Reliability of the creation account

[abaris]

Germanic.

In the beginning nothing existed except for Ginnungagap. Neither sand, sea, heaven or earth had been created. After a long span of time, a new realm emanated in the south called Muspell. It was made of fire, glowing embers, and scorching heat. In the north a second region sprang forth called Niflheim. It consisted of bitter winds, and of freezing ice and snow.

Ginnungagap was situated between these two realms, and the waters from the eleven rivers of Hvergelmir flowed here. In the middle of the void all was mild, until one day the elements of fire and ice collided. In the north Niflheim's cold breeze began to freeze the void, while the southern part was thawed by the warmth emanating from Muspell. All was disorder. Life emerged from the drops of this great chaos in the shape of a giant. His name was Ymir and the frost giants are his descendants.

While Ymir was asleep, the first man and woman were born from the sweat of his left armpit, and his legs gave birth to a son. Meanwhile, the ice on Ginnungagap continued to melt, until Audumbla the cow emerged.

She fed the giant Ymir with her four teats. She sustained herself by licking the ice. As Audumbla licked the salty ice blocks for three consecutive nights, another being appeared, named Buri. Buri's son Bor married Bestla. They had three sons, Odin,Vili, and Ve.