Yggdrasil

The World Tree of the Norse Cosmos (Art by Oluf Bagge)

### Aliases

Yggdrasill, Tree of Life, World Tree, Celestial Axis, Mighty Ash, World Ash, Hygga-Dygga

## Details

### Located within

World Tree

**Yggdrasil** is a cosmic ash tree and a branch of the World Tree known to the Norse, of which the Nine Worlds are connected to. It was created from the dead body of Ymir, the first Jötunn. Although it exists within the realm of Asgard, its branches and roots extend beyond the Norse realm, allowing gods access to Midgard and vice versa.

## Overview

Yggdrasil (from Old Norse Yggdrasill) is an immense and central sacred tree. Around it exists all else, including the Nine Worlds. It was born from the body of the ice Jötunn Ymir after being killed by Odin.

An enormous ash tree, Yggdrasil is considered to be very holy. However, it should not be confused with the Tree of Life.

The gods meet at Yggdrasil for their daily discussions. The branches of the tree reach the heavens while its roots extend into three separate locations; the well Urðarbrunnr, the spring Hvergelmir, and the well Mímisbrunnr.

## Description

Yggdrasil is populated by several creatures, most notably the dragon Nidhoggr, an unknown eagle, and four stags by the names of Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr and Duraþrór. Earth is covered by the branches of the tree and several worlds are supported by its trunk. Its three roots travel through Jötunheimr and Asgard. It is destined to survive the disastrous event known as Ragnarok.

Odin hung himself for nine days on the tree in order to gain more power. During those nine days, he said that he sacrificed himself onto himself. This statement has an association with the unity between the gods and Yggdrasil. Furthermore, there is an old English word called treow, which has two separate meanings; tree and truth. In other words, tree and truth sprung out of the same root.

It is said in the Norse creation myth that humanity came from trees. The first man was born from the Ash tree and named Ask while the first woman was born from the Elm tree and named Elma. The oxygen trees produce offer the possibility of life for humans, allowing Ask and Elma to survive.

## Myths and Legends

While there have been many translations about what the word Yggdrasil means, the most satisfactory translation is that the name means Odin’s horse. This makes sense since Ygg means Odin while drasil means horse. However, drasil can mean walker as well, causing some scholars to debate whether or not Yggdrasil actually means Odin’s horse or Odinwalker. In several manuscripts, Yggdrasil and Odin are the same.

## Realms of Yggdrasil

* Asgard - The highest of the Nine Realms and the residence of the Aesir
* Alfheim - The realm that acts as a home to the Light Elves
* Svartalfheim - A realm home to the Svartálfar
* Nidavellir – A realm filled with rocks populated by the Dwarves
* Midgard - A realm home to humans
* Jötunheimr - A location associated with the Jötnar
* Vanaheim - The lowest of the Nine Realms and the residence of the Vanir
* Niflheim - A realm of primordial ice and cold, with the frozen rivers which come from all rivers
* Muspelheim - A realm of pure fire populated by the Fire Giants

## Quotes

Yggdrasill is its name,
a tall tree, showered
with shining loam.
From there come the dews
that drop in the valleys.
It stands forever green over
Urðr's well.

## Trivia

* The Norns Skuld, Urd and Verdandi are also said to live by a lake under the tree itself.