Definitions
Definitions
1 MÍMIR
m. name of the wise giant of Norse mythology, the keeper of the holy well Mímis-brunnr, m. = the burn of Mimir, the well of wisdom, in which Odin pawned his eye for wisdom, a myth which is explained as symbolical of the heavenly vault with its single eye, the sun, setting in the sea, Vsp. 22. Mímir also occurs in the following compds, hregg-mímir = the ‘tempest-sky,’ and vett-mímir = the top sky = the uppermost heaven, Edda (Gl.), which are among the nine heavens, such as the ancients fancied it, which shews a connection of this name with the sky; Sökk-mímir, the M. of the depth, is the name of a giant (representing the sky of the Inferno?), Gm. Again, another myth says that Odin carried with him the cut off head of the giant Mímir (Míms-höfuð), which told him all hidden things, Vsp. 47, Yngl. S. ch. 7, Edda: Odin is called Míms-vinr, m. = the friend of Mímir, Stor. Míms-synir, m. pl. the sons of Mímir = the winds (?), Vsp.
2 MÍMIR
II. hold-mímir, flesh-maimer (?), is the poët. name of a sword, Edda (Gl.); cp. also Ulf. mimz = κρέας, 1 Cor. viii. 13, (= a chop, butcher’s meat?). ☞ Is the word to be derived from maiming, cutting, and is the likeness to Lat. memor only accidental? cp. also the following word.
Runic Inscription
Runic Inscription
MÍMIR
The runic text above represents the Old Norse word "MÍMIR" as it might appear in runic inscriptions from the Viking Age (c. 800-1100 CE).