In Old Norse, dragons held significant symbolic meaning, often representing chaos, power, and wisdom. Fierce creatures like Níðhöggr, who gnawed at the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree, and Fafnir, the greed-driven dragon slain by the hero Sigurd, played central roles in the myths. Dragons were seen as formidable adversaries, embodying both destructive forces and the potential for great treasure or knowledge, making them key figures in the epic tales of Norse mythology.