In the beginning there was nothing, no seas, no heaven or earth. What existed was Muspelheim, the flaming sea in the south, and its ruler Surt, a giant who wielded a flaming sword. In the north the icy planes of Niflheim existed, with a giant river Hvergelmir that devided into 11 smaller rivers. They traveled towards Ginnungagap, the giant gorge deviding Muspelheim and Niflheim. Inside of Ginnungagap Ymir was created by the drops created by the melting ice from Niflheim, and from the sweat of Ymirs' right armpit a man and a woman emerged, and his right foot fathered a son with his left, and so the J�tuns were created. Ymir (or, Aurgelmir, Ymer) sustained himself off of the primeval cow Audhumla. While Ymir suckled on the teet of Audhumla, the cow licked a salty stone from which a man Bure emerged. His son Borr fathered children with Bestla, those were Odin, Vile and Ve, the first three �sir. As they became aware of their powers, they decided to kill Ymir. After having killed Ymir, the �sir threw his body into Ginnungagap and the world was created. His blood became the oceans, his bones the mountains, the teeth became sand and stone, his hair created the forests, the brain the clouds and lastly his skull became the heavens.