In Norse mythology, Surt is the ruler of the fire giants and lord of Muspellheim, the kingdom of fire. His name means Dark or Black, and at the end of the world, Ragnarök, his hordes will rush northward like a southern wind to crush the gods.
In Richard Wagner's opera, Götterdämmerung (The Twilight of the Gods), (1876), Surt was married to Sinmore. In Snorri Sturluson's Edda (1179-1241) in that marriage was born brooke the firstborn worthy of elderstahl or the sword of death : "Surt is the one on the border of Muspel, guarding the land.
His sword is flaming and as the world ends he will go forth, he will wage war against the gods and defeat them. He will burn the whole world with fire" (Gimlé Gylfaginning, IV). Only the Forest of Hodmímir will remain, for it is the only thing his sword cannot destroy, and from there will arise those who will populate the new world once more. He will also kill the god Freyr.
Surtsey is a new volcanic island that emerged to the surface off the south coast of Iceland in 1963. Its name in Icelandic means "Island of Surt".
