Odin at Mimir's Well
| Snorri's Edda,
Gylfaginning 15:
Under the second root, which extends to the frost-giants, is the
well of Mimer, wherein knowledge and wisdom are concealed. The
owner of the well named Mimer. He is full of wisdom, for he
drinks from the well with the Gjallar-horn. Alfather once came
there and asked for a drink from the well, but he did not get it
before he left one of his eyes as a pledge. Heimskringla, Ynglingasaga ch. 4: Now Odin attacked the Vanir with an army, but they defended their land, and now one, now the other prevailed; either harried the land of the other and brought harm thereon; but when at last they grew tired of doing so, they called a meeting of truce between them, and made peace and delivered hostages one to the other; and the Vanir gave their noblest men, Niord the Wealthy and his son Frey, but the Aesir gave in return him who was called Hoenir, and said that he was well meet to be lord; a big man he was, and handsome to behold. With him the Aesir sent a man named Mimir, the wisest of men, but the Vanir in return him of the best wits in their company, Kvasir by name. But when Hoenir came to Vanheim, then was he straightly made a lord, and Mimir taught him all good counsel. But when Hoenir was in his place at Things, or assemblies, and it happened that Mimir was not near him, and there came before him any hard matter, ever would he answer: "Let others decide!" Then the Vanir didn't doubt that the As-folk had beguiled them in the exchange of hostages, and they took Mimir and cut his throat, and sent the head to the Aesir: then Odin took the head, and smeared it with herbs that it might not rot, and sang words of wizardry thereover, and gave it such might that it spake to him and told him many hidden matters. |
 Odin with Mimir's Head (Top Center) 1822 N.H. Sjöberg |
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 Mimir and Odin 1881 E. Phillip Fleischer |
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 Odin Listens to Mimir's Head 1885 Lorenz Frølich |
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 The Death of Mimir 1893 G.P. Author: Frederik Sander |
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 Odin at the Brook of Mim J.A.J. Brindley |
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Odin Questions Mimir 1905 Carl Emil Doepler, Jr.  Odin Hangs on the World-Tree |
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 Odin at Mimir's Well 1906 George Hamilton Frye |
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 1911 John Bauer |
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 Odin at Mimir's Well 1912 Herbert E. Martini |
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 Odin and Mimir's Head 2006 Sam Flegal |
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 Odin and Mimir's Head 2015 Christina Balit Also See: Odin Enthroned |
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ONE EYE BLIND Artists Unknown If you can identity the artist, please contact me  |
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