The Prose Edda on Yggdrasil

The Younger Edda: > Snorre'S Edda, Or The Prose Edda. > Preface.

• attestation: The world-tree Ygdrasil is consumed by fire and the world is swallowed by the sea at Ragnarok

  "smoke wreathes up around the ash Ygdrasil, the high flames play against the heavens, the graves of the gods, of the giants and of men are swallowed up by the sea"

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Iv. > Introduction.

• attestation: The Eddas are characterized as records of the Teutonic past

  "The records of our Teutonic past have hitherto received but slight attention from the English-speaking branch of the great world-ash Ygdrasil"

• attestation: Ygdrasil is described as an ash tree whose branches represent the Teutonic peoples

  "the whole American branch of the Ygdrasil ash"

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Vii. > On The Wonderful Things In Heaven.

• attestation: The ash Ygdrasil is the greatest of all trees; its branches spread over all the world and reach above heaven

  "This ash is the best and greatest of all trees; its branches spread over all the world, and reach up above heaven"

• attestation: Ygdrasil has three roots: one with the Aesir, one with the frost-giants (former Ginungagap), one reaching to Niflheim

  "Three roots sustain the tree and stand wide apart; one root is with the asas and another with the frost-giants, where Ginungagap formerly was; the third reaches into Niflheim"

• attestation: An eagle sits on the boughs of Ygdrasil who knows many things, and between its eyes sits the hawk Vedfolner

  "On one of the boughs of the ash sits an eagle, who knows many things. Between his eyes sits a hawk that is called Vedfolner"

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Xii. > Life In Valhal.

• attestation: A verse declares the supreme things: Ygdrasil of trees, Skidbladner of ships, Odin of asas, Sleipner of steeds, Bifrost of bridges, Brage of skalds

  "The Ygdrasil ash Is the foremost of trees, But Skidbladner of ships, Odin of asas, Sleipner of steeds, Bifrost of bridges, Brage of Skalds, Habrok of hows, But Garm of dogs."

The Younger Edda: > Chapter Vi.

• comparison: The names of fate-fays in German folk-lore are connected with holy wells, fitting the three Eddic Bournes near the great Tree of Existence where the Norns live

  "the name of all the corresponding fays in yet current German folk-lore is connected with holy wells. This quite fits in with the three Eddic Bournes near the great Tree of Existence, at one of which--apparently at the oldest, which is the very Source of Being--the Norns live"