Which two humans survive Ragnarok by hiding?

The story behind the answer

Which two humans survive Ragnarok by hiding? Líf and Lífþrasir are the two humans foretold to survive Ragnarok by hiding in Hoddmímis holt.

In Vafþrúðnismál, Odin asks who will remain alive after Fimbulvetr, the terrible winter preceding the final destruction. The answer is Líf and Lífþrasir, who conceal themselves in Hoddmímis holt and live on morning dew. Snorri Sturluson repeats the story in Gylfaginning, describing their refuge during Surtr’s fire.

After the flames and devastation pass, the pair emerge and repopulate the renewed world. Their names are commonly interpreted as relating to “life” and a love or attachment to life. Some scholars connect Hoddmímis holt with Mímir and suggest it may be another name for, or a refuge within, Yggdrasil. That identification is an interpretation, not an explicit statement in every source. Líf and Lífþrasir are also distinct from Ask and Embla, the first human pair in Norse creation lore.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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