Fenrirs

Fenrirs refers to the legendary monstrous wolf Fenrir in Norse mythology, and, in some modern usages, to multiple such wolves within the mythic tradition. Fenrir is the son of the trickster god Loki and the giant Angrboða, and is one of the principal figures in the myths surrounding Ragnarök. In the surviving sources, Fenrir is described as growing so large and powerful that the gods fear he will bring about great destruction.

To prevent the prophecy from coming true, the gods compel the dwarves to forge Gleipnir, a binding that is depicted as unusually strong yet paradoxically thin. The fetter is said to be made from six magical ingredients: the sound of a cat, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish, and the tongue of a bird. Fenrir agrees to be bound only if a pledge is given; the gods demand a hand as a sign of faith, and Tyr volunteers to place his hand in Fenrir’s mouth. When Fenrir detects the ruse, he bites off Tyr’s hand and remains bound to a rock, guarded while gnawing at the chain.

In Ragnarök, Fenrir is prophesied to break the fetter and kill Odin, after which he is slain by the god Vidar. Fenrir’s tale has been a central motif in Norse myth, symbolizing inevitability, fate, and the cataclysmic forces at the end of the world. The figure appears in medieval and modern retellings, influencing literature, art, and popular culture.