Auðumbla

Auðumbla (also spelled Auðumla, Auðhumbla, and Auðhumla) is a primeval cow appearing in Norse mythology. It is attested in Gylfaginning, a part of Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda, in association with Ginnungagap and Ymir. Auðumbla is not mentioned again in the Prose Edda, and apart from one mention in Nafnaþulur, its name does not occur in other ancient sources. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted by scholars as an authentic part of Norse mythos and not dismissed as an invention of Snorri Sturluson.

Auðumbla's name appears in different variations in Prose Edda manuscripts. Its meaning is unclear. The word auð might be related to words meaning 'wealth', 'ease', 'fate' or 'emptiness', with 'wealth' perhaps being a likelier candidate. The word um(b)la is unclear, but judging from apparent cognates in other Germanic languages, it could mean 'polled cow'. Other vision says þumb could be the word stem.

Another theory links it with the name Ymir. The name may have been obscure and interpreted differently even in pagan times.

The name can be represented or Anglicized as Audumbla, Audumla, Audhumbla, Audhumla, Authumbla, Authumla, Authhumbla, Authhumla, Audhhumbla or Audhhumla. In Swedish it is also Ödhumla. In this case, the letter i in bird and girl has a pronunciation very similar to ö (o with umlaut).

The Swedish scholar Viktor Rydberg, writing in the late 19th century, drew a parallel between the Norse creation myths and accounts in Zoroastrian and Vedic mythology, postulating a common Proto-Indo-European origin. While many of Rydberg's theories were dismissed as fanciful by later scholars his work on comparative mythology was sound to a large extent. Zoroastrian mythology does have a primeval ox which is variously said to be male or female and comes into existence in the middle of the earth along with the primeval man.

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