Norse Mythology 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
Vafţrúđnismál. 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 Ţrúđgelmir.
Ymir fed from the primeval cow Auđhumla'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 Ţrúđgelmir), 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.