Those scholars who recognize a difference in the taxonomy of the creature between the two sources have commented on the matter, further issues have been raised about the apparently contradictory etymology of the name of the creature in relation to its apparent status as a boar, and some scholars have theorized that the ritual killing of the animal may ultimately stem from religious practices in Germanic paganism. However, some scholars have translated the Poetic Edda attestation, which the Prose Edda attestation quotes, as not referring to the creature as any specific type. The enthroned figure of High quotes this stanza in the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning and specifically states that Sæhrímnir is a boar. Sæhrímnir is attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional material, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. After Sæhrímnir is eaten, the beast is brought back to life again to provide sustenance for the following day. The cook of the gods, Andhrímnir, is responsible for the slaughter of Sæhrímnir and its preparation in the cauldron Eldhrímnir. Mimir drinks mead every morning from Val-father's pledge.In Norse mythology, Sæhrímnir is the creature killed and eaten every night by the Æsir and einherjar. I know it all, Odin, where you deposited your eye, in that renowned well of Mimir. All-father went there and asked for a single drink from the well, but he did not get one until he placed his eye as a pledge. He is full of learning because he drinks of the well from the horn Giallarhorn. But under the root that reaches towards the frost-giants, there is where Mimir's well is, which has wisdom and intelligence contained in it, and the master of the well is called Mimir. The third extends over Niflheim, and under that root is Hvergelmir, and Nidhogg gnaws the bottom of the root. One is among the Æsir, the second among the frost-giants, where Ginnungagap once was. Three of the tree's roots support it and extend very, very far. Its branches spread out over all the world and extend across the sky.

Then said Just-as-high: 'The ash is of all trees the biggest and best. Then spoke Gangleri: 'What is there to tell about that place?' There the gods must hold their courts each day.' High replied: 'It is at the ash Yggdrasil. “Then spoke Gangleri: 'Where is the chief centre or holy place of the gods?'

Anthony faulkes edda