Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

The German middle-age poem, "Biterolf," relates that its hero possessed a sword,
made by Mimir the Old, Mime der alte, who was the most excellent smith in the world.
Even Wieland (Völund, Wayland was not to be compared with him), still less anyone
else, with the one exception of Hertrich, who was Mimir's co-laborer, and assisted him in
making all the treasures he produced:
Zuo siner (Mimir's) meisterschefte
ich nieman kan gelichen
in allen fürsten richen
an einen, den ich nenne,
daz man in dar bi erkenne:
Der war Hertrich genant.
. . . . . . .
Durch ir sinne craft
so hæten sie geselleschaft
an werke und an allen dingen. (Biterolf,
144 ff.)
To his (Mimir's) mastery
I can compare no one
in all the princely realms
except the one that I name,
so that he is recognized thereby:
He was named Hertrich.
. . . . . . .
Through the power of their
understanding
they were able to collaborate
on works and on all things
Þidreks Saga af Bern, which is based on both German and Norse sources, states
that Mimir was an artist, in whose workshop the sons of princes and the most famous
smiths learned the trade of the smith. Among his apprentices are mentioned Velint
(Völund), Sigurd-Sven, and Eckihard.
These echoes reverberating far down in Christian times of the myth about Mimir,
as chief of smiths, we also perceive in Saxo. It should be remembered what he relates
about the incomparable treasures which are preserved in Gudmund-Mimir's domain,
among which in addition to those already named occur arma humanorum corporum
habitu grandiora (Hist., Book 8) 1 and about Mimingus, who possesses the sword of
victory, and an arm-ring which produces wealth (Hist., Book 3). If we consult the poetic
Edda, we find Mimir mentioned as Hodd-Mimir, Treasure-Mimir (Vafþrúðnismál 45); as
naddgöfugr jötunn, the giant celebrated for his weapons (Gróugaldur 14); as Hoddrofnir,
or Hodd-dropnir, the treasure-dropping one (Sigurdrífumál 13); as Baugreginn, the king
of the gold-rings (Sólarljóð 56). And as shall be shown hereafter, the chief smiths in the
poetic Edda are put in connection with Mimir as the one on whose fields they dwell, or in
whose smithy they work.
In the mythology, artistic and creative powers are closely related to each other.
The great smiths of the Rigveda hymns, the Ribhus, make horses for Indra, create a cow
and her calf, make from a single goblet three equally good, diffuse vegetation over the
fields, and make brooks flow in the valleys (Rigveda, IV. 34:9; IV. 33:8; I. 20:6, 110:3,
and elsewhere). 2 This they do although they are "mortals," who by their merits acquire
1 "wherein arms were laid out too great for those of human stature." Elton translation.
2 Rigveda, IV. 34:9 "Rbhus, who helped their parents and the Asvins, who formed the milch cow and the
pair of horses, made armor, set the heaven and the earth asunder, --far-reaching Heroes, they have made
good their offspring."; IV. 33:8 "May they who formed the swift car, bearing heroes, and the cow
omniform and all-impelling, even they form wealth for us --the Rbhus, dextrous-handed, deft in work and
gracious"; I. 20:6 "The sacrifical ladle, wrought newly by the god Tvastar's hand-- four ladles have ye (the
Rbhus) made thereof."; I. 110:3 "Savitar therefore gave you (the Rbhus) immortality, because ye came