates them, twisting their words into cruel taunts. It enjoys egging them on so much that they two will remain bitter enemies to the end. At Ragnarok, the end of the world, Nidhoggr and Hraesvelgr are fated to eat every one of the souls that die.

## Appearance

He is usually depicted as a all-black dragon with huge wings. Sometimes, he has the appearance of a dark grey dragon with a pair of horns similar to tree's branches with a pair of white eyes.

## Personality

The idea of anyone being handed power on a silver platter greatly enrages him. Seeing as he himself grew powerful through a long and painful process of feeding from Yggdrasil and throwing away his very identity and nature, this is understandable.

## History

### Origins

Nidhöggr was one of the many dragons that was born from Tiamat herself in her desire for vengeance. After Tiamat's demise, Nidhöggr was subdued by Marduk and later imprisoned within the roots of Yggdrasil by Odin's request, forever forced to gnaw at the tree's roots in a feeble attempt to escape his confines, yearning for the day the world tree falls and it can diversify its palate with the rest of the Nine Worlds.

### Encounter with Hippolyta

The Amazon Queen Hippolyta and Ratatoskr once had to trick Nidhoggr into eating the former who was hidden inside a tree so that she can retrieve the key to Valhalla the evil dragon had unknowingly consumed.

## Myths and Legends

Níðhöggr (Malice Striker, in Old Norse traditionally also spelled Níðhǫggr [ˈniːðˌhɔɡːz̠], often anglicized Nidhogg) is a dragon who gnaws at a root of the world tree, Yggdrasil. In historical Viking society, níð was a term for a social stigma, implying the loss of honor and the status of a villain. Thus, its name might refer to its role as a horrific monster in its action of chewing the corpses of the inhabitants of Náströnd: those guilty of murder, adultery, and oath-breaking.

According to the Gylfaginning part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, Níðhǫggr is a being which gnaws one of the three roots of Yggdrasill. It is sometimes believed that the roots are trapping the beast from the world. This root is placed over Niflheimr and Níðhǫggr gnaws it from beneath. The same source also says that *"the squirrel called Ratatoskr runs up and down the length of the Ash, bearing envious words between the eagle and Nídhǫggr [the snake]."* In the Skáldskaparmál section of the Prose Edda Snorri specifies Níðhǫggr as a serpent in a list of names of such creatures: These are names for serpents: dragon, Fafnir, Jormungand, adder, Nidhogg, snake, viper, Goin, Moin, Grafvitnir, Grabak, Ofnir, Svafnir, masked one. Snorri's knowledge of Níðhǫggr seems to come from two of the Eddic poems: Grímnismál and Völuspá. Later in Skáldskaparmál, Snorri includes Níðhǫggr in a list of various terms and names for swords.

## Quotes

* *"The realms of man learned that day that ice burns just as well as fire."* - Nidhoggr.

* *"Nidhoggr is the dragon who is under Yggdrasil, eating the dead and the one who will awaken Ragnarok."* - A dwarf talking about Nidhoggr.

* *"At last, the evil dragon has finally appeared from Helheim! Now let's began the end this word!"* - An unnamed daemon.

## Gallery

*Nidhoggr's alternate appearance**Nidhoggr's snake form**Nidhoggr in his encounter with Hippolyta**A sculpture of Nidhoggr*
## Trivia

* His name means "one who burns with rage."

## Image Sources

* (Pascal-quidault-mbr-nidhogg.jpg) Nidhogg by Pascal Quidault
* (Nidhogg by ruth tay.jpg) Nidhogg by Ruth-Tay
* (Nidhogg by genzoman.jpg) Nidhogg by GENZOMAN
* (Nidhogg tearer of corpses by genzoman.jpg) Nidhogg Tearer of Corpses by GENZOMAN
* (Nidhogg Prime Earth 001.jpg) Nidhogg from Wonder Woman #771
* (Nidhoggr.jpg) Nidhoggr from Shin Megami Tensei II
* (Nidhoggr DC.jpg) Nidhoggr from Devil Children Black Book & Red Book
* (Nidhogg Sebastian Rubach Swande.jpg) Nidhogg Birch sculpture by Sebastian Rubach Swande