Mímir orMim is a figure inNorse mythology, renowned for his knowledge and wisdom, who is beheaded during theÆsir–Vanir War. Afterward, the godOdin carries around Mímir's head and it recites secret knowledge and counsel to him.
Mímir is attested in thePoetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, theProse Edda, written in the 13th century bySnorri Sturluson of Iceland, and ineuhemerized form as one of theÆsir inHeimskringla, also written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. Mímir's name appears in the names of the wellMímisbrunnr, and the namesMímameiðr andHoddmímis holt, which scholars generally consider to be names forYggdrasil. Scholars have proposed thatBestla may be Mímir's sister, and therefore Mímir would be Odin's maternal uncle.
The proper namesMímir andMim present difficulties for historical linguists. However, the most generally accepted etymology among philologists is thatMímir stems from areduplication of theProto-Indo-European verb *(s)mer-, meaning 'to think, recall, reflect, worry over' (compareSanskritsmárati,Avestanhi-šmaraiti,Ancient Greekmermaírō,Gothicmaúrnan).[1]
In turn, scholars note that the namesMímir andMim are therefore likely ultimately to be related to the modern English word 'memory' and its associated concepts.[1] For example, scholar Rudolf Simek renders the name as meaning 'the rememberer, the wise one'.[2]
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Mímir is mentioned in thePoetic Edda poemsVöluspá andSigrdrífumál. InVöluspá, 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."[3] Stanza 46 describes that, in reference toRagnarök, the "sons" of Mím are at play while "fate burns" (though no further information about these "sons" has survived),[4] that the godHeimdallr blows theGjallarhorn, and that Mímir's severed head gives counsel to Odin. The single mention in stanza 14 ofSigrdrífumál is also a reference to Mímir's speaking, decollated head. Stanzas 20 and 24 of the poemFjölsvinnsmál refer toYggdrasil asMímameiðr.
In chapter 15 of theProse Edda bookGylfaginning, as owner of his namesake well, Mímir himself drinks from it and gains great knowledge. To drink from the well, he uses theGjallarhorn, adrinking 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 thethree roots ofYggdrasil, in therealm of thefrost 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 anassembly. 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."[5]
In theProse Edda bookSkáldskaparmál, Mímir's name appears in variouskennings. These kennings include "Mím's friend" (for "Odin") in three places, "mischief-Mímir" (a kenning for "jötunn"),[6] and among a list of names for jötunn.[7]
Mímir is mentioned in chapters 4 and 7 of the sagaYnglinga Saga, as collected inHeimskringla. In chapter 4, Snorri presents a euhemerized account of theÆsir-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 exchangedhostages.Vanaheimr are described as having sent toAsgard their best men:Njörðr—described as wealthy—and his sonFreyr in exchange for Asaland'sHœnir—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 forKvasir, who Snorri describes as the wisest man of Vanaheimr.[8]
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 theThing without Mímir by his side, he would always answer the same way: "Let others decide."[8] Subsequently, the Vanir suspected they had been cheated in the exchange by the Æsir, so they seized Mimir andbeheaded him and sent the head to Asgard. Odin took the head of Mímir,embalmed it withherbs so that it would not rot, and spokecharms over it, which gave it the power to speak to him and reveal to him secrets.[8] 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.[9]
On the basis ofHávamál 140 – where Odin learns nine magic songs from the unnamed brother of his motherBestla – 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 beBölþorn.[10]
In the theories of Viktor Rydberg, Mímir's wife isSinmara, named in the poemFjölsvinnsmal. According to Rydberg, the bynameSinmara ("sinew-maimir") refers to "Mímir-Niðhad"'s "queen orderingVölund's hamstrings to be cut".[11]
Mímir features inSanta Monica Studio's 2018action-adventure video gameGod of War and its 2022 sequelGod of War Ragnarök.[12] He is voiced by Scottish actorAlastair Duncan in both entries.[13]
