{"id":24186,"date":"2022-04-02T14:37:46","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T12:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asa-samfundet.se\/symbol-lexicon-yggdrasil\/"},"modified":"2024-11-30T14:53:39","modified_gmt":"2024-11-30T13:53:39","slug":"symbol-lexicon-yggdrasil","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/asa-samfundet.se\/en\/symbol-lexicon-yggdrasil\/","title":{"rendered":"Symbol lexicon: Yggdrasil"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yggdrasil (Yggdrasill) \u2013 Mimameid \u2013 Laerad.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yggdrasil (Old Norse Yggdrasill) is the mighty tree whose trunk rises in the geographical center of the Norse spiritual cosmos. The rest of that cosmos, including the nine worlds, is arranged around it and held together by its branches and roots, which connect the different parts of the cosmos with each other. Because of this, the well-being of the cosmos depends on the well-being of Yggdrasil. When the tree trembles, it signals the arrival of Ragnarok, the destruction of the universe. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a>
Modern image of Yggdrasil<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/a>
Ockelbo Runestone signum: Gs 19. Dated to the end of the 11th century. Depicting Yggdrasil <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The first word in the name Yggdrasil, Yggr means the terrifying, the terrible in Old Norse, which is one of the countless names of Odin, the second word, drasill, means horse seems to be formed from the dra(ga) suffix -sel, as in birth. The name Yggdrasil means \u201cOdin’s horse\u201d, which can be linked to when Odin sacrificed himself to himself in Yggdrasil:
Yggr (the frightening\/fearsome one) hung in the tree whose drasill (horse) carried Odin’s body – Ygg (the frightening, fearsome one’s) drasill (horse). The horse of the terrifying\/fearsome one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Havamal
<\/strong>138
I know that I hung
on a windy tree
nine long nights,
wounded with a spear,
dedicated to Odin,
myself to myself,
on that tree of which no man knows
from where its roots run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

139.
No bread did they give me
nor a drink from a horn,
downwards I peered;
I took up the runes,
screaming I took them,
then I fell back from there.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Havam\u00e1l<\/strong>
138
Veit ek, at ek hekk
vindga mei\u00f0i \u00e1
n\u00e6tr allar n\u00edu,
geiri unda\u00f0r
ok gefinn \u00d3\u00f0ni,
sjalfr sjalfum m\u00e9r,
\u00e1 \u00feeim mei\u00f0i,
er manngi veit
hvers af r\u00f3tum renn.

139.
Vi\u00f0 hleifi mik s\u00e6ldu
n\u00e9 vi\u00f0 hornigi;
n\u00fdsta ek ni\u00f0r,
nam ek upp r\u00fanar,
\u00e6pandi nam,
fell ek aftr \u00fea\u00f0an.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In the sources, Yggdrasil is referred to by other names, in the Song of Fjolsvinn<\/a> (Old West Norse: Fj\u00f6lsvinnsm\u00e1l\/Fj\u01eblsvinnsm\u00e1l) verses 19-24, Vindkald (Old West Norse: Vindkaldr) asks Fjolsvinn (Old West Norse: Fj\u01eblsvinn\/Fj\u00f6lsvinn) what the conifer whose branches stretch across all the worlds is called, Fjollsvinn answers that the tree is called Mimameid (Old West Norse: M\u00edmamei\u00f0r ) whose roots are not known where they lead, the tree cannot be destroyed by either iron or fire, the tree’s fruit is wolfberries\/nuts used as medicine by humans, and at the top sits Vindovner (Old West Norse: V\u00ed\u00f0\u00f3pnir ) which shines like gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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English Translation:<\/strong>
Vindkald said:
19.
\u201cNow tell me, Fjolsvith,
what I will ask you
and what I wish to know:
what is the name of the tree,
whose branches extend
through all the lands?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fjolsvinn said:
20.
\u2018Mimameid is it’s name,
and few are they who know
from what roots it grows;
by what it will fall,
no one knows;
neither fire nor iron can fell it.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Windkald said:
21.
\u2018Now tell me, Fjolsvinn,
what I will ask you
and what I wish to know:
what becomes of the fruit
of this renowned tree,
felled by neither fire nor iron?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fjolsvinn said:
22.
\u201cIts fruit is taken
and laid upon a fire
for women in labour;
out then will come
that which they carry inside;
thus it metes out fate among men.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vindkald said:
23.
\u201cNow tell me, Fjolsvinn,
what I will ask you
and what I wish to know:
what is the name of the cock
who sits in the lofty tree,
all aglow with gold?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fjolsvinn said:
24.
\u201cHis name is Vidofnir,
and he stands upon Vedurglasir,
the boughs of M\u00edmi’s tree;
with a single sorrow
he, the immense, is afflicted
by Sinmara’s Surt.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Old West Norse version:<\/strong>
Vindkaldr kva\u00f0:
19.
\u201cSeg\u00f0u m\u00e9r \u00feat, Fj\u00f6lsvi\u00f0r,
er ek \u00feik fregna mun
ok ek vilja vita:
Hvat \u00feat barr heitir,
er brei\u00f0ask um
l\u00f6nd \u00f6ll limar?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fj\u00f6lsvi\u00f0r kva\u00f0:
20.
\u201cM\u00edmamei\u00f0r hann heitir,
en \u00feat manngi veit,
af hverjum r\u00f3tum renn;
vi\u00f0 \u00feat hann fellr,
er f\u00e6stan varir,
fl\u00e6r-at hann eld n\u00e9 j\u00e1rn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vindkaldr kva\u00f0:
21.
\u201cSeg\u00f0u m\u00e9r \u00feat, Fj\u00f6lsvi\u00f0r,
er ek \u00feik fregna mun
ok ek vilja vita:
Hvat af m\u00f3\u00f0i ver\u00f0r
\u00feess ins m\u00e6ra vi\u00f0ar,
er hann fl\u00e6r-rat eld n\u00e9 j\u00e1rn?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fj\u00f6lsvi\u00f0r kva\u00f0:
22.
\u201c\u00dat af hans aldni
skal \u00e1 eld bera
fyr kelisj\u00fakar konur;
\u00fatar hverfa
\u00feats \u00fe\u00e6r innar skyli,
s\u00e1 er hann me\u00f0 m\u00f6nnum mj\u00f6tu\u00f0r.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vindkaldr kva\u00f0:
23.
\u201cSeg\u00f0u m\u00e9r \u00feat, Fj\u00f6lsvi\u00f0r,
er ek \u00feik fregna mun
ok ek vilja vita:
Hvat s\u00e1 hani heitir,
er sitr \u00ed inum h\u00e1va vi\u00f0i,
allr hann vi\u00f0 gull gl\u00f3ir?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fj\u00f6lsvi\u00f0r kva\u00f0:
24.
\u201cV\u00ed\u00f0\u00f3pnir hann heitir,
en hann stendr ve\u00f0rglasir
\u00e1 mei\u00f0s kvistum M\u00edma;
einum ekka
\u00feryngr hann \u00f6r\u00f3fsaman
Surtr Sinm\u00f6ru.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The name Mimameid (Old West Norse: M\u00edmamei\u00f0r) first part Mima means Mimer (Old West Norse: Mim\u00edr) and second part mei\u00f0r means tree. Mimameid then refers to Mimer’s tree, which may refer to the fact that Mimer’s well is located at one of the three roots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Lay of Grimnir<\/a> (Old West Norse: Grimnism\u00e1l) and Gylfaginning (Old West Norse: H\u00e9r hefr Gylfaginning), Yggdrasil is referred to as Laerad (Old West Norse: L\u00e6ra\u00f0r\/L\u00e9ra\u00f0r). In the Song of Grimnir it is said that the goat Heidrun (Old Norse: Hei\u00f0r\u00fan ) and the deer Eiktyrner (Old Norse: Eik\u00feyrnir ) stand on the branches of Laerad and gnaw on its branches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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English Translation:<\/strong>
25.
Heidrun the goat is called,
that stands o\u2019er Odin\u2019s hall,
and bits from Laerad\u2019s branches.
He a bowl shall fill
with the bright mead;
that drink shall never fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

26.
Eikthyrnir the hart is called,
that stands o\u2019er Odin\u2019s hall,
and bits from Laerad\u2019s branches;
from his horns fall
drops into Hvergelmir,
whence all waters rise:-<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Old West Norse version:<\/strong>
25.
Hei\u00f0r\u00fan heitir geit,
er stendr h\u00f6llu \u00e1
ok b\u00edtr af L\u00e6ra\u00f0s limum;
skapker fylla
hon skal ins sk\u00edra mja\u00f0ar;
kn\u00e1-at s\u00fa veig vanask.

26.
Eik\u00feyrnir heitir hj\u00f6rtr,
er stendr h\u00f6llu \u00e1
ok b\u00edtr af L\u00e6ra\u00f0s limum;
en af hans hornum
dr\u00fdpr \u00ed Hvergelmi,
\u00fea\u00f0an eigu v\u00f6tn \u00f6ll vega.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Gylfaginning (Old West Norse H\u00e9r hefr Gylfaginning):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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English Translation:<\/strong>
A she-goat, by name Heidrun, stands up in Valhal and bites the leaves off the branches of that famous tree called Laerad. From her teats runs so much mead that she fills every day a vessel in the hall from which the horns are filled, and which is so large that all the einherjes get all the drink they want out of it. Then said Ganglere: That is a most useful goat, and a right excellent tree that must be that she feeds upon. Then said Har: Still more remarkable is the hart Eikthyrner, which stands over Valhal and bites the branches of the same tree. From his horns fall so many drops down into Hvergelmer, that thence flow the rivers that are called Sid, Vid, Sekin, Ekin, Svol, Gunthro, Fjorm, Fimbulthul, Gipul, Gopul, Gomul and Geirvimul, all of which fall about the abodes of the asas. The following are also named: Thyn, Vin, Thol, Bol, Grad, Gunthrain, Nyt, Not, Non, Hron, Vina, Vegsvin, Thjodnuma. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Old West Norse version:<\/strong>
Geit s\u00fa, er Hei\u00f0r\u00fan heitir, stendr uppi \u00e1 Valh\u00f6ll ok b\u00edtr barr af limum tr\u00e9s \u00feess, er mj\u00f6k er nafnfr\u00e6gt, er L\u00e6ra\u00f0r heitir, en \u00f3r spenum hennar rennr mj\u00f6\u00f0r s\u00e1, er hon fyllir skapker hvern dag. \u00deat er sv\u00e1 mikit, at allir Einherjar ver\u00f0a fulldrukknir af. \u00de\u00e1 m\u00e6lti Gangleri: \u201c\u00deat er \u00feeim geysihaglig geit. Forkunnarg\u00f3\u00f0r vi\u00f0r mun \u00feat vera, er hon b\u00edtr af.\u201d \u00de\u00e1 m\u00e6lti H\u00e1rr: \u201cEnn er meira mark at of hj\u00f6rtinn Eik\u00feyrni, er stendr \u00e1 Valh\u00f6ll ok b\u00edtr af limum \u00feess tr\u00e9s, en af hornum hans ver\u00f0r sv\u00e1 mikill dropi, at ni\u00f0r kemr \u00ed Hvergelmi, ok \u00fea\u00f0an af falla \u00fe\u00e6r \u00e1r, er sv\u00e1 heita: S\u00ed\u00f0, V\u00ed\u00f0, S\u00e6kin, Ekin, Sv\u00f6l, Gunn\u00fer\u00f3, Fj\u00f6rm, Fimbul\u00feul, G\u00edpul, G\u00f6pul, G\u00f6mul, Geirvimul. \u00deessar falla um \u00e1sa bygg\u00f0ir. \u00deessar eru enn nefndar: \u00deyn, V\u00edn, \u00de\u00f6ll, H\u00f6ll, Gr\u00e1\u00f0, Gunn\u00fer\u00e1in, Nyt, N\u00f6t, N\u00f6nn, Hr\u00f6nn, V\u00edna, Vegsvinn, \u00dej\u00f3\u00f0numa. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

The name Laerad (Old West Norse L\u00e6ra\u00f0r\/L\u00e9ra\u00f0r) is difficult to interpret if the first part is L\u00e6- which means betrayed or damaged, it can be linked to Odin’s self-sacrifice, but if the first syllable is instead (H)l\u00e9- which means shelter\/protection, the name can be read as Hl\u00e9r\u00e1\u00f0r, \u2018the one who prevails for shelter\u2019, that is, through his branches protects from the wind.

Yggdrasil is usually referred to as an ash but on other occasions it is said that no one knows what species the magnificent tree belongs to while in sources such as Fj\u00f6lsvinnsm\u00e1l it is mentioned that the tree is a conifer, which stands green all year round, which makes Yggdrasil believed not to be an ash but a yew.

The Old Norwegian and Old English rune poems say this about the \u00ddr-rune, which means yew:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Old Norwegian:<\/strong>
\u00ddr er vetrgr\u00f8nstr vi\u00f0a;<\/em>
v\u00e6nt er, er brennr, at svi\u00f0a.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The yew (\u00ddr rune) is the greenest of trees in winter;
it usually cracks when it burns.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Old English<\/strong>
Eoh by\u00fe utan unsme\u00fee treow,heard hrusan f\u00e6st, hyrde fyres,<\/em>
wyrtrumun underwre\u00feyd, wyn on e\u00fele.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The yew (=eoh rune) is a tree with rough bark,
hard and fast in the soil, supported by its roots,
a keeper of flames and a joy in a yard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

But in Gylfaginning, Snorri mentions that Yggdrasil sheds dew, which is called honeydew and provides food for bees, which a yew does not. In contrast, the linden tree does. Linden also forms large crowns of leaves during the summer. The Song of Fjollsvinn also mentions that Yggdrasil produces fruit in the form of acorns\/nuts, which neither ash, yew nor lind trees do, which means that Yggdrasil can be an oak, like the Germanic world tree Irminsul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether Yggdrasil is an ash, yew, linden or oak is uncertain, the sources contain too many contradictions about Yggdrasil that make it uncertain to be able to state with 100% certainty the species of the World Tree. However, most scientists and many in the heathen sphere agree that it is a yew tree, although the World Tree is generally considered to be an ash. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many animals are said to live among the sturdy branches and roots of Yggdrasil. Around its roots lurk Nidhogg\/J\u00f6rmungandr (Old West Norse N\u00ed\u00f0h\u01ebggr\/J\u01ebrmungandr) and several snakes, which gnaw at its roots. An unnamed eagle recently identified as Raesvelg (Old West Norse Hr\u00e6svelgr) sits on top, and a squirrel, Ratatoskr (Old West Norse Ratat\u01ebskr ), runs up and down the trunk, conveying Nidhoggs\/J\u00f6rmungandr (Old West Norse N\u00ed\u00f0h\u01ebggr\/J\u01ebrmungandr) insults to the eagle and vice versa. Meanwhile, four deer – Dain, Dvalin, Duneyr and Duratror, (Old West Norse D\u00e1inn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, Dura\u00fer\u00f3r) graze on the leaves of the tree <\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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