Yggdrasil - Tree of Life

Yggdrasil - Tree of Life

Yggdrasil - Tree of Life

The Yggdrasil, also known as the world ash, is a tree from Norse mythology that stands for life and embodies the cosmos. Norse mythology includes all Scandinavian myths that arose before Christ. This tree is of great importance for many older cultures, but also for mythologies. In addition to life, the Yggdrasil also stands for fertility and, according to the beliefs of the old gods, is also said to represent a kind of connection between the Midgard, the Germanic term for earth, and the sky. The Vikings, on the other hand, believed that this tree also represented a connection to the middle and underworld. The roots of the tree are said to provide a path to Asgard, home of the gods. Based on the legend, it is also believed that the Yggdrasil was created from the corpse of Ymir, a primordial giant. This is recorded in the Edda, a collection of legends about heroes and gods.


The nine worlds of the world ash

The worlds located in Yggdrasil according to Norse mythology are: Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Midgard, Jotunheim, Muspellheim, Black Albenheim, Nilfheim and Helheim. These nine world empires are arranged on the branches, the crown, the trunk and the roots of the tree. Incidentally, Asgard is also home to Valhalla, a palace of the gods into which the fallen fighters of a battle reach.


The meaning of Yggdrasil for different cultures

The tree of life appears in the mythologies of many different peoples. In each he is symbolic of the world order and also embodies different worlds as well as the planes and connects them all together. In addition to this cosmic tree, there are many other religious trees in Norse mythology, such as a tree of immortality, a tree of knowledge or a tree of youth. Mythology also shows that most cultures believed in heaven, the earthly world, an underworld and a world of gods.

The Völuspá, a book of wisdom, also says that the Norns live at the roots of the tree of life. These are female creatures of Norse mythology. The belief in these beings, but also in the Nordic gods, cannot be compared with the religious belief of today. Rather, the gods of that time influenced people's culture without there being any fixed rules as in religion.


The roots of the tree of life

The roots of Yggdrasil are the most important feature for many races. They spread out in three different directions and house three sources from which the roots each spring. The sources are: Mimirsbrunnen, Uedsbrunnen and Hvergelmir.


Mimir's Fountain

This source represents reason and wisdom. Mythology says that people who want to drink from the fountain must leave a deposit in return.


fountain

This spring is also known as the fountain of destiny and is also the place of judgment for the Nordic gods, where they confer. Also, the house of the nuns Werdani, Skuld and Urd is near the spring. These nuns are responsible for determining people's lifetime.


Hvergelmir

In this source is the world of the dead Nilfheim. The Nidhöggr live there.
The Yggdrasil was an important symbol for the people of that time. This tree was linked to many sagas of the gods and symbolized the cosmos.
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