[3] Mímir: The keeper of the well of wisdom (brunnr Mímis ‘the well of Mímir’) in Norse myth. Óðinn pledged his eye to Mímir in return for a drink from that well, and he consulted with Mímir’s head for wisdom (Vsp 28/10-1, 46; Gylf, SnE 2005, 17, 50, etc.). The name occurs as a second element in other heiti, such as Hreggmímir and Vetmímir (names for ‘heaven’; Þul Himins I ll. 6, 15 and Þul Himins II l. 1), as well as the sword-heiti hold-Mímir ‘flesh-Mímir’ (Þul Sverða 5/4). It is also used in kennings. Mímir is cognate with Lat. memor adj. ‘remembering, mindful’, memoria ‘memory’.
References
- Bibliography
- SnE 2005 = Snorri Sturluson. 2005. Edda: Prologue and Gylfaginning. Ed. Anthony Faulkes. 2nd edn. University College London: Viking Society for Northern Research.
- Internal references
- (forthcoming), ‘ Snorri Sturluson, Gylfaginning’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. . <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=113> (accessed 20 April 2024)
- Elena Gurevich (ed.) 2017, ‘Anonymous Þulur, Sverða heiti 5’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 798.
- Not published: do not cite ()
- Elena Gurevich 2017, ‘ Anonymous, Himins heiti I’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 905. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=3217> (accessed 20 April 2024)