The Elder Edda and the Younger Edda/Younger Edda/Of the Cow Audhumla, and Birth of Odin
6. "Where dwelt Ymir, and on what did he live?" asked Gangler.
"Immediately after the gelid vapours had been resolved into drops," replied Har, "there was formed out of them the cow named Audhumla. Four streams of milk ran from her teats, and thus fed she Ymir."
"But on what did the cow feed?" questioned Gangler.
"The cow," answered Har, "supported herself by licking the stones that were covered with salt and hoar frost. The first clay that she licked these stones there sprang from them, towards evening, the hairs of a man, the second day a head, and on the third an entire man, who was endowed with beauty, agility and power. He was called Bur, and was the father of Bor, who took for his wife Besla, the daughter of the giant Bolthorn. And they had three sons, Odin, Vili, and Ve; and it is our belief that this Odin, with his brothers, ruleth both heaven and earth, and that Odin is his true name, and that he is the most mighty of all the gods."