Mîmi

By: Steve Anthonijsz

 

 

OHG:          Mîmi

OLG:          Mimeren

MHG:       Gudmund; Mime der Alte

ON:            Mímir; Narfi; Hödd-Mímir; Narvi; Njörvi; NörR; Nari; Neri; Niði; Niðad; Niðadir; Mosognir; Brimir; Hoddrofnir; Baug-regin(n); FimbulþulR;

Ice:             Mímir; Eirek Víðförla; Goðmundr

OE:           Mimor; Meomor; Gemimor; Mimerian

SW:            Mimes

Ice:             Mímir; Godmundr

Goth:          Gauta Spjalli

 

 

          The Forasago[1] and smith[2], Mîmi--whose name means “memory,” or “daydreaming”--is not technically a god, although he is often treated as one of the Ensi in the myths. Mîmi is an Rîsi[3], the son of Balthorn, brother of Paru and Bezzia. He is wed to Sinmara[4]. In the elder myths he appears as one of the wisest of all beings, although in later folktales he appears as a hero—a smith and a waldscrat[5]. Even as early as Saxo Grammaticus’s Gesta Danorum (written in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century) ‘Mimingus’ is described as a satyr! He is the uncle of Wuotan, Willo and Wîh. Mîmi is also kin with the Wurtâ (Wurt, Werdanda & Scult). His relationship with the Wurtâ is unclear, but they may be his sisters[6]. He also has a sister named Bolvild, who is all but forgotten in the extant myths. Of his 7 sons and 12 daughters few are named in the surviving sources, but the fact that Tag and Nacht[7] are among them is a testimony to the ancientness of this ur-being. He also had sons named Sintram and Eckehard[8], both of whom are described in the Eddas as tuuercâ.

The fact that Mîmi, despite his giant-blood was sometimes worshiped as a god is demonstrated by place-name evidence. Such evidence is especially prominent in Germany. The old name for Münster (Westphalia) was Mîmigardiford. There is also a Mîmigerdeford in Richthofen. The Memleben on the Unstrut used to be known as Mîmileba. The Wesphalian Minden was previously known as Mîmidun.[9]

 

          The Old Norse texts Vafþrúðnismál and Gylfaginning both tell us that Mîmi lives in a place simply known in Old Norse as Mímisholt[10] (“Mîmi’s Grove”), which is hidden inside the Irminsûl. It is here that two human beings called “Life” and “Thirst-for-life” are hidden until it is their time to repopulate Mittigart after Godotuom[11]. Mîmi’s Grove must be somewhere near the base of the Irminsûl, as he was also the warder over one of the wells at its root, one called simply Mîmesbrunno[12]. He furthermore seems to be related in some vague way to another of these wells-- Huergelmir[13]. Twelve streams pour out from Huergelmir, as does the sea. Its location is right in the centre of Hellaheim, further demonstrating the close relationship between Mîmi and Wurt. It is interesting to note that the Old Norse text, Fjölsvinnsmál, refers to the Irminsûl by the nicknames Mímameiður (ste. 20) and meiður Míma (ste. 24), both meaning “Mîmi’s tree.”

 

          Mime der Alte is known to be a collector of treasures. According to Saxo[14] many of these treasures are magically imbued to protect the treasure hoard. Included in this hoard are items as weighty as Gellanhorn[15].

 

          The preserved myths do not individually tell us much directly about Mîmi. But the stories about him and surrounding him may help us piece together a profound understanding of this ur-being.

 

Mîmi represents such a primeval force that we see his grove—or at least the well that lies in that grove--existing at the very creation of the worlds. In the beginning there was an empty abyss known as Ginêntigrûba, wherein there were three forces at work: Cold, Heat, and Creative Energy. These ascended from three wells/springs of mysterious origin, leading to the creation of the All[16]. These three sources were Huergelmer, Urdabrunno[17] (“Well of Wurt”) and Mîmesbrunno (“Well of Mîmi”). These are the powers that combined to form the seed of the Irminsûl.

 

          When Mîmi’s nephew, Wuotan, was young he was determined to rule over Mittigart, but was still too inexperienced, lacking enough wisdom/power to rid the world of the undesirable Rîsi. Therefore he climbed onto the Irminsûl, remaining there for nine nights pierced with a spear. He hung as a sacrifice to himself (probably a reference to shamanic ecstasy). At the conclusion of this ordeal he received what he needed from Mîmi in the form of the powerful songs/mysteries known as the runen. This prepared his mind so that he would be equipped to function not only as the king of Ensigart, but over Mittigart as well.

 

          It was Mîmi’s mysterious craftsmen who built Weltmulin[18] (the World Mill) by which Mundilfaro turns the heavenly bodies and currents of the seas under the directorship of Frô[19]. These craftsmen are most likely tuuercâ, as Völuspá 45 informs us that Mîmi is kin with the suarzalpâ who live along a rock wall dividing Huergelmer from Nessonhof[20] in Hellaheim.

 

          In anther tale, strife had begun to occur between the divine clans. The quarrels climax when Mara[21], a hostage in Ensigart sent from Rîsiheim, is burnt as a Hâgzusa (witch), betraying the responsibilities of fosterage in the minds of the rîsi. Additional strife between the divine clans is borne when Hadu, a son of Wuotan and Frija, joins the Rîsi to make war against his own brother, Paltar.

          Concerned that these developments may lead to the coming of Godotuom, Wuotan travels to the underworld towards the homes of Mîmi and Wurt. He asks Mîmi directly whether the worlds would soon be destroyed by war. Self-sacrifice, however, was required to learn the truth of this matter. Wuotan tore out his own eye and tossed it into the Mîmesbrunno so that he might see what was at the deepest pits of the well. Even then, however, he needed to confirm what he saw with Wurt.

          When Wuotan arrived to meet with Wurt she, knowing that his eye was at the bottom of Mîmesbrunno, answered that he already knew what he needed to know. Wuotan offered her the treasures of Walhalla[22], begging her to directly answer the question. In response she sang him a song[23] telling of Godotuom and the ensuing renewal of the All.

 

The Ensi had appealed to Mîmi on numerous occasions to intervene with the doom of the worlds. How they expected him to do so is not explained in our surviving documents, but the implication that he could may very well have to do with his relationship to the Wurtâ and/or his involvement with the wells lying at the base of Irminsûl. Despite their pleas, however, Mîmi never get involved.

That is, until Weland[24] forged the Sword of Revenge[25]. Recognizing that the Ensi would be unable to defend the order of the All, Mîmi and his clan travelled from the underworld to surprise Weland in his sleep, binding him in his own magic rope. They took Weland to an island where he was to be imprisoned in a smithy. Mîmi’s wife, Sinmara, had Weland’s hamstrings cut so that he could not run away. Mîmi gave the Sword of Revenge to his mother for safekeeping. Sinmara, in turn, hid the weapon inside the trunk of Irminsûl within the nine locks of its annual rings.

Two of Mîmi’s sons secretly rowed out to the island in order to see Weland’s treasures, but Weland murdered them. Their eyes and skulls he fashioned into jewellery, which he presented to their family. Bolvild, charmed by the jewellery, went to the island where Weland gave her a sleeping potion and took advantage of her.

One of Weland’s secret projects was to fashion an eagle guise. When it was completed he flew to Mîmi’s castle, speaking to Mîme der Alte from a distance just out of reach of the archers’ arrows. He promised to reveal the fate of Mîmi’s misplaced sons if he would swear an oath not to do “Weland’s wife” any harm. Weland would not reveal who this lady was, but he did suggest that she would be having a baby in Mîmi’s hall. Mîmi agreed. Weland made known his slaying of the boys and flew away. Soon after Bodvild bore Vidga, her son. Mîmi and Sinmara raised Vidga.

 

After an untold amount of time passes we see Sinmara in anguish because she has lost her magic sickle that would allow her to cut one of the threads that Wurt had woven[26]. Swipdag, being informed of this situation by Mano, obtains the sickle through magical means and trades it to Sinmara for the Sword of Revenge.

 

We do not see Mîmi appear again in the myths until the war between the Ensi and the Wanen. Mîmi had sought to restore peace between the two divine clans. While working on this restoration he was assassinated[27]. His head was sent to Wuotan, as Mîmi was acting in Wuotan’s behalf. The Wanen were accused of having put the Rîsi to death.

Mîmi’s head was now in the possession of Wuotan, and through the latter’s galstar it was turned into gold. The gold head continues to this day to offer wise and noble advice. Ever since Wuotan had kept possession of the advice-giver the mark of wisdom has highlighted his accomplishments.

 

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