Norse Mythology · deity

Búri

Búrir
deitythe first god

The first god, formed from the salt the primordial cow licked from the ice; father of Borr.

BÚ
The account

Who they are

Búri is the first of the gods, formed from the salt that the cow Auðhumbla licked from the ice [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. He is the father of Borr, who married the giantess Bestla, and their sons are the three gods Odin, Vili, and Vé [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗. Búri is a remote ancestor, barely developed in the sources — he is the link between the primordial world and the divine line.
Worth knowing
  • Formed from salt licked from the ice [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
  • Father of Borr, grandfather of Odin [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Uncertainties & variants
  • Búri's role is minimal in the sources; he is a genealogical link [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.
Relationships (3)

Connections

Family & kinship

PARENT_OFBorr — Búri is the parent of Borr.[S2]

Creation

CREATEDAuðhumbla — Búri was formed from the salt Auðhumbla licked from the ice.[S2]
CREATEDYmir — (Alternative reading) some accounts link Ymir's sweat to the first beings; we keep the salt/Auðhumbla account as primary.[S2]
Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

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hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side
Overlays
FocusBúriNorse
NORSE · 40variantvariantvariant♥♥♥♥♥♥BrísingamenGjallarhornDraupnirGungnirSkíðblaðnirMjölnirAngerboagiantthe giantess mother of the monsters4 relationsAuðhumblacreaturethe primordial cow2 relationsBestlagiantthe giantess mother of the gods3 relationsBúrideitythe first god3 relationsFriggdeitymarriage2 relationsGerðrgiantthe giantess beloved of Freyr2 relationsGinnungagaprealmthe void2 relationsHöðrdeitythe blind brother of Baldr4 relationsHrungnirgiantthe giant of the iron head2 relationsJárnsaxa (Járnsaxa)giantthe giantess mother of Thor's sons2 relationsLokitrickstercunning11 relationsMuspel (fire)realmfire0 relationsNannadeitythe wife of Baldr3 relationsNiflheim (ice)realmice0 relationsNjorddeitythe sea3 relationsSídgiantthe giantess who bore Sleipnir (in one accou…2 relationsSifdeitythe wife of Thor2 relationsSkaðideitythe huntress1 relationsSurtgiantthe fire-giant3 relationsTýrdeitywar1 relationsYmirgiantthe primordial giant5 relationsBorrdeitythe ancestor of the gods4 relationsFenrirmonsterthe great wolf8 relationsFreyjadeitylove3 relationsFreyrdeityfertility7 relationsHeldeitythe dead3 relationsJörmungandrmonsterthe world-serpent4 relationsSleipnircreaturethe eight-legged horse of Odin2 relationsOdindeitywisdom15 relationsVédeityone of the three brothers who made the world5 relationsVilideityone of the three brothers who made the world5 relationsBaldrdeitylight10 relationsHeimdalldeitythe watchman3 relationsThordeitythunder10 relationsVálideitythe avenger of Baldr2 relationsVíðarrdeitysilence2 relationsFosite (Forsétir)deitypeace3 relationsMagnideitystrength3 relationsMóðideitystrength4 relationsUllrdeitythe archer1 relations
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Myths featuring Búri

1 story

The Creation of the World from Ymir

Between the ice of Niflheim and the fire of Muspelheim, in the void of Ginnungagap, the rime formed the giant Ymir and the cow Auðhumbla. From the salt Auðhumbla licked came the first god, Búri. His descendants — Odin, Vili, and Vé — killed Ymir and made the world from his body: his blood the seas, his flesh the earth, his bones the mountains, his skull the sky [S2]S2 · Snorri Sturluson, Prose Eddac. 1220–1235textOpen source ↗.

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