World-Serpents of the Chaoskampf Myth

World-Serpents of the Chaoskampf Myth gathers the giant serpent and dragon adversaries who oppose a principal order-bringing deity across separate mythological traditions, a recurring pattern comparative mythology terms the chaoskampf, or struggle against chaos. Jormungandr, the Norse World Serpent, is of such unfathomable size that it encircles the entire earth while biting its own tail, and is fated to battle the thunder god Thor. Vritra, a Vedic danava described as a serpent blocking the course of the Rigvedic rivers, personifies drought and stands as the great adversary of the storm god Indra, who slays him. Apep, the ancient Egyptian deity of chaos and darkness depicted as a giant serpent, is the constant opponent of the sun god Ra and the principle of order he upholds. Each of the three figures fills the identical narrative role of a monstrous serpent opposing a sky or storm deity.