What is angrboda?

Angrboða

In Norse mythology, Angrboða (Old Norse: "she who offers sorrow") is a jötunn (a giantess). She is primarily known for her relationship with the god Loki, and for being the mother of three monstrous offspring who play significant roles in Ragnarök:

• Fenrir: A gigantic wolf destined to kill Odin during Ragnarök.

• Jörmungandr: A massive sea serpent that encircles Midgard (the realm of humans).

• Hel: The ruler of Helheim, the Norse underworld.

Angrboða's story is primarily found within the Prose Edda written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. She is described as residing in Jötunheimr, specifically in a location called Ironwood (Járnviðr), a dark and dangerous forest. The exact details of her relationship with Loki are somewhat unclear, but their union is generally viewed as a chaotic and destructive pairing, resulting in the birth of beings that threaten the order of the cosmos. Despite her association with these formidable creatures, Angrboða herself has very limited agency in the extant sources. She primarily exists as the mother of these figures.