THE DAWN
In
the beginning there was a vast space and emptiness called Ginnunga –
gap, length it had, and breadth immeasurable and there was depth
beyond all understanding. There was no shore no sea no earth or heaven
this was the beginning of all things.
First
of all things formed was Nifel-heim in the far north the home of mist
and ice next Muspel-heim the land of heat in the south. In the midst
of Nifel-heim burst forth a great fountain `Hvegelmet' from it flow
12 rivers called Elivagar from which all waters flow and return.
It
was in Muspel that the great clay giant Ymer was formed rough and
ungainly was Ymer when he began to move he was tortured by great
pangs of hunger, but there was yet no substance he could eat until he
found a gigantic cow named Audhumly `void darkness,' Ymer saw her
standing by a block of ice with milk running from her teats greedily
he drank until he filled the seed of life and was satisfied. Then a
great heaviness came over Ymer and he lay down and fell into a deep
sleep a dreamless slumber warmth and strength possessed him, and sweat
formed in his armpit from which a son was formed named Mimir who name
means mind and memory a. daughter was also born from his sweat she
was named Bestila .From Mimir were descended all the Vanier gods
including Freyr.
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