The Creation
In the begin, there was first Muspellheim, a place of fire and flame ruled by the god Surt, who also guards it with his flaming sword. Out beyond Muspelheim, lay a void called Ginnungagap, and beyond that Niflhiem, which was cold and dark.
Ice and frost came from Niflheim, flowed across Ginnungagap where it met the hot airs rising from Muspelheim and then thawed and dripped.
This dripping eventually formed the frost ogre Ymir, who slept and fell into a sweat. From under his left arm grew a man and a woman, and one of his legs bore the son of the other. Thus began the frost giants.
Next the drippings became a great cow called Audhumla and four rivers of milk ran from her teats feeding Ymir. The cow licked at the salty ice blocks and in three days had freed a man named Buri who was tall, strong and handsome.
Buri begot a son named Bor, who married Bestla, the daughter of a giant.
Bor and Bestla had a son named Odin.
Odin slew the giant Ymir. It was because of this slaying that the frost giants fled and found a home of their own called Jotenheim, where Thrym, their god, could protect them.
Odin then carried Ymir’s body to the center of Ginnungagap where he used Ymir’s flesh to make the earth and his bones the mountains and his blood the seas. He fashioned the trees from his hair. Maggots from the flesh of his body were made by Odin to have human understanding and became the dwarves. Ymir’s skull was set over the new earth and became the sky. He formed the clouds from Ymir’s brains and took sparks from the embers of Muspelheim and made stars and set them on their path.
While walking along the sea shore, the All-Father found two trees and created a man (Ash) and a women (Elm) who he gave the powers of understanding and movement as well as clothing and names. It is from these two that all the races of Enga have sprung.
Odin then built for himself a stronghold named Asgard in which he built a great hall called Hlidskjaldf where Odin sits on a high seat and can look out over the world and see what everyone is doing and understand everything he sees.
Odin married Frigg, daughter of the earth and bore children called the Aesir who were also gods. It is for this reason that Odin is called All-Father. He is the father of the earth, the gods and everything that exists.
Ice and frost came from Niflheim, flowed across Ginnungagap where it met the hot airs rising from Muspelheim and then thawed and dripped.
This dripping eventually formed the frost ogre Ymir, who slept and fell into a sweat. From under his left arm grew a man and a woman, and one of his legs bore the son of the other. Thus began the frost giants.
Next the drippings became a great cow called Audhumla and four rivers of milk ran from her teats feeding Ymir. The cow licked at the salty ice blocks and in three days had freed a man named Buri who was tall, strong and handsome.
Buri begot a son named Bor, who married Bestla, the daughter of a giant.
Bor and Bestla had a son named Odin.
Odin slew the giant Ymir. It was because of this slaying that the frost giants fled and found a home of their own called Jotenheim, where Thrym, their god, could protect them.
Odin then carried Ymir’s body to the center of Ginnungagap where he used Ymir’s flesh to make the earth and his bones the mountains and his blood the seas. He fashioned the trees from his hair. Maggots from the flesh of his body were made by Odin to have human understanding and became the dwarves. Ymir’s skull was set over the new earth and became the sky. He formed the clouds from Ymir’s brains and took sparks from the embers of Muspelheim and made stars and set them on their path.
While walking along the sea shore, the All-Father found two trees and created a man (Ash) and a women (Elm) who he gave the powers of understanding and movement as well as clothing and names. It is from these two that all the races of Enga have sprung.
Odin then built for himself a stronghold named Asgard in which he built a great hall called Hlidskjaldf where Odin sits on a high seat and can look out over the world and see what everyone is doing and understand everything he sees.
Odin married Frigg, daughter of the earth and bore children called the Aesir who were also gods. It is for this reason that Odin is called All-Father. He is the father of the earth, the gods and everything that exists.
Historical Basis
- Supporting evidence, as relayed by the priests, is that we exist. Who else but Odin All-Father could have made all of the world?
- During the event called “The Breaking”, the Hoystr Gothi of Ulf attempted to penetrate the realm he perceived as Asgard while attempting to contact the Gods. The destruction after this event, according to some, points to validation that the Aesir exist. Thus, if they exist, then this creation myth must be true as well.
Spread
- Throughout Enga, this is the primary explanation for how the world came into being. If asked, almost any Firar will tell you this same story with only slight variation. The High Temple of Odin All-Father in Skali has poured considerable time and effort into ensuring that this is the story relayed by everyone, and that there is as little variation or differences as possible.
Variations & Mutation
- In some variations of the creation myth, Odin has four dwarves hold up the sky, creating the four corners of the world. This is an uncommon telling.
- In other variations, Odin is accompanied to create the world by his brothers. This is not a common variation.
Cultural Reception
- Firar: This is the generally accepted way that the world came into being. The more fanatical among the Firar will not accept any refuting of this myth or question that it might not be true.
- Ulda: The Ulda accept that there must be some greater powers out there, but question wether anyone could truly know how things that occurred before anyone existed actually transpired. They don’t say this out-loud, but debate it amongst themselves.
- Aldr: Reject it completely. Cows licking salt to birth giants? This is the daydreams of a mad man. They frown on the Firar for believing such nonsense.
- Skratte: While they will listen to any story that is interesting, it is mostly for entertainment.
- Dvergr: It is said that they were there and could answer the question of whether the story is right, but stay tight lipped as always.
Date of Setting
This myth/legend tells of the creation of Enga, Asgard, and the universe at large. For that reason, this is the story of the beginning of all things.
Related Species
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