Quick Facts
- Also spelled:
- Jöten
- Related Topics:
- giant
Adding us as a Preferred Source tells Google you trust our content, so our articles show up more often in your Google Search, Discover feed, and AI Overviews.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Thor battling Jötuns in Jötunheim.
Thor battles Jötuns (giants) with his magic hammer, Mjolnir.
Jötun
Germanic religion
Also known as: Jöten
Jötun, in Germanic religion, race of giants that lived in Jötunheim under one of the roots of Yggdrasill. They were older than and ruled before the gods (Aesir), to whom they remained hostile. It was believed that Ragnarök, the destruction of this world and the beginning of a new one, would be brought about by a final battle between gods and giants.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.
Discover how ordinary objects work, and expand your understanding of the familiar.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
By clicking "Sign Up", you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.