The first living being of Scandinavian mythology was the giant Ymir, born from melting ice and nourished by the cow Audumulla who came from the same source. While licking the blocks of ice in order to obtain salt for herself, Audumulla released the bodies of Buri and his son Bor, the first men. After Ymir's death his body became land, his blood the seas and his skull the heavens: Painting of Ymir and Audumulla from the Statens Museum fur Kunst, Copenhagen