Yggdrasil, the Norse world tree
This page delivers no verdict; it presents claims and evidence with their sources. No theory in science is absolute. Method
For everyone
In Norse mythology Yggdrasil is a giant ash tree connecting the nine worlds. Its roots reach into different worlds, and at the foot of one of them lies Mímir's well, for whose wisdom Odin gave an eye. This site's design, showing knowledge as branches and roots, is inspired by this image.
For specialists
The tree is described in the poems "Völuspá" and "Grímnismál" of the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century (Codex Regius, c. 1270), and in Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda (c. 1220, Gylfaginning 15–16). That the texts were written down in the Christian era raises the question of how far they reflect pre-Christian belief. The world-tree motif also appears in shamanic Turkic and Mongolian traditions ("Bayterek").
Claims
- The worlds are arranged on a cosmic tree whose roots and branches connect them.[1]
Positions
- Snorri Sturluson (Prose Edda)
- The tree has three roots, reaching to Asgard, to the land of the frost giants and to Niflheim.[2]
Connections
Sources
- Book (2014). The Poetic Edda. Oxford World's Classics, Oxford University Press, revised edition
- Book (1987). Edda. Everyman, London
Search the literature
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Cite this page
Athena contributors. (2026). Yggdrasil, the Norse world tree. Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Retrieved November 1, 2026, from https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/yggdrasil/
@misc{athena_yggdrasil,
title = {Yggdrasil, the Norse world tree},
author = {{Athena contributors}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://latifkedi.github.io/athena/en/d/yggdrasil/}},
note = {Athena: The tree of human knowledge. Accessed: 2026-11-01}
}Added: September 27, 2026 · Last changed: September 27, 2026 · Page history