Lindworm

 The Lindworm is a giant serpent dragon, wingless and without legs. It appears in both mythology and as a symbol in heraldry. According to Norse mythology, the most well known Lindworm is Jorumungandr the World Serpent. While associated with gigantic snakes, the Lindworm is a huge sea serpent or probably described as a sea dragon. The word itself "Lindworm" is from two Old High German words, "lint" and "orm", Old Danish word "lithi", Old English "lithe", all of which means flexible, slithery and pliant. Snakes are lithe, as well as graceful and supple. 

It was once believed that the lindworm was lucky and created extra fortunes. The figure of a serpent eating its own tail is a lindworm, a self destructive type that can't be positive. While some stories about lindworms talk of a dangerous creature that eats people, other stories show a benign lindworm that could've been transformed. 

In Sweden, the lindworm is also described as "mane snake" as it has hair on its head like a human or a horse. It's venomous and ejects blinding fluid. They live deep in the forests, under rocks and hidden from sight. If located, it can strike. Lindworm eggs are found under tila cordata small-leaf lime trees (linden trees). Other well known Lindworms includes Nidhogg and Ofnir, who both bite the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Also Fafnir, who was a dwarf and became a lindworm after being turned into one. Grabak or "the grey back" appears on a stanza. Graffvoludr the "grave digger".  

To discover more about Lindworms, visit the Lindworm page at Cryptid Wiki.

Also check The Poetic Edda study guide at Germanicmythology.com. 

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