In Norse mythology, Surt is the fire giant who rules Muspellheim. During Ragnarok Surt will set fire to the nine worlds.
Surt (Old Norse "Black" or "That dark one"), is the elder jötunn, leader of the fire giants of Muspellheim. Surt is quoted in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and in the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson.
In both sources, Surt is announced as being an important figure during the events of Ragnarök, carrying his blazing sword, he will go into battle against the Aesir, having a confrontation with the god Freyr, and then the flames he brings will swallow the Earth.
He is the murderer of two of Odin's brothers, Vili and Ve, and certainly must be considered both Odin's and Asgard's greatest enemy.
Surt is not mentioned in much of the pagan mythology that was recovered and written down in the Eddas. There are some differing sides of the argument as to whether Surt was in fact the first being, created from the primordial fire.
This fire would have melted the frost of ice to reveal Audhumla, and to create the primordial being, Ymir. Furthermore, in time, Surt's fire would have been enough to reveal the first of the gods, Buri, Odin's grandfather, who would become the head of the Aesir. If this view is correct, then Surt is the beginning of all life and the end of it as well.
During the cycle of Norse pagan myth, Surt remains on the borders of the fire realm Muspellheim, where he and all his offspring live. They do not have major conflicts with the gods like the ice giants, and the fire giants try to remain inactive until the time of Ragnarok comes.
During Ragnarok, Surt and his fire giants will join the ice giants, as well as the great wolf Fenrir and his brother Jormungandr, the Serpent of Midgard, along with his father Loki, in a battle against the Aesir and Vanir .
Many gods will die, and Surt is destined to fight the god Freyr before the fire of Muspellheim sweeps over the earth and leaves it cleansed and ready for a new cycle of life.
A version of Surt, named Surtur, is one of Thor'senemies in the Marvel Comics.
Melodic death metal band Amon Amarth references Surt on their album Surtur Rising. "'Destroyer Of The Universe' It's very aggressive and it's like a title track. It's actually about Surtur and how he goes against Freyr in Ragnarok at the end of the world." Says Johan Hegg, leader and vocalist of the band.
In the game Ragnarok Online it is possible to find a boss monster called Satan Morroc (through a quest), which is the giant Surt, although his appearance and some aspects have been changed. this was sealed below the castle of the city of Morroc, and was released in one of the game updates.
In the game League of Legends, the character Brand also refers to Surt, this can be noticed by his theme (fire), his appearance (black skin and covered in flames), and one of his phrases says that he will throw fire on the world, exactly as Surt does during Ragnarök.
In the book Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Surt is one of the characters, who is responsible for the death of the protagonist.
Surtur is also used in the patch of the vests of the one-percent (outlaw) motorcycle club, "Pagan's".
In the electronic game for PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Surt appears as one of the game's Bosses. In the game he is the representation of fire that destroys everything.
In the latest Saint Seiya (The Knights of the Zodiac) anime set in Asgard, entitled Saint Seiya: Soul of Gold, in which the Golden Knights are mysteriously revived, Surt appears as one of the Warrior Gods of Odin's supposed new representative Andreas, and also as a childhood friend of Camus of Aquarius, who came to hate the Knight after the latter - accidentally - killed his sister Sinmore. Inside the Yggdrasil tree, in one of its Seven Chambers, Surtr protects the Chamber of Fire, known, precisely, as Muspelheim. He is defeated by the Knight of Aquarius, whose soul awakens, along with the divine armor, but Camus spares his life so that he can start over and live, this time, in the name of the true Odin.
In the third film of Marvel's "Thor" trilogy, named Thor Ragnarok, Surtur appears as one of the characters, and his helmet is essential in triggering the destruction of the planet Asgard.
In the mobile game Fire Emblem Heroes, Surtur appears as one of the antagonists in one of the game's acts, and is also present as a character used by the player.
