11 Ancient Apocalyptic Myths

The Vikings believed that life was cyclical and that this world would come to an end in a large battle before being reborn again. The end of the world had been prophesied and when the god Baldur was killed by Loki, the gods knew that it was unavoidable and so started preparing for the final battle.

Humans reacted differently, and instead gave up their traditional ways, disregarded family bonds, and gave in to anarchy. Eventually they had three winters in a row without summer in between, plunging the world into darkness, which was called Fimbulwinter or the Great Winter. Loki and his son, the wolf Fenrir, had both been tied up to protect the nine realms. However they broke free and started causing havoc in the world, followed by an army of ice giants attacking Asgard, the gods' realm.

During this, Thor and the sea serpent Jormungand killed each other, as did the god Freyr and the ice giant Surt, and the gods Heimdall and Loki. Fenrir killed both the gods Odin and Tyr, but was himself killed by Odin's son Vidar. After the entire world was torn apart, it sank down into the ocean leaving perfect silence and darkness. However, the Viking's believed that the world would rise again, more lush and abundant than ever. The gods, including Baldur, would return and a human couple would repopulate the human realm.