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Norsery Rhymes from A to Z
Fenrir, The Wolf of Expectation
Fenrir Ages - V1

Well here we are another Thor’s Day and another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic) mythological characters. This week it’s Fenrir / Fenris / / Fenris-Wolf / Fenrisúlfr / Hróðvitnir / Vánagandr / Vanargand, the Giant Wolf. Mentioned on runestones, in the Heimskringla, the Prose Edda, and the Völuspá and Vafþrúðnismál in the Poetic Edda.

His name has been translated “fen dweller” from the Old Norse ‘fenrez’. Meaning “swamp”, “marsh-land”, or “wetlands dweller”. His other names being ‘Hróðvitnir’ meaning “the famous wolf” and 'Vanargand’ and 'Vánagandr’ meaning “the monster of the Van river”, as he is the source of it. He’s also called “the creature”, or “wolf”, “of expectation” because of the prophesy around him ,and how that prophesy directly leads to all the events that happen to him.

He is the child of Loki and the Jotun / Giant Witch Angrboda / Angrboða. Who along with it’s siblings Jörmungandr, who would become the enormous Midgard Serpent, and Hel the eventual ruler of Hel or Niflhel the Lands of the Dead, all grew up in Jötunheimr together.

Given the mischeivious nature of both Loki and Angrboda, Odin was inclined to believe a prophesy that indicated that as the children got older they would cause untold trouble, eventually ending in many deaths including Odins.

So the Aesir went to see the children. Jörmungandr was growing so large that he would eventually take up all the land, so they sent him to the deepest sea that circles the earth. Hel who appeared half dead they gave her the lands of the the dead not claimed by the gods, Niflhel / Hel to see too. And Fenrir who was already large and frightening, they realized was not so terrible once Tyr bravely gave him some food. So they took Fenrir home to live with the Aesir.

Fenrir lived peacfully there amongst the gods for a time. But eventually his ever growing size and memories of the prohesy that he would injure and kill so many of them led some of the gods to think to fetter him for their protection.

The gods had three fetters created, each incedibly strong and each twice as strong as the one before it. Fenrir being an intelligent creature had to be tricked into trying them on, by saying they wanted to see how strong they were and he was the only one they could think of to try them, hoping to entice him with the fame of breaking such incredible bindings. The first Leyding, was easily kicked off. The second was Dromi, that he had more difficulty shaking and kicking off. The third was a magically crafted fetter called Gleipnir, made by Svartlheim dwarfs out of the 6 strongest and mythical materials. Smooth and soft as a silk ribbon.

Fenrir was brought down to the Lyngvi Island, on Amsvartnir Lake to see the latest achivement in the gods fetter. But he could see it looked like silk and was either too flimsy and there was no need to test it, or it was magical and he was uneasy in testing it. Fearing that he would be unable to free himself, and was afraid the gods would not free him. He agreed to be tied up if one of the gods would put their hand in it’s mouth as insurance that they would free him afterwards.

Only brave Tyr who had shown Fenrir kindness was willing. Odin swore they would free him, and Fenrir agreed. Fenrir was bound and started to kick and pull at the binding, with Tyr’s hand in it’s mouth. The silken band grew stronger the more he struggled. The gods, all except Tyr, laughed and cheered. When Fenrir realized the bindings would not break, and he was being bound without being freed. Tyr lost his hand.

The gods ran the cord through a magical stone slab called Gjöll (scream) that was placed deep into the ground. With an large magical stone call Thviti to anchor it down. When Fenrir howled, the gods placed a sword in it’s mouth upright with the blade against the top oh his mouth. This caused the giant wolf to salivate so much that it would become the river Van.

Fenrir will continue to grow with the fetters growing with him. In Ragnarok when all bindings will snap, the stones and slab will tear free of the earth and the bindings fail. Fenrir will be so large that his mouth will touch the ground and sky at the same time. And with Flames from his eyes and nose, he we seek his revenge. Reuniting with his Brother Jörmungandr and other Jotun. Swallowing Odin at least, before Odins son Víðarr, the giant God of Vengeance, armed with a magically strong boot that holds Fenrir in place by his jaw, fells Fenrir.

This one always feels like so many Norse myths, a tragedy, and a self fulfilling prophesy. A betrayal and deaths that likely would not have happened without the prophesy that they would.

I love drawing animals. So I decided to sketch some quick drawings of Fenrir. With Fenrir progressing in age as we go.

Description

Norsery Rhymes from A to Z
Fenrir, The Wolf of Expectation
Fenrir Ages - V1

Well here we are another Thor’s Day and another 20 min sketch of a Norse (and Germanic) mythological characters. This week it’s Fenrir / Fenris / / Fenris-Wolf / Fenrisúlfr / Hróðvitnir / Vánagandr / Vanargand, the Giant Wolf. Mentioned on runestones, in the Heimskringla, the Prose Edda, and the Völuspá and Vafþrúðnismál in the Poetic Edda.

His name has been translated “fen dweller” from the Old Norse ‘fenrez’. Meaning “swamp”, “marsh-land”, or “wetlands dweller”. His other names being ‘Hróðvitnir’ meaning “the famous wolf” and 'Vanargand’ and 'Vánagandr’ meaning “the monster of the Van river”, as he is the source of it. He’s also called “the creature”, or “wolf”, “of expectation” because of the prophesy around him ,and how that prophesy directly leads to all the events that happen to him.

He is the child of Loki and the Jotun / Giant Witch Angrboda / Angrboða. Who along with it’s siblings Jörmungandr, who would become the enormous Midgard Serpent, and Hel the eventual ruler of Hel or Niflhel the Lands of the Dead, all grew up in Jötunheimr together.

Given the mischeivious nature of both Loki and Angrboda, Odin was inclined to believe a prophesy that indicated that as the children got older they would cause untold trouble, eventually ending in many deaths including Odins.

So the Aesir went to see the children. Jörmungandr was growing so large that he would eventually take up all the land, so they sent him to the deepest sea that circles the earth. Hel who appeared half dead they gave her the lands of the the dead not claimed by the gods, Niflhel / Hel to see too. And Fenrir who was already large and frightening, they realized was not so terrible once Tyr bravely gave him some food. So they took Fenrir home to live with the Aesir.

Fenrir lived peacfully there amongst the gods for a time. But eventually his ever growing size and memories of the prohesy that he would injure and kill so many of them led some of the gods to think to fetter him for their protection.

The gods had three fetters created, each incedibly strong and each twice as strong as the one before it. Fenrir being an intelligent creature had to be tricked into trying them on, by saying they wanted to see how strong they were and he was the only one they could think of to try them, hoping to entice him with the fame of breaking such incredible bindings. The first Leyding, was easily kicked off. The second was Dromi, that he had more difficulty shaking and kicking off. The third was a magically crafted fetter called Gleipnir, made by Svartlheim dwarfs out of the 6 strongest and mythical materials. Smooth and soft as a silk ribbon.

Fenrir was brought down to the Lyngvi Island, on Amsvartnir Lake to see the latest achivement in the gods fetter. But he could see it looked like silk and was either too flimsy and there was no need to test it, or it was magical and he was uneasy in testing it. Fearing that he would be unable to free himself, and was afraid the gods would not free him. He agreed to be tied up if one of the gods would put their hand in it’s mouth as insurance that they would free him afterwards.

Only brave Tyr who had shown Fenrir kindness was willing. Odin swore they would free him, and Fenrir agreed. Fenrir was bound and started to kick and pull at the binding, with Tyr’s hand in it’s mouth. The silken band grew stronger the more he struggled. The gods, all except Tyr, laughed and cheered. When Fenrir realized the bindings would not break, and he was being bound without being freed. Tyr lost his hand.

The gods ran the cord through a magical stone slab called Gjöll (scream) that was placed deep into the ground. With an large magical stone call Thviti to anchor it down. When Fenrir howled, the gods placed a sword in it’s mouth upright with the blade against the top oh his mouth. This caused the giant wolf to salivate so much that it would become the river Van.

Fenrir will continue to grow with the fetters growing with him. In Ragnarok when all bindings will snap, the stones and slab will tear free of the earth and the bindings fail. Fenrir will be so large that his mouth will touch the ground and sky at the same time. And with Flames from his eyes and nose, he we seek his revenge. Reuniting with his Brother Jörmungandr and other Jotun. Swallowing Odin at least, before Odins son Víðarr, the giant God of Vengeance, armed with a magically strong boot that holds Fenrir in place by his jaw, fells Fenrir.

This one always feels like so many Norse myths, a tragedy, and a self fulfilling prophesy. A betrayal and deaths that likely would not have happened without the prophesy that they would.

I love drawing animals. So I decided to sketch some quick drawings of Fenrir. With Fenrir progressing in age as we go.