garm

Garm is a monstrous hound in Norse mythology, often described as a fierce guardian. He is primarily known for his role at the entrance to Helheim, the realm of the dead, where he is said to bark incessantly to prevent the departed from leaving. His appearance is typically depicted as formidable, with bloodied jaws and a chest dripping with gore. Garm is one of the children of the giantess Angrboda and the trickster god Loki, making him a sibling to other monstrous creatures like the wolf Fenrir and the serpent Jörmungandr. During Ragnarök, the prophesied twilight of the gods, Garm is destined to fight and be slain by the god Tyr, the god of war and justice. Both combatants are said to inflict fatal wounds upon each other in their final battle. While not as frequently mentioned as Fenrir or Jörmungandr, Garm's presence at the threshold of the underworld and his prophesied role in Ragnarök solidify his significance within the Norse mythological framework as a symbol of inescapable doom and the boundary between life and death.