Fimbulwinter
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The fimbulwinter is an element in Norse pagan eschatology.
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[edit] General characteristics
In Norse mythology, Fimbulwinter is the immediate prelude to the end of the world, Ragnarök. Fimbulwinter is three successive winters where snow comes in from all directions, without any intervening summer. During this time, there will be innumerable wars and brothers will kill brothers.
The original spelling of this word in the Old Norse language is Fimbulvintr (Denmark and Sweden) or Fimbulvetr (Iceland and Norway), fimbul meaning "the great/big" so the correct interpretation of the word is "the great winter".[1]
There have been several popular speculations about whether this particular piece of mythology has a connection to the climate change that occurred in the Nordic countries at the end of the Nordic Bronze Age, about 650 BC. Before this climate change, the Nordic countries were considerably warmer.[2]
In Denmark, Norway, Sweden and other Nordic countries, the term fimbulwinter is also used in the meaning "unusually cold and harsh winter.[1]"
[edit] In Popular Culture
- In the Fire Emblem fantasy turn-based strategy game series, Fimbulvetr is one of the more powerful anima-type magic spells available. The series also contains numerous other references to mythology.
- The Viking metal band Amon Amarth has a song called "The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter."
- In Terry Pratchett's fictional Discworld there are eight seasons, including Spindlewinter (when the sun rises at 90 degrees turnwise from the observer) and Backspindlewinter (when the sun rises at 90 degrees anti-turnwise).
- In C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Pevensie children arrived in Narnia during "the Hundred Year Winter", which had been brought about by the evil of Jadis, the White Witch. Lewis is known to have had an extensive knowledge of European folklore and mythology.
- In Ridley Scott's film Legend, the last unicorn is corrupted when the pure and virginal Princess Lily pets the creature and causes winter to begin almost instantly. Goblins appear from out of the woods, its horn is removed and taken, and the world falls into chaos as snow begins to fall, similar to Fimbulwinter.
- In Alan Garner's fantasy novel The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, the forces of evil use an unseasonable winter to attack the protagonists. Although it is described as the Fimbulwinter, it does not lead to the end of the world, so it cannot be the true item.
- In the game Age of Mythology the god power Fimbulwinter can be used after honoring the Norse god Tyr. The power summons wolves at many enemy Town Centers, effectively killing many units and damaging buildings for a short time.
- Fimbulwinter is the name of an early Norwegian black metal band, which featured Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir and Skoll from Ulver. The band broke up after releasing only one LP in 1994.
[edit] Sources
- ^ a b Svenska Akademiens Ordbok, entry for Fimbulvinter [1]
- ^ Ström, Folke: Nordisk Hedendom, Studentlitteratur, Lund 2005, ISBN 91-44-00551-2 (first published 1961) among others, refer the climate change theory.
[edit] See also
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Norse mythology |
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| 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 |
