This article contains lore based on real-life sources from Norse mythology as introduced from the God of War Norse era.
| “ | Great Auðumbla's udders that's the Unity Stone! | ” |
–Mimir about Auðumbla | ||
Auðumbla is the Primordial Cow that fed Ymir with her milk and was the one who formed Búri out of the ice.
Quick Answers
What role does Auðumbla play in Norse mythology?
How did Auðumbla contribute to the creation of Búri in Norse lore?
What is the significance of Auðumbla as a 'god of milk'?
Why is Auðumbla referred to as a 'viking cow'?
Norse Mythology[]
In Norse mythology, Auðumbla is the primeval cow. The primordial frost jötunn Ymir fed from her milk, and over the course of three days she licked away the salty rime rocks and revealed Búri, grandfather of the gods and brothers Odin, Vili and Vé. The creature is solely attested in the Prose Edda, composed in the 13th century by Icelander Snorri Sturluson. Scholars identify her as stemming from a very early stratum of Germanic mythology, and ultimately belonging to larger complex of primordial bovines or cow-associated goddesses.
The cow's name variously appears in Prose Edda manuscripts as Auðumbla [ˈɔuðˌumblɑ], Auðhumla [ˈɔuðˌhumlɑ], and Auðumla [ˈɔuðˌumlɑ], and is generally accepted as meaning 'hornless cow rich in milk' (from Old Norse auðr 'riches' and *humala 'hornless').
Auðumbla's sole attested narrative occurs in the Gylfaginning section of the Prose Edda, and her name appears among ways to refer to cows later in the Nafnaþulur section of the book. In Gylfaginning, Gangleri (describe earlier in Gylfaginning as king Gylfi in disguise) asks where, in the distant past, Ymir lived and what he ate. High says that the cow Auðumbla's tears produced four rivers of milk, from which Ymir fed. Gylfi asks what Auðumbla ate, and High says that she licked salty rime stones for sustenance. He recounts that Auðumbla once licked salts for three days, revealing Búri: The first day she licked free his hair, the second day his head, and the third day his entire body.
The second and final mention of Auðumbla occurs in the Nafnaþulur, wherein the author provides a variety of ways to refer to cows. Auðumbla is the only cow mentioned by name, and the author adds that "she is the noblest of cows".
In the God of War series[]
God of War (2018)[]
Though Auðumbla does not appear herself but she is briefly mentioned by Mimir, when Kratos and Atreus visit the Temple of Týr to find a way to Jötunheim. Once they obtain the Unity Stone, Mimir says "Great Auðumbla's udders", a reference of when Ymir fed from her.
God of War Ragnarök[]
Her skull along with parts of her ribcage can be found in Niflheim. It appears that Auðumbla has been dead for millennia.
Gallery[]
Concept Art[]
Trivia[]
- Auðumbla's Greek equivalents are the Primordials, particularly Ouranos, who is believed as the creator of Greece.
- Mimir mentions Auðumbla's udders which is the reference to Ymir when she licked away the salty rime rocks to free Búri while Ymir fed himself from her milk.
- In some versions, Audumbla is an goddess with form humanoid and not an cow giant.
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