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Jormungand, The World Serpent
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Jormungand was the second eldest child of Loki the trickster and the giantess Angrboda. Kidnapped by the gods,
he was cast into the waters that surround Midgard. There he laid until he grew so large that he ate large whales and
was able to wrap himself around the world and bite his own tail.
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Thor and Jormungand would meet three times, the first when Thor, Loki, and two human servants traveled into Jotunheim, the land of giants,
and to the great hall of Utgard. There, the giant master of the hall, Utgard-loki, put the travelers to great tests, one of which was for Thor
to pick up his cat. Thor was only just able to lift the cats foot off the ground before admitting defeat to the task. It was later revealed to Thor,
Loki, and the others that this was only a magic trick, and the cat was really the Jormungand or Midgard serpent.
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The second time that Thor and Jormungand met was when Thor and Tyr traveled to the giant Hymir hall to get a large cauldron to brew ale for the gods.
While there, Hymir and Thor went out fishing for food. Thor killed Hymir's prize bull to use it's head for bait. Thor cast his bull head into the water
where Jormungand took the bait and bit hard onto the bull's head. Thor dragged the mighty serpent up and out of the water where he towered over the boat
that Thor and Hymir were using. Thor then grabbed his hammer, Mjollnir, and threw it at the head of the Worl serpent. Jormungand sank back into the water
before the hammer hit, leaving a very angry Thor.
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The last time Thor and Jormungand would meet is at t he time of Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods. Jormungand will join up with his father Loki, his brother
Ferir Wolf, his sister Hel and her army of dead among many others. Thor and Jormungand battled as Thor finally threw his hammer at Jormungand, smashing his head
and killing him. But before he dies, he drops his poison on Thor, where he will only take nine steps back before he too dies. Also called the
Ouroboros in other legends.
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