Mimir was a primal god of Norse mythology whose head was severed during the war between the Aesir and the Vanir deities. He was renowned for his knowledge and wisdom and the god Odin journeyed to the land of the giants, Jotunheim, to acquire Mimir's omniscient wisdom and knowledge for himself. The knowledge was attained by drinking from Mimir's magical well, but as a price for drinking of it Odin was forced to pluck out one of his eyes. Odin returned to Asgard with Mimir's head for oracular consultation according to some accounts. Mimir was also Honir's chief advisor after he became a ruler of the Vanir.

Mimir was also the name of the dwarf that fixed Sigurd's father's sword in Norse mythology.

A mimir is also a magical construct that is created to provide information to players in the Planescape setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. They are usually a silvery, metallic, disembodied skull (the name and concept is derived from the first definition above).

Mimir is also a textural music project of the members of The Legendary Pink Dots and Christoph Heemann .