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Y dalir (Yew
Dales) The valley where yew trees
grow, according to the poem G rimnismal . In this
valley stood the hall of Ull, the winter god of skiers,
snowshoes, and hunting. For many centuries people
of northern Europe made bows from the wood of the
yew tree.
yew An evergreen tree of the family Taxaceae. In
ancient belief systems, the European yew (Taxus bac-
cata) was thought to have magic properties. In Norse
mythology, Ydalir (Yew Dales), was the home of the
winter god Ull.
Y ggdrasil
The ash tree of Norse mythology,
called the World Tree because it forms a link between
the Nine Worlds.
At the uppermost level are Asgard, home of the
aesir gods; vanaheim, home of the Vanir gods; and
Alfheim, home of the light-elves.
On the next level lie Midgard (Earth), the home
of humans; Jotunheim, home of the Jotuns, or
giants; Svartalfheim, home of the dark-elves; and
Nidavellir, home of the dwarfs.
In the dark underworld, Yggdrasil’s roots reach
Muspellheim, land of fire, and Niflheim, including
Hel (2), the land of the dead.
Three wells water the roots of Yggdrasil. One is
the Well of Urd, Urdarbrunn, a sacred place tended
by the three Norns and where the gods sit in council.
The second is Mimir’s Well, near which is pre-
served the head of the wisest of all beings, Mimir. Odin
himself consults Mimir when in need of knowledge.
The third spring is Hvergelmir, in Niflheim, the
land of the dead. The foul dragon Nithog lives there,
forever nibbling at the roots of Yggdrasil.
Writhing serpents breathe clouds of venom
onto the roots of Yggdrasil. Four male deer and a
goat eat the leaves and bark from the tree. Yggdrasil
survives all these torments, helped by the Norns
who sprinkle Urd’s water upon the roots. The tree
will survive Ragnarok, the end of the world, though
it will tremble. Lif and Lifthrasir will hide in
the depths of the tree, fed on its dew, and emerge
afterward to repeople the Earth.
In the topmost branches of Yggdrasil sits a mighty
eagle with a small hawk, Vedrfolnir, upon its brow,
surveying the world. A squirrel, Ratatosk, scampers
up and down the tree bearing tales from Nithog to
the eagle and back again.
Once Odin hanged himself from the branches of
Yggdrasil for nine nights to learn the secret of the
runes. The Norse sometimes called the gallows a
horse (drasil ), and Odin, Ygg (Terrible One).
A tree is commonly used in myths to symbolize
long life, fertility, regeneration, and knowledge.
Y mir (Confused
Noise) The first giant. He was
formed from ice and fire at the beginning of time in
the vast chasm of Ginnungagap, which lay between
icy Niflheim and fiery Muspellheim. Ymir was
nourished by the first cow, Audhumla, and he grew
to a huge size.
As Ymir slept, male and female giants sprang from
his armpits, and from his feet grew a six-headed troll.
From these creatures began the Hrimthurssar, the
race of rime-giants, all huge and hideously ugly.
After the first gods, Odin, Vili, and Ve, were born
from Bor and Bestla, the gods quarreled constantly
with the giants and at last killed Ymir.
From Ymir’s body, the gods created Midgard, the
Middle Earth. Ymir’s blood formed the seas and all
the lakes and rivers. His flesh became the hills and
plains, his bones the mountains, and his teeth the
rocks. His hair formed trees and all vegetation.
The gods placed Ymir’s skull as a dome over the
Earth, and his brains they cast to the winds to become
clouds.
See also creation.
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