In Norse mythology, Ymir is a genderless being from whose slaying by Odin the world emerges. Accordingly, Ymir is a central figure in the creation story; the killing is, in a sense, the first step toward the world's coming into being. Above all, however, Ymir is a traveler between mythologies: His name, which roughly means "hermaphrodite" or "twin," is related to the Old Persian "Yima" (a ruler in Zoroastrianism) and the Old Indian "Yama" (the god of death in Hinduism).
Adam Seid Tahir, a choreographer born in Sweden with Swedish-Eritrean roots, has long been engaged with Afro-Nordic folklore. Their latest work, and from their hair, unending forest, makes explicit reference to Ymir—from whose hair Odin is said to have created the trees. It also focuses on the rune Thurisaz, named after the ...
