Ymir

In Norse mythology, the first living being, a giant who grew from melting frost; father of the Jotuns, a race of evil giants. He was nurtured by four streams of milk from the cow Audhumla, mother of Buri, the grandfather of Odin. After Ymir was killed by Odin and his brothers, Vili and Ve, heaven and earth were created from parts of his body.

Death and creation When Ymir was slain, nearly all the Jotuns drowned in his blood, and only the giant Bergelmir and his household survived. Ymir's body was flung into Ginnunga-gap abyss, and Odin and his brothers made the sea from his blood, mountains from his bones, rocks from his teeth, the heavens from his skull, and clouds from his brain. Midgard, destined to be the home of mortals, was formed from his eyebrows.

Ymir and his descendants are known as the Rime Giants and represent primeval chaos.