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Mimir

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description Mimir Overview

Mímir is a figure in Norse mythology renowned for exceptional wisdom and knowledge, associated with a well or spring called Mímisbrunnr located beneath one of the roots of the world tree Yggdrasil. According to the Poetic Edda, Odin sacrificed one of his eyes to drink from the well and gain cosmic understanding. In the Prose Edda, Mímir is described as beheaded following the Æsir–Vanir War; Odin preserved his head, which continued to offer counsel and secret knowledge. He appears in several Old Norse literary sources, including Völuspá and the Ynglinga saga.

help Mimir FAQ

Why did Odin give up an eye at Mímir's well?

Odin placed one eye in Mímisbrunnr as the price for a drink associated with wisdom and intelligence. The well lies beneath a root of Yggdrasil in the surviving Norse accounts.

Why is Mímir sometimes shown as a talking head?

During the Æsir-Vanir conflict, the Vanir beheaded Mímir and sent his head back to the Æsir. Odin preserved it with herbs and spells so that it could continue giving counsel.

Is Mímir definitely one of the Norse gods?

The surviving sources do not classify him consistently enough to give a simple answer. He is variously interpreted as an Æsir-associated being, a giant, or an exceptionally wise counselor.

Which old texts mention Mímir and Mímisbrunnr?

Mímir appears in works preserved in the Poetic Edda, including Völuspá, and in Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda. These sources connect him with Odin's eye, his well, and counsel given before Ragnarök.

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