Mímameiðr

Mimameid, also Mimameidr, Old Norse Mímameiðr, is a tree of Norse mythology, which is equated with the world tree Yggdrasil.

Edda

The tree is mentioned only once in the Nordic literature and indeed in the song Fjölsvinnsmál that one belongs to the Poetic Edda. There Mimameid is described as a tall tree, the branches of which all countries wide. It is said that no one knows its roots and no one knows how to fall him, as neither iron nor fire can harm him. In its crown of golden cock Widofnir, the Surt and Sinmara sits harassed. From the tree fruits can you do a fire that expels at the sickly women, what is in them. The site is translated so that these are women with Gebärschwierigkeiten.

Reception

The poet of the song describes Mimameid so that it shares a number of characteristics with the world tree Yggdrasil, which is why you generally starts from the identity of the two trees.

Although the tree name usually translated as " Mimir's Tree ", ie the tree literally means " tree of Mimi ." Even if Mimi and Mimir need not be identical to each other, it nevertheless goes from persons equality of. Mimir's well below the root of Yggdrasil, is the extent it is quite possible to speak of a tree Mimir.

A view mjǫtudr " the Measured " combines the name of Mimir the Norse concept of fate, not translated the tree name with " Tree of Mimi ", but directly with " measuring tree " to compare Old Norse mjǫtvidr " measuring tree " as a Kenning for Yggdrasil.

Especially significant is the tree but for the women among men. The Norse text refers to them as kelisjúkar. After a translation manner are so sickly women meant, according to others, understanding women with difficulties in childbirth. With the fruit of the tree should you make a fire and thus ( by smoking? ) The drive out from them what is in them. Thus, the disease or to be born child.

In the case of Gebärschwierigkeiten it should be at the fruits of juniper berries, which were used for the handling of the incident of the uterus, act ( Reichborn - Kjennerud ). In the Icelandic folk medicine, certain legumes, which bears the Gulf Stream to Iceland, also used to facilitate childbirth ( Low).