Myth

• Yggdrasil


  A tree in Norse mythology that contains the nine realms that make up the cosmos
• Yggdrasil


  • It is an ash tree that is strongly associated with Odin, a major god in the Norse pantheon
  • It is often referred to as the "World Tree" or the tree of life
  • It is believed to be the center of the universe, connecting the nine realms or nine worlds
  • It symbolizes the connection between all things
• Meaning of Yggdrasil


  "Odin's horse" - this does not mean a literal horse, but a term for the gallows (where a man is hanged)
• Yggdrasil is also often referred to as "Askr Yggdrasil" (where "Askr" means "ash tree")
• Askr Yggdrasil


  Specifically refers to the tree itself, which is an ash tree
• The ash tree was revered in Ancient Germanic and Norse cultures for its resilience, strength, and connection to the divine
• Yggdrasil


  • It is the home to many creatures both benevolent and malevolent
  • The most famous is the dragon Nidhogg, who perpetually bites or chews at one of the tree's roots
  • Ratatoskr is an annoying squirrel who runs up and down the tree between the dragon and the eagle on the top of the tree
• The nine worlds of Norse mythology contained within Yggdrasil


  • Asgard - home of the Aesir Gods
  • Alfheim - home of the light elves
  • Svartalfheim - underground realm of the dwarves
  • Midgard - the human world
  • Jotunheim - home of the giants
  • Vanaheim - home of the Vanir Gods
  • Niflheim - a world of ice and cold
  • Muspelheim - a world of fire
  • Helheim (Infeirno) - the realm of the dead
• Bifrost


  A bridge that connects the world of the humans and the world of gods
• The three roots of Yggdrasil


  • 1st root - located deep under the ground in Helheim, where the well of Hvergelmir is located
  • 2nd root - in Jotunheim, at the well of Mimir's Well
  • 3rd root - in Asgard, next to the well named Urd
• Hvergelmir


  • The well of poison, but also the well that created the first living being in Norse Mythology
  • Constantly chewed on by the dragon Nidhogg
• Mimir's Well


  The well of wisdom, belonging to Mimir
• Urd's Well


  The well next to the third root of Yggdrasil, where the Norns live and pour water over the tree to keep it healthy
• The water from the Urdarbrunnr is magical and everything it touches, besides Yggdrasil, will become as white as the inside of an eggshell
• Odin made big sacrifices to gain wisdom, knowledge, and power, including sacrificing his eye, piercing himself with his spear Gungnir, and hanging himself from Yggdrasil for nine days and nine nights
• At Ragnarok, the prophesied end of the world, two mortals - a man (Liv) and a woman (Livtraser) - will find shelter inside Yggdrasil and become the ancestors of all future humans
• Yggdrasil


  A tree in Norse mythology that contains the nine realms that make up the cosmos
• Yggdrasil


  • An ash tree strongly associated with Odin, a major god in the Norse pantheon
  • Often referred to as the "World Tree" or the tree of life
  • Believed to be the center of the universe, connecting the nine realms or nine worlds
  • Symbolizes the connection between all things
• Meaning of "Yggdrasil"


  "Odin's horse" - not a literal horse, but a term for the gallows (where a man is hanged)
• Yggdrasil is also often referred to as "Askr Yggdrasil" (where "Askr" means "ash tree")
• "Askr Yggdrasil"


  Specifically refers to the tree itself, which is an ash tree
• The ash tree was revered in Ancient Germanic and Norse cultures for its resilience, strength, and connection to the divine
• When Yggdrasil dies the myths tell us the whole world of the Gods dies with it
• Creatures in Yggdrasil


  • The dragon Nidhogg, who perpetually bites or chews at one of the tree's roots
  • Ratatoskr, an annoying squirrel who runs up and down the tree between the dragon and the eagle on the top of the tree
• The nine worlds of Norse mythology

  • Asgard - Home of the Aesir Gods
  • Alfheim - Home of the light elves
  • Svartalfheim - Underground realm of the dwarves
  • Midgard - The human world
  • Jotunheim - Home of the giants
  • Vanaheim - Home of the Vanir Gods
  • Niflheim - A world of ice and cold
  • Muspelheim - A world of fire and home of Giants
  • Helheim (Infeirno) - The realm of the dead
• Bifrost


  A bridge that connects the world of the humans and the world of gods
• The three roots of Yggdrasil

  • 1st root - Deep under Niflheim, where the realm Helheim is located, with the well of Hvergelmir
  • 2nd root - In Jotunheim, with the well of Mimir's Well
  • 3rd root - In Asgard, next to the well of Urd, where the Norns live
• Hvergelmir


  • The well of poison, but also the well that created the first living being in Norse Mythology
  • Constantly chewed on by the dragon Nidhogg
• Mimir's Well


  The well of wisdom, belonging to Mimir
• Urd's Well


  Where the Norns live and pour water and clay over Yggdrasil to keep it healthy
• The water from the Urdarbrunnr is magical and everything it touches, besides Yggdrasil, will become as white as the inside of an eggshell
• The Gods and Goddesses have their daily meetings and cast judgement at the spot next to Urd's Well
• Odin's self-sacrifice


  • Sacrificed his eye in Mimir's well to gain wisdom and knowledge of the runes
  • Pierced himself with his spear Gungnir in a symbolic, ritual suicide
  • Hung himself in Yggdrasil for nine days and nine nights to gain knowledge of other worlds and understand the runes
• At Ragnarok, two mortals - a man (Liv) and a woman (Livtraser) - will find shelter inside Yggdrasil and become the ancestors of all future humans
• In Greek mythology, there were many different types of creatures such as centaurs (half-human half horse), satyrs (half man half goat), harpies (bird women), chimeras (lion body with head of serpent, goats horns, and tail of snake) and more.

  
• Zeus was king of the gods and god of lightning and thunder; he was often depicted holding a bolt of lightning and riding a chariot pulled by eagles.
• Apollo was the god of music, poetry, healing, archery, prophecy, and sun; he was often depicted playing the lyre and carrying a bow and arrow.
• Greek gods had human characteristics but also animal features which represented certain qualities or powers they possessed.
• Diana was the Roman goddess of hunting, childbirth, virginity, and moon. She was associated with Artemis in Greek mythology.
• Artemis was the goddess of hunting, wilderness, childbirth, virginity, and moon; she was often depicted with a bow and arrows and accompanied by deer or wolves.