Norse Mythology · giant

Ymir

also: Aurgelmir

giantthe primordial giant

The first being, an ice-giant formed from the rime of Ginnungagap; his body became the world.

The account

Who they are

Ymir is the first living being, a giant of rime and frost who formed in Ginnungagap and was nourished by the milk of the cow Auðhumbla, who licked him free of the ice [S2]. From his sweating armpits came two more giants (a male and a female), and from his foot a six-headed son [S2]. When the gods Odin, Vili, and Vé killed Ymir, his body became the world: his blood the seas, his flesh the earth, his bones the mountains, his skull the sky, and his brains the clouds [S2]. Ymir's descendants, the frost-giants (jötnar), are the gods' chief enemies [S1][S2].

Worth knowing

The first being; formed from rime and frost [S2].
Nourished by the cow Auðhumbla, who licked him free of ice [S2].
His body became the world when the gods killed him [S2].
His descendants (frost-giants) are the gods' chief enemies [S1][S2].

Relationships (5)

Connections

Creation

CREATEDGinnungagap — Ginnungagap's rime and frost formed Ymir.[S2]

CREATEDBúri — (Alternative reading) some accounts link Ymir's sweat to the first beings; we keep the salt/Auðhumbla account as primary.[S2]

Conflict & enmity

KILLEDOdin — Odin, Vili, and Vé killed Ymir and made the world from his body.[S2]

KILLEDVili — Vili (with Odin and Vé) killed Ymir.[S2]

KILLEDVé — Vé (with Odin and Vili) killed Ymir.[S2]

Local graph

Their corner of the divine world

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hierarchical — generations top → bottom, partners side by side

Overlays

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Myths featuring Ymir

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].

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