Garmr
In Norse mythology, Garmr or Garm (Old Norse: ; "rag") is a wolf or dog associated with both Hel and Ragnarök, and described as a blood-stained guardian of Hel's gate. Name. The Old Norse name "Garmr" has been interpreted as meaning "rag". The etymology of the name remains uncertain. Bruce Lincoln brings together Garmr and the Greek mythological dog Cerberus, relating both names to a Proto-Indo-European root "*ger-" "to growl" (perhaps with the suffixes "-*m/*b" and "-*r"). However, Daniel Ogden notes that this analysis actually requires "Cerberus" and "Garmr" to be derived from two "different" Indo -European roots (*"ger-" and *"gher-" respectively), and in this opinion does not establish a relationship between the two names. Attestations. Section::::"Poetic Edda". The "Poetic Edda" poem "Grímnismál" mentions Garmr: <poem>The best of trees | must Yggdrasil be, Skíðblaðnir best of boats; Of all the gods | is Óðinn the greatest, And Sleipnir the best of steeds; Bifröst of bridges, | Bragi of skalds, Hábrók of hawks, | and Garm of hounds.</poem> One of the refrains of "Völuspá" uses Garmr's howling to herald the coming of Ragnarök: <poem>Now Garm howls loud | before  Gnipahellir, The fetters will burst, | and the wolf run free; Much do I know, | and more can see Of the fate of the gods, | the mighty in fight.</poem> After the first occurrence of this refrain the Fimbulvetr is related; the second occurrence is succeeded by the invasion of Jötnar (giants) in the world of gods; after the last occurrence, the rise of a new and better world is described. "Baldrs draumar" describes a journey which Odin makes to Hel. Along the way he meets a dog. <poem>Then Óðinn rose, | the enchanter old , And the saddle he laid | on Sleipnir's back; Thence rode he down | to Niflhel deep, And the hound he met | that came from hell. Bloody he was | on his breast before, At the father of magic | he howled from afar; Forward rode Óðinn, | the earth resounded Till the house so high | of Hel he reached.</poem> Although unnamed, this dog is normally assumed to be Garmr. Alternatively, Garmr is sometimes assumed to be identical to Fenrir. Garmr is sometimes seen as a hellhound, comparable to Cerberus. Section::::"Prose Edda". The "Prose Edda" book  Gylfaginning assigns him a role in Ragnarök: