Ymir was, like Pʼan Ku, born from inanimate matter. He was nourished by Audhumbla (Darkness and Vacuity), the cow mother, the Scandinavian Hathor.
From stormy billow sprang poison drops,
Which waxed into Jotum (giant) form,
And from him are come the whole of our Kin;
All fierce and dread is that race.[5]
Another version of the Ymir myth makes the giant come into existence like the self-created Ptah:
’Twas the earliest of times when Ymir lived;
Then was sand, nor sea, nor cooling wave,
Nor was Earth found even, nor Heavens on high;
There was Yawning of Deeps, and nowhere grass.[6]