Summary
is the harsh winter that precedes the end of the world and puts an end to all life on Earth. is three successive winters, when snow comes in from all directions, without any intervening summer. Innumerable wars follow. The event is described primarily in the '' Poetic Edda''. In the poem , Odin poses the question to Vafþrúðnir as to who of mankind will survive the . Vafþrúðnir responds thatEtymology
comes from Old Norse, meaning 'awful, great winter'. The prefix ''fimbul'' means 'great/big' so the literal interpretation is 'great winter'. Svenska Akademiens Ordbok, entry forSee also
* Eschatology * Laki 1783 eruption * Nuclear winter * Ragnarök * Volcanic winterReferences
Bibliography
*Gunn, Joel (2000). ''The Years Without Summer: Tracing A.D. 536 and its Aftermath'' (British Archaeological Reports International. Oxford, England: Archaeopress) *Keys, David Patrick (2000). ''Catastrophe: An Investigation into the Origins of the Modern World.'' (New York: Ballantine Pub) . *Larrington, Carolyne (Trans.) (1999). ''The Poetic Edda'' (Oxford World's Classics) * Lindow, John (2001). ''Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs'' (Oxford University Press) *Orchard, Andy (1997). ''Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend'' (Cassell) {{Norse mythology Eschatology in Norse mythology Events in Norse mythology Winter weather events