Mimir

Mimir, also spelled Mímir, is a figure in Norse mythology renowned for wisdom and knowledge. His name is often linked to memory, and he is described as a guardian or embodiment of sagacity. He is closely associated with the Well of Wisdom, Mímisbrunnr, which lies beneath Yggdrasil, the world tree, and is said to contain the waters that confer insight.

In myth, the waters of Mímisbrunnr are a source of knowledge. Odin, the chief of the gods, is said to have sacrificed one of his eyes in order to drink from the well and gain greater wisdom. This story underscores the high cost of knowledge in Norse storytelling.

Following the war between the Æsir and the Vanir, various traditions recount different fates for Mimir. In some accounts, his head is severed as part of a peace settlement or conflict, but Odin later preserves the head with magical restoration so that it can continue to offer counsel to the gods.

Mimir is mentioned in the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda, the principal medieval sources for Norse mythology. He is often cited as emblematic of the value and costs of wisdom within the mythic tradition. In contemporary culture, Mimir has appeared in various works of fiction and media, notably as a talking head character in the 2018 video game God of War, illustrating how ancient myth continues to influence modern storytelling. The term Mímisbrunnr remains a scholarly reference to the mythic Well of Wisdom.