The three formed the first giant family. These early giants were sustained by the milk of a cow named Audhumbla—born at the same time as Ymir.
These giants and cows were essentially the creators of all other creatures. Audhumbla sustained herself by licking salty rocks or blocks of ice. She licked, until one day a human emerged from the rock.
This man would become the first god and was named Buri. Buri was said to be large and handsome, and eventually had a wife named Bestla and a son named Borr.
Author Molly Dowdeswell, as quoted from the Ancient Origins page, states that there are several variations on the story of the genealogy of this early god. “According to some sources, in an interesting turn of events, Borr and Bestla later reproduced and had children of their own,” Molly said.
In another version of the myth, Molly adds, “Bestla is Buri’s daughter, and in yet another version, she is an ice monster also formed from Ymir’s sweat.” Regardless of their illustrious family pedigree, they are the parents of Odin, Vili and Ve, king of the Nordic gods and ruler of Asgard.
Life on earth is also inseparable from Ymir. It is said that the earth was formed from his body. The blood that still flowed from his body became seas and rivers, and his bones and teeth became mountains.
His skull became the sky and his brain became the clouds. Odin and his brothers took some sparks from Muspelheim and threw them into the sky to create the stars.
However, none of this would have begun if Muspelheim and Niflheim had not existed in the void of Ginnungagap. In Norse mythology, Muspelheim and Niflheim were the first two of the nine realms created. They existed before there was life in the Cosmos.
