Chapters 44-95 - Germanic Mythology

But Gylfaginning is not disposed to draw this conclusion. On the contrary, it
insists that Yggdrasil stands erect on its three roots. How we, then, are to conceive its
roots as united one with the other and with the trunk of this it very prudently leaves us in
ignorance, for this is beyond the range of human imagination.
The contrast between the mythological doctrine in regard to the three Yggdrasil
roots, and Gylfaginning's view of the subject may easily be demonstrated by the
following parallels:
The Mythology
.
1. Yggdrasil has three roots.
2. All three roots are subterranean.
2. One is in the lower world; a second
stands over Jotunheim on a level with
3. A fountain and a realm in the lower
world correspond to each root. The
lower world consists of three realms,
each with its fountain and each with its
root.
4. Under one of the subterranean roots
dwells the goddess of death and fate,
Urd, who is also called Hel, and in her
realm is Urd's fountain.
5. Under the second (subterranean) root
dwells Mimir. In his realm is Mimir's
fountain and Mimir's grove, where a
subterranean race of men are preserved
for the future world. This root may,
therefore, be said to stand over mennskir
menn (Grímnismál).
Gylfaginning.
1. Yggdrasil has three roots.
the earth; a third stands over the
heavens.
3. A fountain and a realm corresponds to
each root; the realms are the heavens,
Jotunheim, and the lower world, which
are located each under its root.
4. Under one of the roots, that is the one
which stands over heaven, dwells Urd
the goddess of fate, and Urd's fountain is
there.
5. Under the second root, the one that
extends to Jotunheim, dwells Mimir, and
Mimir's well is there.
It is said that one of the roots stands
over mennskir menn, human men
(Grímnismál 31). By this is meant,
according to Gylfaginning, not the root
over Mimir's fountain, but the root over
Urd's fountain, near which the Aesir
hold their assemblies, for the Aesir are in
reality men who dwelt on earth in the
city of Troy.