Editing Mímir

{{short description|Norse god of wisdom}}
{{Redirects here|Mimir||Mimir (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
[[File:Oden vid Mims lik.jpg|thumb|A 19th century depiction of [[Odin]] finding Mímir's beheaded body (''[[Poetic Edda]]'' by [[Erik Brate]])]]

'''Mímir''' or '''Mim''' is a figure in [[Norse mythology]], renowned for his knowledge and wisdom, who is beheaded during the [[Æsir–Vanir War]]. Afterward, the god [[Odin]] carries around Mímir's head and it recites secret knowledge and counsel to him.

Mímir is attested in the ''[[Poetic Edda]]'', compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the ''[[Prose Edda]]'', written in the 13th century by [[Snorri Sturluson]] of Iceland, and in [[euhemerized]] form as one of the [[Æsir]] in ''[[Heimskringla]]'', also written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. Mímir's name appears in the names of the well [[Mímisbrunnr]], and the names [[Mímameiðr]] and [[Hoddmímis holt]], which scholars generally consider to be names for [[Yggdrasil]]. Scholars have proposed that [[Bestla]] may be Mímir's sister, and therefore Mímir would be Odin's maternal uncle.

==Etymology==
The proper names ''Mímir'' and ''Mim'' present difficulties for historical linguists. However, the most generally accepted etymology among philologists is that ''Mímir'' stems from a [[reduplication]] of the [[Proto-Indo-European verbs|Proto-Indo-European verb]] *''(s)mer-'', meaning 'to think, recall, reflect, worry over' (compare [[Sanskrit]] ''smárati'', [[Avestan]] ''hi-šmaraiti'', [[Ancient Greek]] ''mermaírō'', [[Gothic language|Gothic]] ''maúrnan'').<ref name="LINCOLN-1991-54-55">Lincoln (1991: 54–55).</ref>

In turn, scholars note that the names ''Mímir'' and ''Mim'' are therefore likely ultimately to be related to the modern English word 'memory' and its associated concepts.<ref name="LINCOLN-1991-54-55"/> For example, scholar Rudolf Simek renders the name as meaning 'the rememberer, the wise one'.<ref name=SIMEK216>Simek (2007:216).</ref>

==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>

==Theories==
On the basis of ''Hávamál'' 140 – where Odin learns nine magic songs from the unnamed brother of his mother [[Bestla]] – some scholars have theorized that Bestla's brother may in fact be Mímir, who would then be Odin's maternal uncle. This also means that Mimir's father would be [[Bölþorn]].<ref name="MIMIR-BESTLA">Examples include Rydberg (1886:176), Bellows (1923:92) and Puhvel (1989:212).</ref>

In the theories of Viktor Rydberg, Mímir's wife is [[Sinmara]], named in the poem ''Fjölsvinnsmal''. According to Rydberg, the byname ''Sinmara'' ("sinew-maimir") refers to "Mímir-[[Niðhad]]"'s "queen ordering [[Wayland Smith|Völund]]'s hamstrings to be cut".<ref name=RYDBERG196>Rydberg (2003:196).</ref>

==In popular culture==
Mímir features in [[Santa Monica Studio]]'s 2018 [[Action-adventure game|action-adventure]] video game [[God of War (2018 video game)|''God of War'']] and its 2022 sequel ''[[God of War Ragnarök]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/god-of-war-ragnarok-guide/23434302/norse-myth-inspiration-characters-odin-thor-freya |title=How God of War Ragnarök's characters compare to actual Norse myth |work=Polygon |date=7 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |archive-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109222246/https://www.polygon.com/god-of-war-ragnarok-guide/23434302/norse-myth-inspiration-characters-odin-thor-freya |url-status=live }}</ref>  He is voiced by Scottish actor [[Alastair Duncan (actor, born 1958)|Alastair Duncan]] in both entries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/god-of-war-ragnarok-cast-voice-actors-every-character/ |title=God of War Ragnarok Cast: Every Character and Voice Actor |work=denofgeek |date=8 November 2022 |access-date=10 November 2022 |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110000840/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/god-of-war-ragnarok-cast-voice-actors-every-character/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{commons category|Mímir}}

==See also==
* [[Mimir (sculpture)|''Mimir'' (sculpture)]], a 1980 bronze and concrete sculpture in Portland, Oregon
*''[[Nine Herbs Charm]]'', an Anglo-Saxon charm featuring Woden and herbs.
* [[Brazen head]]

==References==
{{reflist|22em}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin|22em}}
* {{cite book |translator=Byock, Jesse |year=2006 |title=The Prose Edda |publisher=[[Penguin Classics]] |isbn=0-14-044755-5}}
* {{cite book |translator=Faulkes, Anthony |year=1995 |title=Edda |publisher=[[Everyman's Library]] |isbn=0-460-87616-3}}
* {{cite book |translator=Larrington, Carolyne |year=1999 |title=The Poetic Edda |publisher=[[Oxford World's Classics]] |isbn=0-19-283946-2}}
* {{cite book |editor-link=Lee M. Hollander |editor=Hollander, Lee M. (trans.) |year=2007 |title=Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway |publisher=[[University of Texas Press]] |isbn=978-0-292-73061-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&q=Heimskringla:+History+of+the+Kings+of+Norway |access-date=11 April 2022 |archive-date=23 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423123022/https://books.google.com/books?id=qHpwje7-wNkC&q=Heimskringla:+History+of+the+Kings+of+Norway |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |author=Lincoln, Bruce |year=1991 |title=Death, War, and Sacrifice: Studies in ideology & practice |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |isbn=9780226482002}}
* {{cite book |author=Simek, Rudolf |year=2007 |translator=Hall, Angela |title=Dictionary of Northern Mythology |publisher=[[Boydell & Brewer|D.S. Brewer]] |isbn=978-0-85991-513-7}}
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{{Norse mythology}}

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[[Category:Æsir]]
[[Category:Jötnar]]
[[Category:Killed deities]]
[[Category:Norse gods]]
[[Category:Wisdom gods]]