Nidhogg: The Soul Devouring Dragon - (Norse Mythology Explained) 

I wish there had been a myth about Loki and Ratatoskr teaming up to troll people. It would have been hilarious. And then ended in a bloodbath. Because Norse.

I love the Skyrim music you include in some of your videos.

So the world ends because of a damn squirrel.

Ratatoskr reminds me of that Spongebob episode when Squidward was spreading lies and insults between Spongebob and Patrick.

Why didnt he mention that it is one of the survivors of ragnarök? I find it interesting that a being described so heinous is considered to survive the end of the world.

Shoutout to Ratatoskr for fueling Nidhogg’s malice.

KingNidgogg probably is to blame for this popping up in my recommended LOL

Thank you, just finished DMC5 yesterday and wondered where they came up with nidhogg

Can you cover the different ages in greek mythologie (golden, silver, bronze and iron)

Nidgog is curious because his role in the Norse world is somewhat muted compared to the other great beasts such as Fenrir and Jormungandr. To my understanding, when Nidhog shook Yggdrasil the quake he made was strong enough to loosen the bonds of both Loki and Fenrir, thus ensuring Ragnarok happens. Yet, at the end of all things, he is not present, whether it is because he remained trapped or because he scaled the World Tree to kill the Eagle and Rattatoskr. There was one book I found that said when the world was reborn that Nidhog was the only monster of the old world to survive and be responsible for creating new ones for mankind to face. There was also something about his fangs producing a venom akin to Jormungandr’s, one so potent it could choke the World Tree but the Norns neutralize it with water from Udr’s Well.

I'd be interested to see what you could do with Slavic mythology, especially in comparison to Norse mythology. Nidhogg and the Wise Eagle are much like Veles and Perun.

I find it interesting that dragons seem to be present in mythologies all over the world, they've endured and spread in lore, more than any other mythological creature i can think of.

Never knew the ancestor of Ratata and Ratatouille was this mischievous.

Awesome! Dragons, Griffin's & Phoenix's are my very favourite mythological creatures 🐉💜

Love the Skyrim background music

Nidhogg bears similarities with Naga Padoha, the Underworld Dragon in the Mythology of Batak

Here because of GOW Ragnarok!

I love the Skyrim music in the background ☺️ Brings memories...

And he's the only monster to survive Ragnarok

I'm currently writing a short paper on other myths' underworld deities/monsters for my Greek Myth class, and this was a great summary of Nidhogg!! Thank you

That squirrel sadly reminds me of some people I know 😣

Kratos: Boy be ready to lower the crane on my mark. Atreus: Okay...but I don't know how this thing works. Kratos: I do not care...be ready

I remember summoning Nidhogg in Age of Mythology.

The motif of an adversarial relationship between a divine bird and divine snake is replete throughout ancient cultures. My partner and I actually discuss this in an upcoming episode of our podcast. I would love to see you do a video on how this universal theme has been manifest throughout world mythology, as I’m sure you could do a much more thorough job with it than I ever could. 🤙

My favorite Dragon in any mythology

Could you please do the sisters of fate for Greek mythology?

this is definitely one of my favorite channels- thank you for this! i been seeing and hearing the word "dragon" a lot so i hoped you had a video on it! cheers xx

Hey Mythos, can I call you Mythos? Anyway, Dragons are my favourite animal. They can be fierce and animalistic, kind and benevolent or cunning and sly. I would love for you to continue this as a playlist. I have a list of dragons that you can cover:) -Fafnir -St George’s Dragon -Smaug -Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback -Hungarian Horntail -Falkor -Shen Lung and Futs Lung -The Wyvern (I don’t remember where the story originated) -A Three headed dragon from Russia (don’t remember the name sry) And maybe do a video on where Dragons came from, why they breath fire and why they’re so popular. Love your shit and I really hope you see this list. Bai❤️

Took me about two weeks, but I’ve listened to every video on the channel! Thanks for all the hard work and effort!

Burning the tree down seems easier than just gnawing on it to get free.

I just came browsing for a jet fighter. Somehow I got here. I like it, keep it going!

Omg that's who the Squirrel was in the American Gods book! The one with Shadow when he was hanging from the tree. He kept saying something like "Ratatask!"

I didn´t knew much about Nidhogg, this was very interesing and informaive! Thanks!

Rainbow Serpent next???

This guy was definitely the major inspiration for alduin

I remember in FFXI Nidhogg was located deep within the Boyada Tree, the biggest tree in the whole world. I swear ever bit of mythology I learn in my older age I was unknowingly taught in my youth by Final Fantasy games.

I recall hearing something about nidhogg having wings with corpses in them. Sounds fucking metal.

Jörmungandr and Nidhogg are my favorites ❤️😍

I sorta feel bad for the most irredeemable people who are sent to the most vile place in Hel

Keep up the great work!!!!

Could you please do a video on Unhcegila from Lakota mythology please

For those of you who love those type of mythology you should read the iron druid chronicles by Kevin Hearne. It's a fantasy saga but it's awsome

great work as always

Demeking, Ultra Brothers, Seabozu & Raiga vs. Nidhogg" a epic battle!

Of course the Storys are always very interessting but I also think that we need to valuate the artwork. It it absolutly beautiful!

Nice! Been waiting for this

Definitely Need More Dragon Videos lol 🐉🐲🐉🐲 Ryujin would be a good one.. 🤔 💭

Thank you for kind and wonderful work, as always

Hey Pagan here. Just wanted to give you a shout out for doing a really good job on representing the Mythos that i worship. Although there are some cases where Rattaskr is just an agent of abject chaos and Hermond(son of Odin) is the messenger of the gods. Still very good work. You clearly did a lot of research.

Ratatoskr runs up the tree: Nidhogg says you are a birdbrain! Ratatoskr runs down the tree: the wise eagle says you’re a mudworm! Loki: And they think I’m the asshole!

Thank you for sharing.

I’ve always wondered if the “ragnarok” was the Norse version of the “Big Crunch” followed by the “Big Bang” And they just made like a billion indicators to signal its start where probably Thor loosing his underwear on Thursday mornings is also a one of the many signals for ragnarok (Magnus chase really makes a fool out of Thor lol)

I got one for you look up Jawzhar, it’s an ancient middle eastern dragon that was so large it could eat the moon.

Awesome video thank you 🙏. Learned something new today.

There's a tattoo shop here in Bergen, Norway, named Nidhogg🐉 great place 😁🤘

Nidhogg: You dodged me... did you dodge me? Griffon: Nidhogg, never liked this guy. Nidhogg: You pest. Do I know you? Griffon: Dumb as a bag of rocks. Let's not even mess with this guy, V. He can't even leave the Qliphoth, anyway. Just a Qliphoth parasite. Nidhogg: Did you insult me? Griffon: --Uh-oh. Nidhogg: --You insult me! Griffon: I think he heard me... and he's angry! Nidhogg: I'm going to kill you! V: Not in this lifetime. "As the air to a bird or the sea to a fish, so is contempt to the contemptible." (During Nidhogg battle) Nidhogg: You use... de-de-demon...? But you...human...? Huhhhh....? V: "If the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise." Nidhogg: Augh...? Ah...? Griffon: Meaning don't try to think too much, shithead! Nidhogg: I'm... I'm busy. You guys can finish it. V: "The cut worm forgives the plow." What do you say?

I think the whole passage of the creatures in Yggdrasil given by Snorri is the basis of a riddle or animorphic depictions of deities used in art. The Eagle at the top is Odin, the Hawk Vidolfnir is Frigg, who shared the privilege of Valaskjalf with her husband. Ratatoskr is Heimdall, conveying information from the under to the upper world. Heidrun the goat is Freyja - of which she is referred to in poetry. The four harts bear dwarf names and may indicate the four cardinal points. Nidhogg is Loki bound in the Hel who will emerge during Ragnarok.

Nidhogg is also a very prominent Dragon in the Final Fantasy Series !

nice video my dude i was watch this while in high school

more dragon lore please

Hope this is in the Next God of War game 🙏🏿

Ah love the beasties of Norse mythology. And love that squirrel

Haha, love seeing this come up after commenting on the parallels with Ladon 🤣 Clearly, the villain here is that cheese eater of a Pokémon, Rattata. Oh villainous squirrel ✊🐿😈 Oh, anyone get the Adventure Time reference, with PB’s brother?

Nidhogg could very well be one of many types of dragons

I hadn't heard this particular dragon . Thank you

Awesome video!!! Can you do a video on Yamata no Orochi!! :)

You know what would be a very cool topic? Kaoskampf

The image of Nidhoggr that I will always have in my head is the appearance he has in Age Of Mythology (and Age Of Empires-style RTS game). In that game, he looks very similar to the Plains Dragon from the PS3 exclusive game "Lair", except that instead of horns on his head, Nidhoggr has what appear to be antlers instead.

Dragons are cool. Great video with an awesome story

Thanks for the video

Yes ... yes ... and yes .... a "deep" voice, skyrim background music, sweet nordic lore... That's how i like to spend mx evenings

Do Uktena the Horned Serpent next

there is one more story involving nidhogg, loki was punished by being imprisoned at the roots of the world tree and nidhogg's poison would drip onto his face causing immense pain and suffering. loki's wife, in some versions it is his daughter, would stay by his side with a bowl to catch the poison and when she had to dump it nidhogg's poison would once again hit loki's face until the bowl could be used again to catch the drips of poison and the cycle would continue until ragnarok when loki would be freed.

Ratatoskr is my spirit animal

BANG! BANG! BANG! PULL MY DEVIL TRIGGER!

I believe the squirrel is indeed Gabriel. Do a video on the “Chamber of Guf.”

More Norse mythology please!

It must actually be the coiled kundalini. And the eagle the wings of mercury (Munin and Hugin) or the horns of Lucifer (parts of the brain).

Everything in the Eddas must be taken with a grain of salt because they were compiled by Christians in the 13th century and even the Viking Age was centuries past the origins of these myths. A more Circumpolar indigenous/Indo-European idea would be that Nidhogg resides near Urdr's well and devours the ego after death to free the soul for rebirth in the cycle, a cycle that the Norns are in charge of (aka time and space).

Curse you, Foamy! What'cha doin' stirring the pot for?

Thanks much for the vid sir.

In the game called niddhogg your reward for beating your opponent is getting eaten by nidhogg, i always thought it was an honor, not a punishment

Ratatoskr should be the name given to internet trolls even if its hard to pronounce

This sounds a lot like Jormundgand. Also this is very different from how Nidhogg is presented in the videogame. Interesting

"On the first day,Man was given a soul, and with it, clarity. On the second day, upon Earth was planted an irrevocable poison, a soul-divalering Demon." - Demon's Souls

I believe Nidhogg and the other dragons that live in the roots of Yggdrasil to be fungal dragons, like fungus they live buried around a plant and they eat the dead (in this case the souls but in norse mythology the souls still have some sort of physical or etereal form or else they couldn't go to Valhalla and fight for Odin otherwise) and are seen as dangerous and unknown, but like real fungus there might be good ones around I hope.

Nidhogg reminds me of the Egyptian demoness Ammit in its functions

Think we’ll see Nidhogg in the GOW sequel?

So awesome that you did a video on this topic/character(s)! Yay-ahh! And btw, you're voice is so damn sexy, man! I love listening to & learning from you! Rock on & peace out🌍

I'm here because ChatGPT told me that Ratatoskr is where the modern tooth fairy myth originated, for which there is absolutely no literary or logical support. Lol. Even ChatGPT itself refuted the claim when I went back later to follow up!

I love super snakes I was soooo afraid of them as a kid and now sneaks are very cool. I didn’t know about nidhogg and I like it more as a serpent.

Eh, I prefer the old French usage of dragon, just like I prefer the old Norse usage of tröll, which, ironically both had a similar origin and modern usage. From vague to specific, to going back to vague. But I see nithhoggr (I don't look at the prose-eda due to alot more Christian modifications and fan names by snorri) as serpent atleast, and a linnorm (if I remember, MAYBE a wyvern if I stretch it out) at best IMO. Don't see him as a dragon. It's the same case with fafnir. Serpent atleast, linnorm at most. I have a better chance seeing the fire wyvern of Beowulf (also Anglo-Saxon like fafnir) as being a dragon. But this is my opinion based on the understanding of the original usage of the words orm, linnorm, dragon (NOT THE WORD IT'S DERIVED FROM, NOR THE OLD ENGLISH/ENGLISH usage of it.), and wyvern (it's original usage too, not the modern on). But if you see fafnir, the world serpent, nithhoggr and the creature of beowulf as dragons, then more power to you, I choice to believe otherwise.

Very powerful myth of polarities of creation, life and death is how Nidhogg (at one polarity) came across to me. Yggdrasil as the Tree of Life can be seen as a representation of the human central nervous system - or chakra system. Similarly this human central nervous system being a creation from the fractal based creation process that emanates out of the aether for all types of matter. All via this Tree of Life process represented by the nordics as Yggdrasil. The Tree of Life being the cosmic/spiritual process of creation emanating from the aether - for everything. Yggdrasil must always balance out its polarities to remain in its matter based form (life in the case of human beings and their central nervous system). The nordic myths depict the Wise Eagle representing the crown (sahasrara) chakra of the human being (consciousness). Nidhogg the serpent at its lowest or base (muladhara) chakra (unconsciousness). The Tree of Life must always seek balance so the Wise Eagle and the Serpent must inter-relate in a harmonious manner. To seek to unite the two polarities between spirit and matter in the form of life as a human being. The Wise Eagle at the crown (metaphor for consciousness) , and the serpent at the spiritual gateway from the aether into the human being at the very base of the central nervous system (metaphor for unconsciousness). Ratatoskyr is the agitator between the different polarities of the human chakra system. Ratatoskyr is viewed as an excellent metaphor for the imbalance mechanisms between polarities of the human and its interaction with nature/spirit. All via the Tree of Life depicted as Yggdrassil. Something like the DIVIDE AND RULE mechanisms that govern humans in modern day society.

A 🐿️ named Nutty relay's messages to me in my dreams sometimes while i drink to much vodka and pass out, that's why i always keep pen and paper by my nightstand so i can write it down before i forget because it could have meaning that i have yet to figure it out or It could just be the alcohol 🥴 But I'd like to think it's Ratatosk the squirrel who carry messages up and down the world tree Yggdrasil that is trying to protect/warn me/want me to prevent some future disaster like ragnarök (it's easier than accepting that i might drink to much.)

If Nidhogg is imprisoned at the bottom of the world tree which holds the universe together doesn't that mean that Nidhogg is as big as a galaxy or atleast a planet

after hearing the fear and power this guy has, i'm having second thoughts of making Jormangandr the main threat of my story

Nidhogg will survive Ragnarok, find the battlefield of the gods and jotun, and devour their corpses. (I don't recall if he eats all corpses or just the corpses of the gods)

The idea of eternal damnation or punishment seems like it would be a very foreign concept to Germanic and Norse people, so I think Nidhogg being a torturer of sinners came from Christian influences. It's similar to how Cain is mentioned in Beowulf.

I'M STILL WONDERING WHY NIDHÖGGR HELLPS THE GODS IN YGGDRASSILL CHRONICLES

Mythology, you should do a video on Cerberus, the three headed dog of Hades and guardian of the gates to the Underworld! 😱