THE ASH TREE. 
2S1 
It is singular that a sacred tree should be found in the mythology 
of several different nations of the East ; India, Persia, Egypt, and 
Assyria. We are not told that any particular kind of tree is speci- 
fied in Eastern mythology ; the Scandinavian Sagas, however, are 
very particular in pointing out the ash as their sacred tree, Ygg- 
drassil. Major Frye, in his translations of CEhlenschloeger, quotes 
the following passage from the Edda, describing this great ash : 
" This ash is the first and greatest of all trees, which spreads its 
branches over the whole earth. It springs from three roots. Near 
one of these roots, which pushes the trunk and branches toward 
Asagard,'^ flows the fountain of Urda, which contains the water of 
wisdom, and of which Mimerf is the guardian. The gods often 
descend to this spot to sit in judgment on the actions of mankind, 
and of one another. They interrogate Urda.]; The second root 
of Yggdrassil stretches toward the region of the Hrimthusser§ 
frost-giants of Utgard.|| The third root extends below, as far as 
Niffelheim,^ and is continually gnawed by the dragon Nidhog.*^ 
" On the branches of this ash dwells an eagle ; he knoweth 
much, and between his eyes sits a Hawk, called Vaderfalner. A 
squirrel, called Ratatosk, runs up and down the trunk of the ash- 
* Asagard, the country of the gods. 
t Mimcr, the god of eloquence and wisdom. 
I Urda, the Noma, or destiny of the past. 
§ Hrimthusser, frost-demons ; hrim,. or frost, is the origin of our English word 
rime, for hoar frost ; and thiiss, or demon, is supposed by Major Frye to be the 
origin of the English word deuce, though the dictionaries give another derivation. 
II Utgard, land of giants. 
IT Niffclheim, land of fog. 
** Nidhog, a monster dragon.— ((See Major Fri/e^s Translations of the " Gods 
of the North.'') 
