The Jörmungandr: Nordic Dragon

Dragons were as much a part of the ancient world as the mountains and trees that surrounded the rustic people who embroidered upon their legendary existence. Not merely content to lurk in bodies of water or fly above the firmament, Dragons were credited with sculpting the very earth itself by the passage of their enormous bodies. Celebrated in a myriad of cultures in many different ways, Dragons took on a fantastic array of physical forms. None were more imposing than Jörmungandr, whose name literally means “huge monster” in the tongue of the ancient Norse. Also called the “Midgard Serpent”, Jörmungandr was so massive, he was able to completely encircle the heavens, holding his tail in his mouth. His ongoing fued with the hero of men, Thor, was a constant theme of Norse mythology and religious culture. The final meeting of Thor and Jörmungandr has not yet been written; it will occur at Ragnarök, which is the Viking-age concept of Armageddon.

Our Jörmungandr is a gorgeous, custom-designed creature depicted in full relief against our heavy leather flap. Jörmungandr's sinuous body references the earliest textual descriptions of the Dragon, drawn from the Poetic Edda. His body contorted in intricate knotwork, Jörmungandr seems to protect and surround the center concho of the flap as if it is the great oceans of Midgard. This custom Jörmungandr design is exclusively available through Celtic Leatherworks!