Ím (also Imr) is a jötunn in Norse mythology, and the son of Vafthrudnir.[1]

Name

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The Old Norse name Ím has been translated as 'dust' (compare with Norw. īm 'smell', Far. ím 'soot [on a kettle]'; also Icel. ima 'heat', Swed. imme 'steam').[2]

Attestation

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According to the stanza 5 of the poem Vafthrudnismal from the Poetic Edda:

"Then Odin went to try the wisdom
of the all-wise giant [Vafthrudnir];
to the hall he came which Im's father owned;
Odin went inside."
— Larrington trans.

Ím is also mentioned in a list of giants in the Skaldskaparmal section of the Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson.

References

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  1. ^ Orchard 1997, p. 96.
  2. ^ de Vries 1962, p. 285.

Bibliography

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  • de Vries, Jan (1962). Altnordisches Etymologisches Worterbuch (1977 ed.). Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-05436-3.
  • Faulkes, Anthony, trans. (1987). Edda (1995 ed.). Everyman. ISBN 0-460-87616-3.
  • Larrington, Carolyne (transl.) (1996). The Poetic Edda. Oxford World's Classics. ISBN 0-19-283946-2.
  • Orchard, Andy (1997). Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. Cassell. ISBN 978-0-304-34520-5.