The Creation of the World and the Gods

The Creation of the World and the Gods 

Ancient Germanic tribes believed that in the beginning, before the creation of the world, there was only a vast, empty space—the "yawning abyss”, which had existed since eternity. Over time a cold, dark region known as Niflheim formed at the northern end of this space, and facing this, a sea of ​​flames called Muspelheim emerged at the southern end. In the depths of Niflheim lay the wellspring Hvergelmir (the roaring cauldron). From this emanated twelve mighty streams, which filled the abyss with their masses of water.  The waters surging near Niflheim soon froze into ice; but the surf tore the floes loose and drove them southward toward Muspelheim. The searing heat radiating from there thawed the ice floes, and from this mixture of fiery glow and  melting droplets emerging from the ice (the "rime"), the first living being emerged: the "Rime Giant”, Ymir the roaring one. While he slept, a son and a daughter grew out from under his arms. An entire race of frost giants descended from Ymir and his children. The epic struggle between summer and winter, yearly renewal, thus provided the archetype for the ancient Germanic creation myth. 

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