Giant Mimir And The Well Of Wisdom In Norse Beliefs
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - In Norse mythology, giant Mimir usually appears in the company of Odin, the most powerful and wisest of the gods.
The giant Mimir, however, can easily compete with Odin because he – like the Norns - possesses the wisdom that is not from this world.
Odin Questions Mimir by Carl Emil Doepler, Jr. (1905) Credit: Public Domain
He is the consultant of the gods and knows the secrets of magic runes, and can predict the future. He is the god of knowledge and wisdom and is often called the god of prophecy.
Mimir (in Old Norse: "The Rememberer, The Wise One") is a mysterious figure in Norse beliefs, and it is unclear if he is a god or one of the giants. Three forms of his name are known: Mimi, Mimr, and Mimir, and this name has a strong association with the Latin "memor" – memory, and the Greek: "mermairo" – care.
Mimir is the owner of the Mimir's Well that keeps wisdom and understanding in the world. The well and Mimir's abode are located beneath the second root of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Mimir guards the well, drinks from it daily, and gains his wisdom from this source. He also feeds Yggdrasil, the sacred tree, daily on the waters from the well.
A Sacrifice In Exchange For A Drink From Mimir's Well
Many visitors come and ask for a drink, but at first, they have to provide a sacrifice of some kind. The god Odin also attempts to access the sacred mead from the well. Mimir is aware of the value of such a favor. He demands a sacrifice in exchange for a drink from the well.
"All right, then I will give you a sip," he says, but it will cost you. The price will be your right eye."
Mimir and Odin by E. Phillip Fleischer (1881). Credit: Public Domain
Whether Odin sacrifices the eye willingly or after some debate is unknown, but in the end, Odin drops his right eye to the well. The eye loss is the price Odin must pay to gain the privilege of drinking from the well.
Why Did Mimir's Head End Up In A Well?
From Norse mythology, we learn that after the war between the Aesir and Vanir, Mimir was sent together with Hoenir to the Vanir gods.
Known as God of Silence and Odin's brother, Hoenir was indecisive and always relied on Mimir to make the decisions. It made the Vanir suspicious and annoyed, so they beheaded Mimir and sent his Head back to Odin and the Aesir.
Odin used his magic to preserve Mimir's Head and often consulted the beheaded god for advice and wisdom. Mimir's Head is the wisest of all heads ever known, but it cannot solve all the problems.
On the day when Fenrir threatens the destruction of the world, the mighty Odin seeks Mimir's advice. Unfortunately, Mimir's Head, the wisest of all heads, cannot help him in this case.
Stories about Mimir are included in the Poetic Edda poems "Völuspá" and "Sigrdrífumál." However, the story about Mimir's Head is narrated only in Snorri Sturluson's "Ynglinga Saga," the first part of "Heimskringla."
Snorri most probably either quoted poems that have not survived in the manuscripts, or he invented this story.
Updated on August 17, 2022
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesReferences:
Brate E. Eddan, De nordiska guda- och hjältesångerna
Baeksted A. Nordiska gudar och hjältar
More From Ancient Pages
-
Secrets Of Viking Age Shields Finally Revealed
Civilizations | Oct 7, 2020 -
Lamashtu Plaque: Assyrian Healing Device Against The Evil Goddess
Artifacts | Mar 16, 2023 -
Sacred Crystals Of The Cherokee – Myths, Traditions And History Explained
Featured Stories | Jun 3, 2019 -
Long-Lost Viking Waterway Leading To Orkney, The Great Norse Empire – Discovered
Archaeology | Aug 5, 2020 -
Lofn ‘Matchmaker’ – Norse Goddess Of Forbidden Marriages Of People Who Wish To Be Loved And Search For Partners
Featured Stories | Mar 25, 2021 -
Ten Ancient Jugs May Reveal The Location Of The Biblical Tabernacle
Archaeology | Jul 21, 2017 -
Early Twelfth-Century Castle Walls Unearthed Outside Gloucester, England
Archaeology | Dec 9, 2015 -
Greek God Asclepius And Ancient Healing Center ‘Asclepion Of Pergamum’
Civilizations | Nov 29, 2014 -
Riddle Of The Hanging Gardens Of Babylon – Highly Advanced Technologies – Part 2
Featured Stories | Jun 11, 2019 -
Oldest Carving Of A Penis Discovered On Ancient Mongolian Pendant
Archaeology | Jun 20, 2023 -
23,000-Year-Old Footprints Are Earliest Evidence Of Human Activity Found In The Americas
Archaeology | Sep 23, 2021 -
Sculpture Of Lord Vishnu Dated To The Early 9th Century Found In Kashmir
Archaeology | Aug 4, 2022 -
Researchers Confirm Museum Shrunken Head As Human Remains
Archaeology | Aug 4, 2022 -
Ancient Tomb Chamber Of Parthian Warrior Was Accidentally Unearthed In Iran
Archaeology | Apr 30, 2020 -
Utsuro Bune: Ancient Extraterrestrial Encounter With A ‘Hollow Ship’ And An Alien Visitor
Featured Stories | Jun 11, 2020 -
Nobel Prize: Svante Pääbo’s Ancient DNA Discoveries Offer Clues As To What Makes Us Human
DNA | Oct 12, 2022 -
Unique Discovery – 2,000-Year-Old Roman Coins Found On Gotska Sandön In Sweden
Archaeology | Apr 13, 2023 -
Rosetta Stone – Artifact That Solves The Riddle Of Egyptian Hieroglyphics
Artifacts | Sep 28, 2015 -
Angerona – Goddess Of Silence During Cosmic Crises And Protector Of Ancient Rome
Featured Stories | Feb 15, 2019 -
Underwater Jars Reveal Roman Period Winemaking Practices
Archaeology | Jun 30, 2022