Wolf Fenrir Necklace

Wolf Fenrir Meaning

Wolf Fenrir Fenrir simply means “fen dweller” in Old Norse. The Fen are the cold marshlands of Europe, Vikings believed that all beasts arose from this ancient mud. The significance of the Wolf Fenrir name is that he is not necessarily a single entity, but represents the raw fury, strength and ferocity of all wild things. 

Fenrir’s Origin

In legend, he is one of the three children of Loki the trickster god, and Angrboda the giantess. His siblings are the world serpent, Jormungandr, and the goddess Hel, queen of the dishonorable dead. They were prophesized to help bring Ragnarok, the death of all gods, and the beginning of a new world. 

Odin, with his mastery of magic and prophesy, foresaw the birth of Fenrir, and that the great wolf would eventually end his life. Hoping to alter his own destiny, Odin arranged for Tyr, the god of war and strategy, to keep watch over, and attempt to tame and befriend Fenrir as a pup.

The Binding of Fenrir

Fenrir eventually grew to become as tall as a mountain. The gape of his jaws was large enough to extend from the lowest ground to the tallest peaks when he yawned. Odin, now fearful, could not trust the beast and his bond with Tyr, and decided that the great wolf must be restrained. No chain or rope was strong enough, ultimately only the magical thread Gleipnir, woven from rare or magical materials including the roots of a mountain, the spittle of a bird, the beard of a woman, the sound of a cat’s footfall and the sinews of a bear, was strong enough to bind Fenrir. 

Suspecting the trick, Fenrir pledged that he would allow himself to be tied only if the god who would do so would place his arm in Fenrir’s jaws. If the god would not free him when asked, Fenrir promised to tear off his arm. Tyr accepted the pledge, tied Fenrir with Gleipnir, and refused to free him, on Odin’s command. True to his word, Fenrir ate Tyr’s arm, and promised that he would kill Odin if he ever got free.

Fenrir at Ragnarok

When Fenrir’s parents and siblings triggered Ragnarok, the stone Gjoll, to which he was tied, shattered. Gleipnir, the magical binding, could not be broken, but it could now be loosened, allowing the great wolf to escape. He immediately fulfilled his destiny by tracking Odin, eventually killing the All Father after a long battle against him. Odin rode his eight legged horse Sleipnir and wielded the great spear of storms, Gungnir in battle. Though victorious, Fenrir succumbed to his injuries and died soon afterwards.