Ragnarok: The Age Of Fire And Gravel

Ragnarok: The Age of Fire and Gravel is a book by Ignatius Donnelly, first published in 1883. In this work, Donnelly expands on his theories of ancient catastrophism, proposing that a comet impact in prehistoric times was responsible for massive geological upheavals, climate changes, and the destruction of an advanced civilization. He connects myths from various cultures — particularly the Norse legend of Ragnarok — to support his hypothesis that ancient accounts of fire and chaos reflect real historical events caused by cosmic disasters.

Drawing from a wide range of sources, Donnelly weaves together mythology, geology, and archaeology to argue that a lost, technologically advanced civilization once existed but was wiped out by a cataclysmic event.

While not accepted by mainstream science, Donnelly's work fueled public fascination with the idea of prehistoric catastrophes shaping human history. Ragnarok was a follow-up to his earlier book, Atlantis: The Antediluvian World. Though largely dismissed by scholars today, Ragnarok remains a fascinating exploration of the intersection between mythology, history, and speculative science.

This edition does not include illustrations.