Ginnungagap
;)
in Germanic mythology, was a 'yawning emptiness' at the time of creation, which lay between the realms of fire and cold. As the warm air from the south met the chill of the north, the ice of Ginnungagap melted and from the drops was formed Ymir, the frost giant, and Audhumla, the primeval cow. By licking the ice, Audhumla uncovered Buri, ancestor of the gods. Buri's three grandsons, Odin, Vili and Ve, killed Ymir and took his body to the centre of Ginnungagap. There they made Midgard, the world of men, from his body. Ymir's flesh became the earth, his bones the mountains, his teeths rocks and stones, his hair the trees and his blood turned into the lakes and seas. The brothers used his skull to form the sky, with four dwarfs named Nordi, Sudri, Austri and Westri holding up the corners.