Yggdrasil

   The world tree in Nordic myth. It was also the gallows on which Odin had hung for nine days in order to acquire wisdom. The elaboration in the Eddas of the memories of a sacred grove seems somewhat disproportionate and would in all probability be dissipated if there were access to earlier texts. The harts who were said to gnaw its shoots were named Dainn, Davalin, Durathror, and Duneyr, all of whom appear to have been dwarfs, possibly the guardians of the grove. The squirrel Ratatösk, which ran up and down the tree to breed discord between the eagle at the top and the dragon at the foot, may well have been a messenger between the guardians of the grove and its sacred fountain. The assumption that the powers of evil are beneath the roots of Yggdrasil is expressed in the Grimnis-Mal, where it says, ‘Yggdrasil’s ash, more hardship bears, more serpents lie, under Yggdrasil’s ash, than simpletons think of; Goinn and Moinn, the sons of Grafvitnir, Grabak and Graf-jollud, Ofnir and Svafnir.’ As both Goin and Moin are shown in the lists of dwarfs, it seems probable that the other names mentioned are also of dwarfs. It is an interesting speculation whether Yggdrasil is in any way related to the Hy-Brasil of the Tuatha Dé Danann.