The Battle of Thor and the Midgard Serpent : Thor battering the Midgard Serpent

An early Romantic painter, Johann Heinrich Füssli shows a particular interest in fantastic literary works and mythical tales. Here he depicts one of the most famous episodes in Norse mythology, in which Thor sets off in the company of the giant Hymir to try to catch the Midgard serpent. To do this he uses the head of an ox as a hook. He manages to hook the monster and has to brace himself on the seabed to pull it up. However, in panic, Hymir cuts the line before Thor can hammer the snake, which disappears into the deep. This well-known scene has been used on runic stones and even in contemporary comics