About this deity
Ymir was the first and oldest figure in the Norse pantheon of deities. He is described as a primeval creature who was born from venom that dripped from icy rivers.
Also known as
Parent belief system
Norse Paganism Religion · Polytheistic · 3 mythsNorse Paganism refers to the beliefs and traditions of people from Scandinavia: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
Top myths
 |  | |
| Ask and Embla | Voluspa | |
| Creation myth | Creation myth | |
| Unknown author | Snorri Sturluson | |
| Read myth | Read myth | |
Mythological stories including Ymir
- Ask and Embla Creation myth
Nuthsell
Ymir, an old Norse deity fashioned Ask and Embla from his own flesh. Then, three Norse deities named Hœnir, Lóðurr and Odin give Ask and Embla, the first man and woman, respectively, their human qualities in the form of divine gifts: sight, intelligence, and more.
- Voluspa Creation myth
Nuthsell
An old woman, the seeress, addresses both humans and deities in a monologue that explains how the world was created, destroyed, and reborn. The world was initially raised from the sea and the sky created. Three giant maidens threaten the new world. Humans and dwarfs are created. The first war between the old deities takes place. The seeress tells Odin that the world will be destroyed. Several deities die and Loki is bound. In the final few lines, the new world resurfaces.
Cite this page
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Ymir." OMNIKA – World Mythology Index, OMNIKA Foundation, 23 Jul. 2019, omnika.org/stable/234. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
OMNIKA (2019, July 23). Ymir. Retrieved from https://omnika.org/stable/234
OMNIKA Foundation Contributors. "Ymir." Las Vegas, NV: OMNIKA Foundation. Created July 23, 2019. Accessed January 18, 2026. https://omnika.org/stable/234.
