Where Muspell and the eleven rivers of Niflheim met in the middle of Ginnungagap, under the melting ice lay Ymir. Ymir fell into a sweat whilst asleep. Under his left arm, grew a male and female giant. The melting frost became Audhumla. Her udders created four rivers that fed Ymir. After one day of licking salty ice blocks, she released a man's hair from the ice. After two days, the man's head appeared. On the third day the whole man was released from the ice, he was called Buri. Buri had a son named Bor. Bor married Bestla, the daughter of a Giant, with whom he had three sons. Odin was the first, Vili the second, and Vé the third. Odin, along with his brothers, is the ruler of heaven and earth. He is the greatest and most famous of all Gods. Odin and his brothers killed the Giant Ymir. They carried Ymir to the middle of Ginnungagap and created the world, called Midgard, from his body.
Re: Odin: The Allfather By: Personified / Knowledgeable
Post # 2 Dec 02, 2013
Ymir was slain by Odin and his brothers, Vili and Ve. From Ymir's body rushed rivers of blood that drowned all of the frost etins- save for a select few. Bergelmir and his wife escaped the currents of blood by climbing into a hollowed-tree trunk. From them comes the frost etin lineage. Odin and his brothers set to using Ymir's body to craft the worlds.
From his body comes Midgard. His flesh was crafted into the land we live on, and his blood served as the ocean. From his bones comes the mountains, his hair the trees. His skull was raised into the sky and made the Vault of the Heavens. Sparks from Muspellheim became the sun, the moon and all the stars in the sky. A land above Midgard was made, and named Asgard- "The Dwelling of the Aesir"- and a rainbow bridge named Bifrost was formed between them.
At this time, several Gods began to appear along with Odin and his kin. Many moved to Asgard, each having a grand hall of their own. They set out to make life. Maggots found in Ymir's flesh were turned into dwarves. One day the gods came across two trees, which they shaped into human form. Hoenir, one of the Gods, gave the gift of reason and the soul. Another God, named Lodur gave warmth and life. Odin gave the gift of breath, the spark to life and a very sacred gift. The man, Ask, and his wife, Embla, were the first humans.
The Gods dwelled in Asgard. There lay a great hall known as Hlidskjalf, where Odin sat in the high seat. From his chair, the Allfather would gaze over the whole world and keep an eye on what everyone was doing.
He had two ravens, whose names meant Thought and Memory, that he would send out into the world. They would report to him the goings-on and keep him informed. He married Frigg, daughter of Fjorgvin. Members from this family became known as the Aesir.
