Yggdrasil facts for kids
Yggdrasil is a giant, special tree in Norse mythology. It is often called the World Tree. People believed Yggdrasil connected all the different parts of the universe. It was thought to be at the very center of everything.
This amazing tree has three huge roots. These roots stretch out to different important places. Many creatures live in and around Yggdrasil. In the myths, when the end of the world, called Ragnarök, comes, Yggdrasil will shake and fall apart. This marks the end of the universe.
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What is Yggdrasil?
Yggdrasil is more than just a tree; it's a central part of the Norse cosmos. It holds together the Nine Worlds. These worlds are like different realms or places where gods, giants, humans, and other beings live. Yggdrasil acts like a bridge or a highway connecting all these worlds.
The name Yggdrasil comes from Old Norse. It might mean "Odin's horse" or "gallows horse." This is because the god Odin once hung himself from the tree to gain wisdom.
Yggdrasil's Roots and Wells
Yggdrasil has three main roots. Each root reaches a different important place, often connected to a special well or spring:
- Urðarbrunnr: This is the "Well of Urðr." It is where the Three Norns live. They are powerful beings who decide the fate of everyone.
- Hvergelmir: This name means "bubbling spring." It is a very old and powerful spring. Many rivers in the Norse myths are said to come from here.
- Mímisbrunnr: This is the "Well of Mímir." It is known as the well of wisdom. The god Odin gave up one of his eyes to drink from this well and gain great knowledge.
Creatures Living in Yggdrasil
Many different creatures make their home in or around the World Tree. These animals are often mentioned in old Norse poems. They play a part in the life of Yggdrasil:
- Níðhöggr: This is a huge dragon or serpent. It lives at the bottom of the tree and constantly chews on one of its roots.
- An unnamed eagle: A wise eagle lives at the very top of Yggdrasil.
- Veðrfölnir: This hawk sits between the eyes of the eagle. It is thought to be a messenger or a symbol of the wind.
- Four stags: Their names are Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, and Duraþrór. These stags eat the leaves and buds of Yggdrasil.
- A squirrel named Ratatoskr: This squirrel runs up and down the tree. It carries messages and insults between the eagle and Níðhöggr.
The Norns and Fate
The Three Norns are very important beings in Norse mythology. Their names are Urðr, Verðandi, and Skuld. They live by the Well of Urðr. The Norns are like weavers of destiny. They decide what will happen to both gods and humans. They tend to Yggdrasil, making sure it stays healthy. They also water its roots from the well.
The End of Yggdrasil
In Norse myths, the world is not meant to last forever. There will be a great battle and a time of destruction called Ragnarök. During Ragnarök, Yggdrasil is said to shake and groan. It will eventually fall, marking the end of the current universe. However, after Ragnarök, a new world is expected to rise from the old.
Images for kids
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"The Ash Yggdrasil" (1886) by Friedrich Wilhelm Heine
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Yggdrasil (1895) by Lorenz Frølich
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The title page of Olive Bray's 1908 translation of the Poetic Edda by W. G. Collingwood
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A tree grows atop Mysselhøj, a Nordic Bronze Age burial mound in Roskilde, Denmark
See also
In Spanish: Yggdrasil para niños
