Mímis brunnr

From All Skies Encyclopaedia

Authors: Youla Azkarrula


Mímis brunnr, Mímir’s well, is a Norse constellation mentioned in the Rímtǫl glosses, which dates back to the 11th century CE and is an Old Norse calendar of 52 weeks (364 days).

Mímis brunnr, painting by Jessica Gullberg for Stellarium.

Concordance, Etymology, History

Origin of Constellation

Mímis brunnr (Mímir’s well) is the source of wisdom, from which Odin sacrificed his eye to drink (Sturluson 2017[1], p. 28). The wells are depicted by gaps in the bright band of the Milky Way, with the dark area near Vega serving as Mímir’s well, and Vega representing Odin’s sacrificed eye.

Identification

Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation

nothing known

Rökstenen, rune stone near Ödeshög in south Sweden (CC BY Bengt Olof ÅRADSSON)

Religion/ Tales/ Mythology

References

  1. Sturluson, S. (2017) The Edda of Snorri Sturluson. Translated by K. Simrock. Bibliographically updated edition. Stuttgart: Reclam.
  2. Digitalis Solutions (website) on Norse