The Cosmic World Tree
Yggdrasil is the immense ash tree at the very center of Norse cosmology. Its branches and roots connect all the Nine Realms, binding gods, humans, giants, the dead, and all creatures into a single vast structure. Everything in existence is in some way tied to the fate of this tree.
Its highest branches stretch above Asgard, home of the gods, while its roots sink deep into the hidden places of the cosmos: the realm of the Norns, the well of wisdom, and the icy depths of Niflheim. The gods hold council beneath its branches, oaths are sworn at its roots, and even Ragnarok cannot unfold without Yggdrasil shaking and groaning under the strain.
Although it is mighty, Yggdrasil is not safe from harm. Serpents gnaw its roots, stags strip its leaves, and ominous creatures move along its trunk. The tree lives in a constant tension between growth and decay, mirroring the fragile balance of the Norse universe itself.
Roots, Trunk, and Branches
Roots of Yggdrasil
Three great roots stretch into different realms: one to the gods in Asgard, one to the frost and darkness of Niflheim, and one to the realm of the wise and the fates.
Trunk and Middle Realms
Around the trunk lie the middle worlds, including Midgard, where humans dwell, and Jotunheim, realm of the giants. The tree binds these realms together in a living axis.
Crown and Heavens
The upper branches reach into the sky, overshadowing Asgard and the shining halls of the gods. An eagle sits at the very top, watching all that happens below.
Sacred Wells at the Roots
Urd's Well
The well of fate in Asgard, where the Norns (Urd, Verdandi, and Skuld) tend the tree and carve the destinies of gods and humans alike.
Mimir's Well
A deep well of wisdom. Odin sacrificed one of his eyes to drink from it and gain knowledge of hidden things.
Hvergelmir
A seething cauldron of water and ice in Niflheim, from which many rivers flow. The dragon Nidhogg gnaws at the root that reaches this dark well.
Notable Tales
Odin's Sacrifice on the World Tree
The story of how Odin hung upon Yggdrasil to gain the secret of the runes.
Nidhogg and the Gnawed Roots
The dragon Nidhogg and the creatures that threaten the health of the World Tree.
Yggdrasil at the Time of Ragnarok
How the tree shudders and yet endures as the cosmos is torn apart.
Quick Facts
Realms Linked by Yggdrasil
Creatures of Yggdrasil
Nidhogg
A dragon that gnaws at the roots of the tree in Niflheim.
Ratatoskr
A squirrel who runs up and down the trunk, carrying insults between the eagle and Nidhogg.
The Eagle and the Hawk
An unnamed eagle sits in the top branches with a hawk between its eyes, watching the worlds below.
The Four Stags
Four stags wander among the branches, feeding on the leaves of Yggdrasil and symbolising constant change.
Symbolism in Norse Belief
Yggdrasil represents the structure of the universe: a living, growing system that can be wounded but not easily destroyed.
It also reflects the Norse view of fate. Even the gods must accept what the Norns weave beneath its roots.
In modern times, Yggdrasil has become a powerful symbol of connection, resilience, and the links between all forms of life.