5-7“The Seeress's Prophecy” Stanza 57–58

The World in Flames

How far do Surt's flames reach?

In *The Deluding of Gylfi*, the sky splits open amid a tremendous din. Through the opening come those who will join the battle. Surt leads the way, with fire blazing before and behind him. His sword shines more brightly than the sun.

After the gods have fought their battles, Surt hurls fire over the earth. It burns the whole world. *The Seeress's Prophecy* tells of the sun turning black. The earth sinks into the sea, and the bright stars vanish from the sky.

Next, *The Seeress's Prophecy* describes great clouds of steam rising. The flames grow fiercer, and the soaring heat finally reaches heaven itself. Fire rises from the earth all the way to the sky in this vision of the world's end.

Illustration of The World in Flames