Study › Runes & Norse › Odin's Eye at Mimir's Well
Odin gave one of his eyes for a drink from Mimir's Well, whose waters hold wisdom. He has been one-eyed ever since, and the eye is said to rest in the well still.
Mimir's Well
Beneath one of the roots of Yggdrasil, in the land of the giants, lies Mimir's Well (Mimisbrunnr), whose waters hold wisdom and understanding of the deep workings of fate. It is watched over by Mimir, wisest of beings, who drinks from it each morning with the Gjallarhorn and so knows more than any other.
How Odin lost his eye
Odin, ever hungry for knowledge, journeyed to the well and asked to drink. Mimir would grant it only for a price: one of Odin's own eyes, dropped into the water. The Allfather did not hesitate — he gave up his eye and drank deeply, and ever after he is one-eyed, a god who traded half his sight for true insight. His eye is said to rest in the well still.
The pledge in the sources
The Voluspa and Snorri's Gylfaginning both recall the pledge, and Mimir's wisdom stays close to Odin: after the Aesir–Vanir War, when Mimir was beheaded, Odin preserved the severed head with herbs and songs and consults it in times of need.
Read about Odin, Mimir and Yggdrasil.
Questions
How did Odin lose his eye?
He gave it to Mimir as the price of a drink from the well of wisdom.
Where is Odin's eye?
It is said to rest in Mimir's Well still.