Yggdrasil
The great tree holding the worlds together, with roots reaching gods, giants and Niflheim.
Overview
Yggdrasil is the cosmic anchor of this creation-and-worlds story. Gylfaginning 15 calls it the greatest and best of trees, with roots reaching the Aesir, the Rime-Giants’ region and Niflheim. It joins the memory of the gap, divine assembly, wells of wisdom and Urd, and the gnawing below into a structure that is tended and damaged at once.
Key facts
Three roots
Chapter 15 lists three roots of Yggdrasil reaching gods, giants and Niflheim.
Poetic assembly route
Grimnismol stanzas 29-35 also have the gods ride daily to Yggdrasil for assembly.
Relationships
- Niflheimroot reaches Niflheim
One root of Yggdrasil reaches Niflheim, with Hvergelmir beneath it.
- Jotunheimroot reaches giants
One root of Yggdrasil reaches the place of the Rime-Giants.
- Well of Mimirlies beneath a root
Mimir’s Well lies beneath Yggdrasil’s root toward the Rime-Giants.
- Well of Urdlies beneath a root
The Well of Urd lies beneath Yggdrasil’s root toward the gods.
- Hvergelmirlies beneath a root
Hvergelmir lies beneath Yggdrasil’s root over Niflheim.
- Nornstend
Each day the Norns sprinkle Yggdrasil with water and white clay from the Well of Urd so its branches do not wither or rot.
- Nidhogggnaws
Nidhogg gnaws the root of Yggdrasil from below.
- Alfheimheavenly abode
Chapter 17 lists Alfheim as the heavenly dwelling of the Light-Elves.
- Ragnaroktrembles
Yggdrasil trembles in Ragnarok, showing the whole cosmic structure shaken.
Story appearances
- Yggdrasil and the WorldsCosmic anchor
Yggdrasil joins gods, giants and Niflheim into one structure through its three roots.
- RagnarokWorld tree trembling in doom
Yggdrasil trembles in Ragnarok, bringing the world-holding cosmic structure into crisis.
- Oaths, Treasures and Giant AftershocksWorld-tree root
Yggdrasil makes Mimir’s Well a place of wisdom inside the cosmic structure.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 15, Yggdrasil, its three roots, Hvergelmir, Mimir’s Well, Well of Urd and divine assembly
- Anonymous, Poetic Edda, Grimnismol, Bellows stanzas 29-35, gods riding to Yggdrasil, its roots, Norns and creatures around the tree
- Snorri Sturluson, Prose Edda, Gylfaginning, Chapter 51, Heimdall blows Gjallarhorn, the gods assemble, Odin rides to Mimir’s Well and Yggdrasil trembles