They called this world Midgard, the Middle Yard, for its central place along Yggdrasil and its safe enclosure. They used Ymir’s eyebrows to make a protective wall to encircle their new land and keep it safe from attack. Their new world was complete, but the brothers could see that the jötnar would pose a threat to it. These became the sun, moon, and stars that gave light to the world. The brothers captured sparks that flew up from Muspelheim and placed in the new sky. The giant’s skull was placed over the new world to make the sky and his brains became the clouds that floated through it. Not wanting the world to be flat, they used his bones and teeth to make mountains and fjords. Ymir’s body became the surface of the land while his blood was brought together to make seas and rivers. Odin and his brothers decided to use it to make a new world. Ymir’s body was left in the center of Ginnungagap. Only a few remained, from whom all jötnar were descended. ![]() When they did so, the torrents of blood that flowed out of him washed away most of the frost giants. The three sons of Besta plotted to kill the giant. Ymir and the frost giants were cruel and evil, however. In others, Bestla was one of the first frost jötnar who were formed from Ymir’s sweat.īorr and Bestla had three sons who they named Odin, Vili, and Vé. His son was named Borr.Īccording to some versions of the legend, he also had a daughter named Bestla who Borr married. Eventually, it formed Búri, the first god.īúri eventually had at least one child, although the process by which he did so is unknown. Where Auðumla licked, the ice took shape. ![]() Ymir fed on her milk while Auðumla licked the salt that had gathered on the icy rocks of Niflheim. The mists also created Auðumla, an enormous primordial cow. The steam and mists swirled and concentrated until they took the form of Ymir, the first giant. The heat and fire began to mix in Ginunngagap. When these fell all the way to Muspelheim, they sent up sparks. The scant warmth that reached Niflheim made small droplets of water thaw and drip off of the ice. Meanwhile, the southern portion of Ginunngagap grew hotter and hotter. The water that was not taken up by Yggdrasil quickly froze, forming the frigid world of Niflheim. The northern portion of Ginnungagap was extremely cold, however. This gave water to Yggdrasil, the great World Tree. In the north was a well called Hvergelmir. The Norse creation myth began with an empty space called Ginnungagap. Even the most amazing aspects of the Norse creation myth have parallels in other European cultures, however.įrom the first giant to an enormous salt-licking cow, keep reading to find out what makes the Norse myth of creation unique and memorable! The Creation of the Worlds, The Gods, and Man Many aspects of this creation myth are familiar, but some seem especially fantastical or surprising. The Norse people, like all other ancient cultures, had their own explanation for how the world began. Until the 20th century, there was no explanation for the origins of the universe other than the supernatural. One of the biggest questions people have always had was how the world and mankind were created. Things that mankind was unable to explain were attributed to deities, monsters, and fate. Finally, during Ragnarök - the Norse doomsday - Thor's great battle against the villainous Midgard Serpent ends with the God of Thunder stumbling for nine steps before he collapses dead.In every region of the world, mythology has been used to explain the workings of the universe. When Odin hung himself from a branch of Yggdrasil, peering down into the dark waters beneath him, he stared downward for nine long nights, at the end of which he was permitted to see the secrets beneath. The god Freyr was made to hold off on marrying Gerd for, you guessed it, nine days. Heimdall, the guy who guards the rainbow bridge Bifröst, was born to nine women, which must've certainly made for complex family dinners. ), according to philologist Rudolf Simek, and throughout the many Norse legends, the number reappears quite often. For instance, there are tales of sacrificial feasts lasting for nine days, involving nine sacrifices. ![]() The important of nine may be derived from the lunar calendar's 27 days being a multiple of nine (say it, kids, nine times three equals. Now, if you're living in a universe that has nine worlds held up on a tree, nine is obviously going to be a supreme number.
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