Editing Mímir (section)

==Attestations==
[[File:Mímer and Balder Consulting the Norns (1821-1822) by H. E. Freund.jpg|thumb|"Mímer and [[baldr|Balder]] Consulting the [[Norns]]" (1821–1822) by [[H. E. Freund]]]]

===''Poetic Edda''===
Mímir is mentioned in the ''[[Poetic Edda]]'' poems ''[[Völuspá]]'' and ''[[Sigrdrífumál]]''. In ''Völuspá'', Mímir is mentioned in two stanzas. Stanza 28 references Odin's sacrifice of his eye to Mímir's Well, and states that Mímir drinks mead every morning "from the Father of the Slain's [Odin] wager."<ref name=LARRINGTON7>Larrington (1999:7).</ref> Stanza 46 describes that, in reference to [[Ragnarök]], the "sons" of Mím are at play while "fate burns" (though no further information about these "sons" has survived),<ref name=LARRINGTON265>Larrington (1999:265).</ref> that the god [[Heimdallr]] blows the [[Gjallarhorn]], and that Mímir's severed head gives counsel to Odin. The single mention in stanza 14 of ''Sigrdrífumál'' is also a reference to Mímir's speaking, decollated head. Stanzas 20 and 24 of the poem ''[[Fjölsvinnsmál]]'' refer to [[Yggdrasil]] as ''Mímameiðr''.

===''Prose Edda''===
In chapter 15 of the ''[[Prose Edda]]'' book ''[[Gylfaginning]]'', as owner of his namesake well, Mímir himself drinks from it and gains great knowledge. To drink from the well, he uses the [[Gjallarhorn]], a [[drinking horn]] which shares its name with the sounding horn used by Heimdallr intended to announce the onset of Ragnarök. The section further relates that the well is located beneath one of the [[Numbers in Norse mythology|three]] roots of [[Yggdrasil]], in the [[Jötunheimr|realm]] of the [[Jötunn|frost jötnar]].

Chapter 51 relates that, with the onset of Ragnarök, "Heimdall stands up and blows the Gjallarhorn with all his strength. He wakens all the gods who then hold an [[Thing (assembly)|assembly]]. Odin now rides to Mimir's Well, seeking council for both himself and his followers. The ash Yggdrasil shakes, and nothing, whether in heaven or on earth, is without fear."<ref name=BYOCK72>Byock (2006:72).</ref>

In the ''Prose Edda'' book ''[[Skáldskaparmál]]'', Mímir's name appears in various [[kenning]]s. These kennings include "Mím's friend" (for "Odin") in three places, "mischief-Mímir" (a kenning for "jötunn"),<ref name=FAULKES84>Faulkes (1995:84).</ref> and among a list of names for jötunn.<ref name=FAULKES155>Faulkes (1995:155).</ref>

===''Heimskringla''===
Mímir is mentioned in chapters 4 and 7 of the saga ''[[Ynglinga Saga]]'', as collected in ''Heimskringla''. In chapter 4, Snorri presents a euhemerized account of the [[Æsir-Vanir War]]. Snorri states that the two sides eventually tired of the war and both agree to meet to establish a truce. The two sides meet and exchanged [[hostage]]s. [[Vanaheimr]] are described as having sent to [[Asgard]] their best men: [[Njörðr]]—described as wealthy—and his son [[Freyr]] in exchange for Asaland's [[Hœnir]]—described here as large, handsome, and thought of by the people of Vanaheimr well suited to be a chieftain. Additionally, the Æsir send Mímir—described as a man of great understanding—in exchange for [[Kvasir]], who Snorri describes as the wisest man of Vanaheimr.<ref name=HOLLANDER8>Hollander (2007:8).</ref>

Snorri continues that, upon arrival in Vanaheimr, Hœnir was immediately made chief and Mímir often gave him good counsel. However, when Hœnir was at meetings and at the [[Thing (assembly)|Thing]] without Mímir by his side, he would always answer the same way: "Let others decide."<ref name=HOLLANDER8/> Subsequently, the Vanir suspected they had been cheated in the exchange by the Æsir, so they seized Mimir and [[Decapitation|beheaded]] him and sent the head to Asgard. Odin took the head of Mímir, [[embalming|embalmed]] it with [[herb]]s so that it would not rot, and spoke [[spell (paranormal)|charm]]s over it, which gave it the power to speak to him and reveal to him secrets.<ref name=HOLLANDER8/> The head of Mímir is again mentioned in chapter 7 in connection with Odin, where Odin is described as keeping Mímir's head with him and that it divulged information from other worlds.<ref name=HOLLANDER11>Hollander (2007:11).</ref>