MÃmir
Mimir is a being of Germanic mythology that guards one of the sources below the world tree Yggdrasil. Knowledge, wisdom and Weissagungsgabe Mimir are so famous that even Odin maintains a close bond to him to obtain his advice.
- 2.1 Etymology
- 2.2 Nature and Ethnicity
- 2.3 Mimir's fountain and the world tree
- 2.4 Walvaters deposit
- 2.5 Mimir's main
- 2.6 Naturmythologische interpretations
Swell
Edda
The myths about Mimir come from different sources of Old Norse literature, but in truth they are already in the oldest text of the Poetic Edda, the Völuspá containing whose roots are still up in pre-Christian times.
Then under the World Tree Yggdrasil springs the source of wisdom, from which flows a rushing waterfall. It is one of three primary sources of Norse mythology. In its vicinity is the Gjallarhorn the god Heimdall, the sounds in all worlds when you blow into in it. Guardian of the source is Mimir, which is named after him Mimir's fountain. Every morning he drinks mead from her.
Odin acquires wisdom, because he is drinking well from the well of Mimir. However, he must first sacrificing one eye and in the fountain place ( Walvaters deposit). Since Odin was one-eyed. Despite his wisdom Strunk Odin applies even for advice on Mimir's head, as the order of the world is in danger and the gods of doom threatens ( the Ragnarok ). How did it happen that Mimir was beheaded, the Völuspá does not describe.
Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda Gylfaginning repeated in the statements of Völuspá and she adds. He says that the source is below the root of Yggdrasil, which goes to the frost giants. His knowledge and wisdom gained as Mimir Odin, because he drinks from the source. The Gjallarhorn provided him with a drinking horn. On one point, Snorri gives way but essentially on the Völuspá. When he rides in the time of Ragnarok Odin to Mimir's well and gets there the Council Mimir one. Mimir's head, however, no mention of Snorri.
Hrafnagaldr Odin ( Odin's Raven Magic ), which is also one of the ancient Norse songs, but is not part of the Poetic Edda, is in contrast to the Prose Edda assume that Mimir Odin can be no Council so that it escapes his fate and the downfall of the gods turn away.
" Nowhere is liable sun nor earth, it fluctuate and overthrow the currents of air. In Mimir's clear source dries up the wisdom of men. Do you know what that means? "
The song Sigrdrífumál that belongs to the heroic lays of the Poetic Edda, shows that the main Mimir's not only wise, but also of the runes was knowledgeable. There is Odin with Mimir's head on a mountain, but not Odin speaks, but Mimir says " clever the first word and called true runes. "
The Völuspá speaks well of Mimir's sons, without determining them closer.
Ynglinga saga
The Ynglinga saga, Snorri Sturluson's mythical introduction to his history of the Norwegian kingdom ( Heimskringla ), is not only on the proximity to Mimir Odin, but also tells a story of how Mimir's main fuselage lost: make After the war, the Asengötter against Wanengötter the Aesir Mimir and Honir hostage as a peace pledge. About Honir say the Aesir, it was of a leader. However, the Vanir soon realize that Honir not take any decision without his counselor Mimir. Therefore, the wise heads and send his head to the Aesir back. Odin preserved the head then with spells and herbs to continue to receive from him prophecies and messages from other worlds. The gifts of Mimir are so important to him that he always carries with him the principal.
Þulur
The Þulur mention the name of Mimir under the nickname of giants.
Research
The non- homogeneous and sometimes contradictory literary source in finding led the research to very different positions as Mimir and his myths are to be understood. Not all of the issues raised could be resolved up to now satisfactory.
Etymology
In the interpretation of the name Mimir, Old Norse Mímir, the research is divided into two camps.
According to one opinion Mimir is closely connected with wisdom and memory, and means roughly, the one who remembers '. The name is, therefore, related to Old English mimorian, Latin memor, mindful, remembering ' and is attributed to the Indo-European root word * smer, * mer, remember, remember '.
For another opinion, the name is related to norwegian meima measure ', Anglo-Saxon māmrian, pondering ' and is derived from Indo-European * mer, measure 'her with the meaning, Measuring, meaning Ender ' or ' the one who measures the fate '.
Nature and origin
The nature of Mimir can not be determined unequivocally. He is either a giant ( Thurse ) or a deity. To his nature, only the Þulur comment. There Mimir's name is listed under the nickname of giants. However, the Ynglinga saga gives him the same status as the God Honir, so that it represent Mimir was similar Loki himself a deity. Same rank leads but not yet necessarily the same nature. Even otherwise, he or his name in Old Norse literature consistently appears enormous. These include several composite persons name with Mimir as a basic word that clearly denote giants, for example Sokkmimir ( an otherwise unknown giant) or Brekkmimir ( epithet of giant Geirröd ).
To his ancestry is silent tradition. He could be the son of the prehistoric giant Bölthorn, who is the father of Odin's mother Bestla. Therefore would be the uncle Mimir Odin. This view is based on a point in the Hávamál where Odin introduces his magic runes songs:
"Nine mighty songs I learned from the famous son Bölthorns, Bestlas father, [ ... ] "
The son Bölthorns is otherwise not mentioned in the Norse mythology. For Mimir speaks his wisdom, which Odin sought again and again, and his magic runes, which requires secret and hidden knowledge. In the end, remains the relationship with Odin but pure speculation.
Mimir's fountain and the world tree
Although the Völuspá says that Mimir drink from its fountain Met, the research is overwhelmingly on the idea that the fountain of Mimir contains water. But mead is not just a mere intoxicant, but also a wisdom potion that allows you to gain special knowledge, as suggested by the myth of the theft of the Dichtermets by Odin. From the goat Heidrun on the tree Lärad, which is equated with the world tree Yggdrasil, the song says Grímnismál, they donate the Odin consecrated Einherjern Met Even if this mythical image comes from comparatively later time, it has at least one connection between World Tree, is located at the foot of Mimir's fountain, towards God father and strong drink.
The proximity between Mimir and the World Tree in Norse mythology is clear not only by Mimir source. The research assumes that the name of Mimir was also used to describe the World Tree. It is generally accepted that the tree Mimameidr, Tree Of Mimi ' Yggdrasil equivalent. Some researchers represent this equation for the twist in Holti Hoddmímis, in the woods of Goldmimir ', so the wood is meant in which to hide the two people who will participate together with surviving sons of gods after Ragnarok on a new world age.
The source on the world tree belongs to the mythical landscape of many nations. In addition to Mimir's well arise in Norse mythology, Yggdrasil still under the Well of Urd and Hvergelmir. In ( Indo-European ) origin at least the fountain of Mimir and Urd were probably the same source, which also received different names for various myths. Both Mimir and Urd associated with fate and prophecy.
Walvaters deposit
The myth of Walvaters pledge explained in a mythical image as Odin, obtained by the loss of an eye that allows him outward seeing the inner vision, the gift of clairvoyance or prophecy. The motive for self-sacrifice of wisdom is found in Odin one more time. Nine nights he hangs on to Yggdrasil to go through agony to the secret knowledge of the runes.
Mimir's main
A great puzzle represents for the research, the tradition to Mimir's main
Biggest issue is the question of whether the myths of Walvaters deposit and Mimir's head back to one and the same person. The Nordic texts namely soft in the name spelling in both myths from each other. Mimir is meant by Walvaters Pawn, Mímir is written. When it comes to Mimir's head, it always means Mims hǫfuð, so without a second MIMR I. In the Nordic texts even be a third form of the name of Mimir from the tree name Mimameidr open, Tree Of Mimi without End -R.
This difference is exacerbated by the traditional content. After Völuspá Odin speaks at the start of Ragnarök with Mimrs head that he (always) entails, according to the Ynglinga saga and the Sigrdrífumál with him. The Prose Edda, Odin, however, can ride to Mimir's well to seek Mimir. You obviously assumes that Mimir is not beheaded. The confusion makes Snorri Sturluson completely, as the Prose Edda and the Ynglinga saga contradict this content, even though they both come from his hand.
There have been many proposals to bring both myths in line. We also went by two different people from (Jan de Vries ). Ultimately, they can be moved neither consistent nor do they provide Myths of two different persons dar. Both myths have Indo-European parallels.
The myth of the prophetic main is found in Greek myths (for example, in the Orpheus myth ), Celtic myths and Icelandic sagas is comparable even the beheading, the Vishnu victims in the Indian mythology.
The myth of Walvaters deposit has regard to voluntary task of a body part a counterpart in the Norse mythology: the god Tyr are voluntarily his right hand on. Furthermore, there is a parallel in the Roman story of Horatius Cocles and Mucius Scaevola.
Partial is argued that the myth was borrowed from speaking skull from comparable Celtic myths. Since he is both a motive but Icelandic Sagas and the Norwegian and English mythology, there seems to be an independent Nordic or Germanic tradition.
Incomprehensible is the justification for the Ynglinga saga how Odin came to the main Mimir. In the research is not yet decided whether it is merely a mythographic explanation of a later period, possibly reflecting Snorri Sturluson only own interpretation.
The legends of Norway and England are perhaps the key, what does that have to do with the main source. Keep a word motif in which a skull from a source rises, which brings them happiness and gifts, which prove him honor.
Naturmythologische interpretations
The earlier research looked into the myths early attempts to explain the people for the phenomena they observed in nature. Here in the naturmythologischen interpretation corresponded to the couple Odin and Mimir the sky lights sun and moon. If the sun is in the sky, then it is reflected in water, so that it seems that in the water a second sun lies, namely the eye that gave Odin as a deposit. Since you previously assumed that the word moon of the Indo-European root word measure * mer, ' is derived from the same root from which some scholars derive the name of Mimir, it was close, Mimir (especially his head ) as a mythical representation of the moon to understand. Furthermore, there were mythical seen between Mimir's source and its main no difference, since the source was interpreted as his head. Mimir's sons were the rivers that flow from the source.
Many of these interpretations naturmythologischen one is now moved away again. Moon and Mimir not come from the same Indo-European root word. Moon does not mean, therefore, the measurer ', but, the Wandering '. Mimir's head is not the source of Mimir because the idea of prophesying, decapitated skull is very old and in Greece, in the Celtic world and in Siberian shamanism has many correspondences.
Interpretation
The World Tree is a mythical image for creation as a whole. This Mimir's fountain is at the root for access to deeper insight into the nine Germanic worlds: the memory of what has happened since the beginning of creation, and the show, which has yet to happen all ( fate ). This is the source of wisdom.
Your guardian is Mimir, which those who come to its source, perhaps in the shape of a skull shows ( myth of Mimir's head ). The knowledge acquired, who strikes up a friendship with the giant and as he drinks from the source. But everyone except the wise man 's responsibility to provide a sensitive victims. If you want more insight, you must have one of his eyes to use ( myth of Walvaters deposit).