Yggdrasil is the world tree in Norse culture. The name possibly comes from Ygg, one of Odins many names, and drasill, meaning “horse”.[1] A gigantic ash tree, its three roots stretch into different worlds, although which ones differ depending on the source. In Grímnismál it is Hel, Jotunheim, and Midgard; and in the Prose Edda it is Niflheim, Jotunheim, and Asgard. By each root lies a well, those being Urd’s Well, where the Norns live and where the gods gather to hold court; Mimer’s Well, whose waters make any who drink it wise and to which Odin sacrificed his eye in exchange for being allowed to drink from it; and Hvergelmer, where Nidhoggr and other snakes lie and gnaw on Yggdrasil's roots.
In the crown of the tree sits a great eagle with a hawk on its forehead. The squirrel Ratatoskr runs up and down the tree’s trunk, conveying the words of Nidhoggr and the eagle to each other.
During Rangarok, the entire tree will tremble and burn up.[2][3]
The ash tree known as the World Tree in Norse lore.
Its branches cover the entire earth, and its trunk pierces the sky and holds up several worlds, including Alfheim, the abode of the Light Elves. Its three roots stretch into Jotunheim, Niflheim, and Asgard. It is said that it will live through Ragnarok.
Nomenclature
Names in Other Languages
Language
Name
Meaning
Japanese
イグドラシル Igudorashiru
Yggdrasil
↑"Yggdrasil tolkas vanligen som en sammansättning av Ygg "den förskräcklige", det vill säga Oden, och drasill "häst"." Translation: "Yggdrasil is usually interpreted as a compound of Ygg "the terrible", i.e. Odin, and drasill "horse"." "2. Skapelse och världsundergång i fornskandinaviskt perspektiv", Fornskandinavisk religion: en grundbok, Britt-Mari Näsström. Published by Studentlitteratur. Swedish. (2 ed.) p. 28. ISBN-13: 9789144015767.
↑"I slutet av tillvaron skälver trädet och brinner slutligen upp i det att dess lågor slår mot himlen." Translation: "At the end of existence the tree trembles and ultimately burns up as its flames strike the sky." "2. Skapelse och världsundergång i fornskandinaviskt perspektiv", Fornskandinavisk religion: en grundbok, Britt-Mari Näsström. Published by Studentlitteratur. Swedish. (2 ed.) p.29. ISBN-13: 9789144015767.
↑"Vid Ragnarök går Yggdrasil under i en stor brand." Translation: "During Ragnarok Yggdrasil perishes in a great fire." "V", Nordisk Mytologi: från A till Ö, Katarina Harrison Lindbergh. Published by Historiska media. Swedish. (E-Book ed. ed.) p.204. ISBN-13: 978-91-7545-370-5.
Japanese