may be another name name for Odin, and the name of the Great Tree in Norse myth may simply mean Odin's steed. Or perhaps Ygg is a variation of Ang or Ing, a widespread, yet little known nowadays Germanic deity.

The central figure of this work is Odin, who in the Havamal sacrificed "himself to himself" on this tree to discover the mystic runes and achieve initiation into the divine mysteries.

Below Odin are the Three Norns, weavers of fate, who dwelt at the base of the Great Tree by a well called Urtharbrunnr, the Well of Urth. Known collectively as Die Schreiberinnen, the Writing Women, who wrote the Book of Destiny, which held the fates of men and gods alike. They are a likely source for the Wyrd Sisters of Shakespeare's MacBeth.

On the right bottom of this plaque is the head of Mimir, and his well. Located by another root of the Great Tree, Mimisbrunnr's water gave knowledge of all things, past, present and to come. Odin alone was willing to pay Mimir's price for access to this well - one eye!

To the left on another root of the Great Tree is Asgard and Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge. Asgard is the home of the Norse high gods. In a world deep below the Tree rules Hel, here depicted at the bottom center. She oversaw the land of the dead, and her name is the source of the English word hell. Not all was dreary in her land - the god Baldr lived there in a grand palace after his death.

Shown are various animals who inhabit Yggdrasil. Atop the tree is an eagle named Vidofnir. Below him Ratatosk, the squirrel who ferries insults between the eagle and Nidhogg, the creature at the deepest hidden taproot of the tree, eternally gnawing at its base.

This 18.2 inch (46 cm) by 8.7 inch (22 cm) representation of Yggdrasil includes an amazing amount of detail from Dryad Design.

Copyright © 2007-2008 Images by artist Paul Borda