Ymir
In Norse mythology, Ymir, also named Aurgelmir (Old Norse gravel-yeller) among the giants themselves, was the founder of the race of frost giants and an important figure in Norse cosmology. Snorri Sturluson combined several sources, along with some of his own conclusions, to explain Ymir's role in the Norse creation myth. The main sources available are the great Eddic poem Völuspá, the question and answer poem Grímnismál, and the question and answer poem Vafþrúðnismál. According to these poems, Ginnungagap existed before Heaven and Earth. The Northern region of Ginnungagap became full of ice, and this harsh land was known as Niflheim. Opposite of Niflheim was the southern region known as Muspelheim, which contained bright sparks and glowing embers. Ymir was conceived in Ginnungagap when the ice of Niflheim met with Muspelheim's heat and melted, releasing "eliwaves" and drops of eitr. The eitr drops stuck together and formed a giant of rime frost (a hrimthurs) between the two worlds and the sparks from Muspelheim gave him life. While Ymir slept, he fell into a sweat and conceived the race of giants. Under his left arm grew a man and a woman, and his legs begat his six-headed son Þrúðgelmir.
Ymir fed from the primeval cow Auðhumla's four rivers of milk, who in turn fed from licking the salty ice blocks. Her licking the rime ice eventually revealed the body of a man named Búri. Búri fathered Borr, and Borr and his wife Bestla had three sons given the names Odin, Vili and Vé.
The sons of Borr killed Ymir, and when Ymir fell the blood from his wounds poured forth. Ymir's blood drowned almost the entire tribe of frost giants. Only two giants survived the flood of Ymir's blood, one was Ymir's grandson Bergelmir (son of Þrúðgelmir), and the other his wife. Bergelmir and his wife brought forth new families of frost giants.
Odin and his brothers used Ymir's body to create Midgard at the center of Ginnungagap. His flesh became the earth. The blood of Ymir formed seas and lakes. From his bones mountains were erected. His teeth and bone fragments became stones. From his hair grew trees and maggots from his flesh became the race of dwarves. The gods set Ymir's skull above Ginnungagap and made the sky, supported by four dwarves. These dwarves were given the names East, West, North and South. Odin then created winds by placing one of Bergelmir's sons, in the form of an eagle, at the ends of the earth . He cast Ymir's brains into the wind to become the clouds.
Next, the sons of Borr took sparks from Muspelheim and dispersed them throughout Ginnungagap, thus creating stars and light for Heaven and Earth. From pieces of driftwood trees the sons of Borr made men. They made a man named Ask and a woman named Embla. On the brow of Ymir the sons of Bor built a stronghold to protect the race of men from the giants.
Two other names associated with Ymir are Brimir and Bláin according to Völuspá, stanza 9, where the gods discuss forming the race of dwarfs from the "blood of Brimir and the limbs of Bláin". Later in stanza 37, Brimir is mentioned as having a beer hall in Ókólnir. In Gylfaginning "Brimir" is the name of the hall itself, destined to survive the destruction of Ragnarök and providing an "abundance of good drink" for the souls of the virtuous.
Ymir and Yama
In a disputable etymology, W. Meid (1992) has linked the names Ymir (which can be reconstructed in Proto-Germanic as *umijaz or *jumijaz, in the latter case possibly deriving from Proto-Indo-European *ym̩yos) and the name of the Indic death deity Yama, reconstructed in PIE as *yemos, from the root yem "twin". Yama shares with Ymir the characteristics of being primeval and mortal, but in other respects is a very different character, the first of mortal men and kings who after death becomes ruler of the realm of the dead.
In popular culture
- Ymir has been adapted by Marvel Comics, principally as an enemy of Thor.
- Ymir is Monster in My Pocket #52. In the comic book, he is allied with the evil monsters.
- In the PC game Age of Mythology: The Titans, Ymir can be created as a strong character to defend the Norse civilization and attack others.
These versions of Ymir appear to be composed largely of ice. The Monster in My Pocket character also has large red eyes, while the Marvel character typically carries a club made of ice. In the PC game, Ymir wields a large ice hammer.
- In the Gameboy Advance version of Final Fantasy VI, the first boss is named Ymir (his name in the original SNES version was Whelk, because he was a whelk shell). He shares no relation to the Norse giant, however.
See also
- Purusha
- Cipactli
- Tiamat
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Branston, Brian: Gods & Heroes from Viking Mythology. Eurobook Limited, 1978.
- Meid, W.: 1992. Die Germanische Religion im Zeugnis der Sprache. In Beck et al., Germanische Religionsgeschichte – Quellen und Quellenprobleme, pp. 486-507. New York, de Gruyter.*Page, R.I.: Norse Myths. Bath Press, 1990, University of Texas Press, 1996.
- Turville-Petre, O. E. G.: Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1964.
- Winterbourne, Anthony: When the Norns have Spoken. Rosemont Publishing & Printing Corp., 2004.
- Young, Jean I.: The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson: Tales from Norse Mythology. Bowes & Bowes, 1954.
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