Mimir

In the Norwegian epic called Thiðrekssaga, Mimir was the great smith who was the first master to teach Velent (Wayland), as well as being the foster father of the hero Sigurd.

Mimir was the brother of Regin, who was an evil man who had turned into a dragon. (In the Icelandic version, Mimir's name doesn't appear in the legend, while Regin was the foster father of Sigurd and the smith who reforged Sigmund's broken sword. Regin's brother Fafnir was the dragon.)

While Mimir was in forest looking for charcoal for his forge, he found a child reared by a hind for over a year. Mimir saw that the child was only a year old, but the boy was as large as a three-year-old and hadn't learned how to speak, yet. Though married, Mimir had no children, so he took the child home and became the boy's foster father. Mimir named the boy Sigurd.

Mimir had twelve apprentices, but none of them were stronger than Sigurd, who was now nine. One of Mimir's apprentices was Velent (Wayland). Velent only stayed for three years before his father took him home, fearing that Sigurd would hurt his son.

One day while Sigurd was in the smithy, Ekkihard struck Sigurd in the ear with his tongs. Sigurd knocked the apprentice to the ground and dragged Ekkihard by the hair to Mimir.

Mimir rebuked Sigurd for bullying his apprentices when he didn't do any work in the smithy. Mimir thought to teach Sigurd his trade.

In his smithy, Mimir held a glowing iron to the anvil, and asked Sigurd to beat the iron with the hammer. With a single blow, Sigurd split the anvil into two, sinking the entire thing to the ground, while the iron flew away from the tongs. The tongs also broke from the impact. Mimir was stunned by Sigurd's physical strength and knew that the boy would be useless as a craftsman.

Mimir also realised that his foster son was dangerous, so he conspired to have Sigurd killed. Mimir decided to send Sigurd into the forest to fetch charcoal for him. In the forest lived his brother, Regin, who was now the most feearsome dragon in the world. Mimir hoped that he would be sending his foster son to his death.

Sigurd set out into the forest, unsuspecting of any plot. Mimir had provided Sigurd with an axe, as well as food and wine for nine days. But Sigurd consumed all the food on his first day. Sigurd set camp with a huge fire.

As Sigurd sat there, the dragon (Regin) came out of the woods towards his camp. Sigurd immediately reacted. Sigurd picked up a large, burning piece of wood, and struck a mighty blow to the dragon's head. Regin's soul immediately left the dragon's body to Hel. Then Sigurd used the axe and lopped off the large head.

Sigurd was still feeling hungry, so he cut off a large slice of dragon flesh and placed it in the kettle. When Sigurd went to see if his meal was ready, some of dragon's blood burned his finger. When he stuck his finger into his mouth, he was given the ability to understand the speech of the birds.

Two birds were talking how Sigurd should kill his foster father, since Mimir had sent him to die in the forest. Hearing this, Sigurd bathed himself in the blood of the dragon, which made his skin hard and invulnerable to all weapons, except for the small part of his back between his shoulders that he couldn't reach.

Taking the dragon's head with him, he returned to his foster father. The apprentices had all fled upon seeing the boy.

Mimir tried to appease his young charge by offering armour, weapon and gold. Mimir also told Sigurd that he had a wonderful horse, Grani, which was stabled in Brynhild's castle. Mimir provided armour and helmet, which Sigurd immediately put on. When Mimir gave the unbreakable sword, Gram, into the boy's hand, Sigurd delivered a deathblow to Mimir.

Sigurd took all the gold from his foster father and then left home, seeking the home of Brynhild. Brynhild, who was wise, immediately recognised Sigurd. Brynhild freely allowed the boy to take the horse (Grani). It was Brynhild who revealed his identity as the son of Sigmund and Sisibe (Hjordis).