Surt

Norse mythology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

In Norse mythology, Surt is a fire giant who guards Muspelheim, a hot and bright land in the south. Muspelheim is significant because sparks from this region are believed to have formed the Sun, Moon, and stars.1

Surt plays a crucial role in Ragnarök, the doom of the gods. During this event, Surt will lead the sons of Muspelheim in destroying the world with fire. The term "surturbrand" refers to a type of lignite found in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, named after Surt, the fire demon of Scandinavian legend.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Muspelheim
…in the south, guarded by Surt, the fire giant. In the beginning, according to one tradition, the warm air from this region melted the ice of the opposite region, Niflheim, thus giving form to Aurgelmir (Ymir), the father of the evil giants. Sparks from Muspelheim became the Sun, Moon, and…
Read More
…in the south, guarded by Surt, the fire giant. In the beginning, according to one tradition, the warm air from this region melted the ice of the opposite region, Niflheim, thus giving form to Aurgelmir (Ymir), the father of the evil giants. Sparks from Muspelheim became the Sun, Moon, and…
Read More