Vikings and Dragons?
Have you ever wondered about what the link is between Vikings and Dragons? Learn more about their history and maybe even uncover the story of Fafnir the dragon
If you’ve read Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragon books, you’ll know that Hiccup and Toothless become the best of friends. However, not all the dragons in the stories are friendly, and the same was true in many Viking tales. In Norse mythology, dragons and giant serpents were fearsome creatures that heroes had to defeat.
Vikings carved dragons into wood, stone and metalwork, and stories about these creatures were passed down for generations. Archaeologists still find dragon designs on artefacts today, helping us understand the stories that inspired them. Some dragons guarded treasure, while others threatened gods and heroes. So where did these stories come from, and what can they tell us about the Viking imagination?
Let’s meet three of the most famous beasts from Norse mythology: Fáfnir, Jörmungandr and Níðhöggr.
A Quick Note on Viking Names: Some Viking gods and monsters have unusual names. Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to say them. We’ve included a simple pronunciation guide the first time each name appears.
Fáfnir
Fáfnir (fav-neer) is one of the best-known dragons in Norse mythology. However, he did not begin life as a dragon.
According to legend, Fáfnir became consumed by greed after taking possession of a cursed treasure hoard. Over time, he transformed from a dwarf into a dragon and spent his days guarding his gold. Eventually, the hero Sigurd (see-goord) set out to defeat him. Instead of fighting the dragon face-to-face, Sigurd dug a pit along Fáfnir’s path and hid inside it. When the dragon passed overhead, Sigurd struck from below and killed him.
Stories about Fáfnir were popular throughout the Viking Age and beyond. Scenes from the tale appear on several carved stones and wooden objects from the 11th and 12th centuries.
If this story sounds familiar, that’s because it inspired later fantasy stories. Fáfnir is often compared to Smaug, the dragon from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Both dragons guard huge treasure hoards and become famous for their greed.
Jörmungandr
Jörmungandr (yor-mun-gand-er) , also known as the Midgard Serpent, is perhaps the most famous creature in Norse mythology.
According to legend, he was one of the children of Loki (the God of mischief and trickery) and grew so large that he could circle the entire world and bite his own tail. He lived in the sea that surrounded Midgard, the world of humans.
Jörmungandr and Thor, the god of thunder, were destined to be enemies. They faced each other several times in Norse stories before finally meeting in battle during Ragnarök, the event that would bring about the end of the world. Thor succeeds in defeating the serpent, but victory comes at a cost. He is poisoned during the fight and dies soon afterwards.
Stories about Jörmungandr were important enough to appear in Viking-age art. One famous example can be seen on the Gosforth Cross in Cumbria, which includes scenes from Norse mythology carved into the stone.
More recently, Jörmungandr has appeared in books, films and video games, including the popular God of War series.
Níðhöggr
Níðhöggr (neeth-hog-er) is one of the strangest dragons in Norse mythology. Rather than guarding treasure or fighting heroes, it lives beneath Yggdrasil, the great tree that stands at the centre of the Norse universe and connects the nine worlds.
According to legend, Níðhöggr spends its time gnawing at the tree’s roots. Although it never manages to destroy Yggdrasil, it is constantly causing trouble.
The dragon is also linked to one of Norse mythology’s most unusual characters: a squirrel called Ratatoskr (rat-ah-toh-sker). Ratatoskr runs up and down the tree carrying messages between Níðhöggr and an eagle that lives at the top. Unfortunately, those messages are usually insults. As a result, the squirrel helps keep a never-ending argument going between the two creatures.
Níðhöggr is less well known than Fáfnir or Jörmungandr, so there are fewer surviving depictions that can be confidently identified. Most of what we know about the dragon comes from Norse stories written down after the Viking Age.
However, there are a few possible examples in Viking and medieval art. One potential depiction appears in the wood carvings of the Urnes Stave Church in Norway. Another may be shown on the Eketorp Pendant, discovered at the site of a medieval ringfort on the Swedish island of Öland.
What Can Dragons Tell Us?
Dragons appear throughout Norse mythology, but they were not all the same. Some guarded treasure, some threatened the world and others lurked beneath the roots of the great world tree.
These stories tell us something about what Vikings admired and feared. Heroes such as Sigurd and Thor earned fame by facing powerful monsters, while dragons often represented danger, greed or chaos.
Although Vikings never fought dragons in real life, their stories have inspired writers, artists and filmmakers for centuries. From Fáfnir to fantasy literature, and from Jörmungandr to modern video games, these legendary creatures continue to capture our imagination today.
So, the next time you read about Hiccup and Toothless, remember that Viking stories featured some very different dragons. Some guarded treasure, some battled gods and some spent their days arguing with eagles through a very busy squirrel!