It is singular that a sacred tree should be found in the mythology of several different nations of the East; India, Persia, Egypt, and Assyria. We are not told that any particular kind of tree is specified in Eastern mythology; the Scandinavian Sagas, however, are very particular in pointing out the ash as their sacred tree, Yggdrassil. Major Frye, in his translations of Œhlenschlœger, quotes the following passage from the Edda, describing this great ash:
“This ash is the first and greatest of all trees, which spreads its branches over the whole earth. It springs from three roots. Near one of these roots, which pushes the trunk and branches toward Asagard,[1] flows the fountain of Urda, which contains the water of wisdom, and of which Mimer[2] is the guardian. The gods often descend to this spot to sit in judgment on the actions of mankind, and of one another. They interrogate Urda.[3] The second root of Yggdrassil stretches toward the region of the Hrimthusser[4] frost-giants of Utgard.[5] The third root extends below, as far as Niffelheim,[6] and is continually gnawed by the dragon Nidhòg.[7]
“On the branches of this ash dwells an eagle; he knoweth much, and between his eyes sits a Hawk, called Vaderfalner. A squirrel, called Ratatosk, runs up and down the trunk of the ash-
- ↑ Asagard, the country of the gods.
- ↑ Mimer, the god of eloquence and wisdom.
- ↑ Urda, the Norna, or destiny of the past.
- ↑ Hrimthusser, frost-demons; hrim, or frost, is the origin of our English word rime, for hoar frost; and thuss, or demon, is supposed by Major Frye to be the origin of the English word deuce, though the dictionaries give another derivation.
- ↑ Utgard, land of giants.
- ↑ Niffelheim, land of fog.
- ↑ Nidhog, a monster dragon.—(See Major Frye's Translations of the “Gods of the North.”)
