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Questions and Answers
What is the name of the 'Yawning Void' in Norse Mythology?
What is the name of the 'Yawning Void' in Norse Mythology?
What is the outcome of the clash of flames and frost in Ginnungagap?
What is the outcome of the clash of flames and frost in Ginnungagap?
What flows from Niflheim into the Ginnungagap?
What flows from Niflheim into the Ginnungagap?
What happens to the Élivágar rivers when they reach Ginnungagap?
What happens to the Élivágar rivers when they reach Ginnungagap?
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What is the result of the poison dripping from the Élivágar rivers?
What is the result of the poison dripping from the Élivágar rivers?
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What is the source of fire in Norse Mythology?
What is the source of fire in Norse Mythology?
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What are Niflheim and Muspellheim in constant struggle with?
What are Niflheim and Muspellheim in constant struggle with?
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What is the state of Ginnungagap before the creation of the sun, sky, and earth?
What is the state of Ginnungagap before the creation of the sun, sky, and earth?
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What is Ymir also known as?
What is Ymir also known as?
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What is the name of the primeval cow that fed Ymir?
What is the name of the primeval cow that fed Ymir?
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Who is the ancestor of all other gods (the æsir)?
Who is the ancestor of all other gods (the æsir)?
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What was formed from Ymir's flesh?
What was formed from Ymir's flesh?
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What was formed from Ymir's 'sweat' (blood)?
What was formed from Ymir's 'sweat' (blood)?
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Who killed Ymir?
Who killed Ymir?
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What were formed from the worms coming out of Ymir's rotten flesh?
What were formed from the worms coming out of Ymir's rotten flesh?
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What is the centuries-long struggle between?
What is the centuries-long struggle between?
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Study Notes
Norse Creation Myth
- The Norse creation myth shares similarities with the Greek creation myth.
- The myth begins with Ginnungagap, the "Yawning Void", a timeless space characterized by pure darkness and silence, equivalent to the Greek concept of "chaos".
- Ginnungagap existed before the sun, sky, earth, and gods, and was described in the Poetic Edda as a space where "there was not sand nor sea nor cool waves; Earth did not exist nor heaven above".
Ginnungagap and the Primordial Forces
- Ginnungagap is situated between Niflheim (the source of ice) and Muspellheim (the source of fire).
- Niflheim and Muspellheim are in constant struggle, with one forcing its frost and the other its flames, creating a misty space.
- Eleven poisonous rivers, called Élivágar, flow from Niflheim into Ginnungagap, hardening into ice and eventually forming frost.
The Creation of the First Beings
- When the flames finally melted the ice, the poison from Élivágar created two creatures: Ymir, the first giant, and Audhumla, the primeval cow.
- Ymir is also known as Aurgelmir, the oldest living being, a hermaphrodite who can reproduce without a mate, and the ancestor of all other giants.
- Audhumla fed Ymir with four streams of milk from her breasts, helping him stay alive and reproduce.
The Genesis of Good and Evil
- Audhumla's licking of the salt blocks uncovered the first God, Búri, the ancestor of all other Gods (the æsir).
- Audhumla is responsible for the genesis of both evil and good in the universe.
- The creation of Búri marks the beginning of the eternal rivalry between the gods and giants.
The Gods and Giants
- Búri had a son named Bor, the second generation God, who married Bestla, a giantess, and had three sons: Odin, Vili, and Ve.
- These half-God, half-giant creatures were massive, strong, and wise.
- The three brothers killed Ymir and created the universe from his body parts: earth from flesh, sea from blood, mountains from bones, and heaven from his skull.
The Creation of the Universe
- The four dwarves, created from the worms coming out of Ymir's rotten flesh, were assigned to hold up the sky from the four edges of the earth.
- The killing of Ymir by the ancestors of the æsir marked the beginning of the centuries-long struggle between the gods and the giants.
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Description
Explore the Norse creation myth, similar to the Greek creation myth, which begins with Ginnungagap, the 'Yawning Void' of pure darkness and silence. Learn about the primordial forces that shaped the universe.
