The Legend of Mímir

Mímir ("The rememberer, the wise one"), or "Mim", is a figure in Norse mythology renowned for his knowledge and wisdom who is beheaded during the Æsir-Vanir War. Afterward, the god Odin carries around Mímir's head and it recites secret knowledge and counsel to him.

Mímir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson of Iceland, and in euhemerized (presumed to have originated from real historical events or personages) form as one of the Æsir in Heimskringla, also written by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. Mímir's name appears in the names of the well Mímisbrunnr, the tree Mímameiðr, and the wood Hoddmímis holt.

" Alone I sat when the Old One sought me, 

The terror of gods, and gazed in mine eyes:

"What hast thou to ask ? why comest thou hither ? 

Othin, I know where thine eye is hidden." 

I know where Othin's eye is hidden, 

Deep in the wide-famed well of Mimir; 

Mead from the pledge of Othin each morn 

Does Mimir drink: would you know yet more? 

Necklaces had I and rings from Heerfather, 

Wise was my speech and my magic wisdom ; 

Widely I saw over all the worlds. "

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"Fast move the sons of Mim, and fate 

Is heard in the note of the Gjallarhorn;

Loud blows Heimdall, the horn is aloft. 

In fear quake all who on Hel-roads are. 

Yggdrasil shakes, and shiver on high 

The ancient limbs, and the giant is loose;

To the head of Mim does Othin give heed. 

But the kinsman of Surt shall slay him soon. "

For more stories, check out Sigrdrífumál, Fjölsvinnsmál, Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, and the Ynglinga Saga.

Some theories:

"On the basis of Hávamál 140 – where Odin learns nine magic songs from the unnamed brother of his mother Bestla – some scholars have theorized that Bestla's brother may in fact be Mímir, who is then Odin's maternal uncle. This also means that Mimir's father would be Bölþorn.


In the theories of Viktor Rydberg, Mímir's wife is Sinmara, named in the poem Fjölsvinnsmal. According to Rydberg, the byname Sinmara ("sinew-maimir") refers to "Mímir-Niðhad"'s "queen ordering Völund's hamstrings to be cut."


       A common question I receive by viewers is why I chose the "internet persona" Mimir, so I figured I would definitively answer that question here. 

       At the start of 2017, I was reading a large amount of European stories and myths, including Dr. Jackson Crawford's wonderful translation of the Poetic Edda. As Spring rolled around, I had decided to create a new YouTube channel, my "soap box" so to speak. In the process of making this channel, I came across a few issues. One, most successful YouTube channels make use of the "Memetic" strategy - for those unfamiliar, you take on a persona that is unique or interesting in order to draw in attention to your content. 

       At this point I figured that making use of a unique or thematic persona may help draw in viewers, or at least keep my name in their heads. So far, it has been successful. When you come across a word or phrase you are not familiar with (such as "Mimir"), it sticks with you, especially if you have trouble pronouncing it and you have to mull it over in your head a few times. 

       I then took to socialblade and twitter to scout out possible unused online personas - since I had been reading a fair amount of European mythology, I decided to use the god Mimir. No one had any YouTube channels with this theme or persona, so it was perfect! That, and since I intended to talk about politics, I figured the thematics of it all was very fitting (see above stories). Two, branding your online content is essential in reaching people. You need to take on a persona that can be branded with artwork, music, etc. If your YouTube channel is "animalfucker666", you probably will not have an easy time blending a theme with the name, just FYI. 

       Naturally, themes of European mythos and talking heads is fairly easy to blend together if you are using the name of a mythological figure such as Mimir. Thus, the stage was set. 

Thanks for reading.