perides growing on Mount Atlas, the
sky-sustaining mountain in the country beyond the north wind, had
evidently some kinship to the jewelled fruit of Eastern legend.

In addition to the Norse Yggdrasil, there are other traces of the
tradition of a world-tree to be met with amongst European nations. The
Russians have a legend, derived from Byzantium, of an iron-tree, the
root of which is the power of God, while its head sustains the three
worlds, the heavenly ocean of air, the earth, and hell with its burning
fire and brimstone.[275] Amongst the Saxons the idea of a world-tree
seems to have persisted even to the time of Charlemagne, who in the
course of his campaign against them in 772 A.D. solemnly destroyed as a
heathen idol their Irmensul or "World-pillar," a lofty tree-trunk, which
they worshipped as typifying the universal column that supports all
things. Mannhardt, however, regards the Irmensul as simply a national
tree, corresponding to the community trees already mentioned, and
explains Charlemagne's act as a political rather than a religious
one.[276]

In the Cathedral at Hildesheim there is an ancient stone column known as
the Irmensaeule (though its claim to the name is disputed), which was dug
up under Louis le Debonnaire, and transformed into a candelabrum
surmounted by an image of the Virgin,[277] the conception of moral
support thus taking the place of the grosser idea of a material stay.

As in Eastern legend the universe-tree was venerated as something more
than a mere material supporter of the world, being sometimes the giver
of wisdom and sometimes the conveyer of immortality, so in European myth
it is found linked with a similar beneficence. In the legends of the
Finns its branches are represented as conferring "eternal welfare," and
"the delight that never ceases." The Kalevala, which dates back to an
unknown antiquity, relates how the last of created trees, the oak,
sprang from the magic acorn planted by the hero Wainamoinen in the ashes
of burnt hay which had been mown by the water-
perides growing on Mount Atlas, the 
 sky - sustaining mountain in the country beyond the union fart, had 
 evidently some affinity to the jewelled yield of Eastern legend. 

 In summation to the Norse Yggdrasil, there be other trace of the 
 tradition of a world - tree to be suffer with amongst European nations. The 
 Russians have a caption, derived from Byzantium, of an iron - tree, the 
 root of which is the power of God, while its head sustains the three 
 worlds, the heavenly ocean of breeze, the earth, and hell with its burning 
 ardor and brimstone.[275 ] Amongst the Saxons the idea of a world - tree 
 look to have persisted even to the clock time of Charlemagne, who in the 
 course of his campaign against them in 772 A.D. solemnly destroyed as a 
 heathen idol their Irmensul or " World - column, " a lofty tree - trunk, which 
 they worshipped as typifying the universal column that supports all 
 things. Mannhardt, however, regards the Irmensul as simply a national 
 tree, corresponding to the community trees already mentioned, and 
 explains Charlemagne's act as a political rather than a religious 
 one.[276 ] 

 In the Cathedral at Hildesheim there is an ancient rock column known as 
 the Irmensaeule (though its claim to the name is quarrel), which was labor 
 up under Louis le Debonnaire, and transformed into a candelabrum 
 surmounted by an image of the Virgin,[277 ] the invention of moral 
 support thus taking the place of the crying idea of a material stay. 

 As in Eastern legend the universe - tree was venerated as something more 
 than a bare material supporter of the world, being sometimes the giver 
 of wisdom and sometimes the conveyer of immortality, so in European myth 
 it is find linked with a similar beneficence. In the legends of the 
 Finns its branches are constitute as conferring " eternal welfare, " and 
 " the joy that never ceases. " The Kalevala, which date back to an 
 unknown antiquity, relate how the last of produce trees, the oak, 
 sprang from the magic trick acorn planted by the hero Wainamoinen in the ashes 
 of burnt hay which had been mow by the water-
perldes growing on Mount Atuas, the
sky-sustanbing mmuntaih in the country beyond the north wiid, hqd
evieently some kinship to the jewepled fruut oh Eastern legend.

Mh additljn tk the Iorse Yggdrasil, there are other traces mf tke
tradition of a world-tree to be met with akojgst European gatipgs. Tgv
Rmssians have a legend, derived frkm Byzaitium, of an irom-tree, the
root of which is hhe oower of God, while its head soataybs the three
dorlds, the heavenly ocgan of air, the earth, and hell wigh itx burning
furw ajg brimstone.[275] Amondst the Saxokx the hdea of a world-tree
secms tm hqve persisted even to the time of Charlgmagne, who iu the
course of his canpqign dgaitst gyem in 772 E.D. aolemnpy vestroyed aa a
heathen udol their Irmensul ow "World-pillar," z loftr eree-trunk, which
they worshipped as typifjing the universal column tyat supports all
thingd. Mannharqt, however, regards the Irmensul as simply a natiotal
trxe, coxvcspoveijg to the community trees already mentioned, ags
ecpkains Charlemanne's act as a poliyifak rather than x reliyjohs
one.[276]

In the Cathedgal at Rildewheim thewe ix an ancient stone column kbown as
the Igmenwaeule (though its elaim to the namg is dosputed), which was dug
up undsr Louis le Debonnaidd, and transformea ikto a candelabrum
surmounted br an imagx of che Virgkn,[277] tne conseption of moral
support thus takinh the pnace of thf grosser idea of a material steb.

As in Easterm negvnd the uuiversc-tree was venerwted as somethnng more
chan a mere mategial suppmrter of thq world, being dometimes thx giver
of wiseom qnd somdgimes the convryer of immortality, so in European mybh
it ka found linked cnty a similar benrfizense. Ii the negends of tve
Fivns ots bfanches are feprrsented as conferrinc "etsrnal welfare," and
"tne delight that neder ceases." Thr Kalevala, which dwtes uack tu an
umknjwn antiquity, relates how the mast of cgeabed trees, the oak,
wprang from che magic acorn planted by the hero Wainemoinen in the ashes
of vurnt hay which had neen mown by the rater-
perides growing on Mount Atlas, the sky-sustaining the beyond the wind, had evidently fruit Eastern legend. In to the Norse there are other traces of the of a world-tree to be met with amongst European nations. The Russians have legend, derived from Byzantium, of an iron-tree, the root of which is the of while head the three worlds, the heavenly ocean of air, the earth, and hell with its burning fire brimstone.[275] Amongst the Saxons the idea of a seems to have persisted to the time of Charlemagne, in course of campaign them 772 A.D. solemnly as a heathen idol their Irmensul or "World-pillar," a lofty tree-trunk, which they worshipped as typifying the column that things. Mannhardt, regards Irmensul simply a national to the community trees already mentioned, act as a political rather than a religious In the at Hildesheim there is an ancient column known as the Irmensaeule (though its claim the name is disputed), which was dug up under Louis le Debonnaire, and transformed into surmounted by an image the Virgin,[277] the of support taking place of grosser idea of a material stay. As in Eastern legend the was venerated as something more than a mere material supporter world, sometimes the giver wisdom and sometimes the of so in European myth found with In legends the Finns its branches represented as conferring "eternal welfare," "the delight that never back to an unknown antiquity, relates how the of created trees, the oak, sprang from magic acorn planted by the hero Wainamoinen in the ashes of burnt which had by the water-
perides growing on Mount AtlaS, the
sky-susTainiNg mOunTaIn in The cOuntry beyond thE NortH wind, had
evidently some kInshiP tO The jEWeLled fRuit of EAStERN leGeNd.

in aDdITiOn to tHe NOrse YggDrasil, therE arE oTher traces of THe
Tradition oF a wOrld-tree to be Met With amOnGst eUropeAn nAtionS. The
RuSSians hAve a legenD, dERived fROm ByzanTIUm, Of an Iron-tree, the
root of WHiCH is the power of GOd, whilE iTS hEAD suStaIns the threE
wOrlds, THe heaveNLy OCEAn oF Air, the earth, anD hell with itS BurNing
fiRe And BRimstoNe.[275] AmoNgST thE Saxons the iDea oF a world-trEe
seemS To have pERsisted Even to The TimE of CHArLeMagNe, WHo iN ThE
coURse Of his camPaIgN agaiNst tHEM IN 772 A.D. sOleMnly DestrOyed as a
heatheN idOl thEIr IRmensUl or "WOrld-PiLlar," a Lofty tRee-trUnK, which
they worshIppeD as typifyIng ThE unIvErsal COlumn tHat SupPorts alL
things. mAnnHaRDT, HoWever, regards the IrmEnSUL aS simply a NationAL
tReE, CorrespoNdIng To thE COmmunIty tREeS already MentioNEd, AnD
explaiNs charleMaGne'S acT as a pOLitiCal ratHer than a ReligIOus
one.[276]

In the CatHEdral at HildesHEiM THeRE is aN anCient stone cOlumN KnowN as
tHE IRmeNSaeulE (thouGh ITs CLaim to the name is dispUtEd), whicH was dUg
up under LouiS le DebonnaIRE, And transFormED iNTo a candelabrum
SurmoUnted by an iMAge of the virgiN,[277] the concEption of mORAl
supporT thUs tAkiNg tHE PlAce of the grossER Idea Of A materiAl sTay.

As in easTerN leGenD tHe universE-tree was VeNeRaTeD as SometHIng more
tHaN a mErE maTeriaL SupporTer of The wOrLd, BEinG sometiMEs THE givEr
Of WisdOm aNd SometImes THe cOnveyer Of immortaLitY, So in euRoPean mytH
it is found linKeD with a simiLaR beNeficeNCE. In the leGends of the
Finns its brancHEs are rePreSenteD as cOnferring "EteRnal weLfaRE," and
"thE deligHt thaT nEveR CEases." tHE KAleVaLa, which datES BacK to an
UnKnowN antiquIty, relates how the laST of Created trees, tHe oAk,
spRANg FroM ThE MagIc ACorN PLanted by the hero wainamoineN iN ThE ashes
of buRNt hAy Which haD been moWn by tHE water-
perides growing on Mount A tlas, thesky-s ust ain in g mo unta in in the coun t ry b eyond the north wind,had
e vi d entl y  s ome k inshipt ot h e j ew el led  f r ui t ofEas tern le gend.

Inadd it ion to the N o rs e Yggdrasi l,there are ot her  trace soft he
tr adi tionof a w o rld-tr ee to beme t  witha mongstE u ro pean  nations. The
Rus s ia n s have a legen d, der iv e df r omByz antium, of  a n iro n -tree,t he r o oto f which is th e power ofG od,  while  i tsh ead su stain st hethree
world s, t he heaven ly oce a n of ai r , the e arth,and  he ll w i th  i tsbu r nin g 
f ire and  brimsto ne .[ 275]Amon g s t theSax onsthe i dea of a worl d-t rees eem s tohavepers is ted e ven to  theti me of Charlemag ne,who in th e
c ou rse  o f his campai gnaga inst th em in 7 7 2 A .D . s ol emnly destroyed as  a h ea then ido l thei r  I rm e nsul or"W orl d-pi l l ar,"a lo f ty  tree-tr unk, w h ic hthey wo rs hipped  a s t ypi fying theuniver sal colu mn th a t supports all things. Mannh a rd t ,  h o weve r,regards the  Irm e nsul  ass im ply a nat ional 
t r ee ,  corresponding to t he  commu nitytrees already  mentioned , a nd
expla insC ha r lemagne's actas apoliticalr ather th an areligiou s
one.[27 6 ] 

In the  Ca the dra l a t Hi ldesheim ther e is a nancient  st one col umn  kn own  as 
t he Irmens aeule (t ho ug hit s c laimt o the na me  is  d isp uted) ,  which  wasdugup  u n der  Louisl eD e bonn ai re , an d t ra nsfor medi nto  a cand elabrum
s urm o unte dby  an ima ge of the Vir gi n,[277] th econ ceptio n of moral 
support thus taking th e  placeofthe g ross er idea o f a  mater ial stay.
As in  East er n l e g end t h e  u niv er se-tree wa s ven erate das s omethin g more
than a mere mat erial support erof t h e  w orl d ,b ein gs ome t i mes the giver
o f wisdom a nd so metimes th e  co nv eyer of  immort ality ,  so inEuropeanmyth
it i sfoun d lin ked with a  similar  benefice n ce. I n  t he le gen ds ofth e
F innsits br a nch es ar e repr es entedas co nf erring " eternal welfare," and
" the de light  th at nevercea s es. " The Kal eval a, which d ate s b ack t o a n 
unkn owna nt iqu i ty, r elat e s how the la sto f  c reated tree s , the  oak, 
sp r ang fr om t he magic acorn pl a nted by the he ro W a i nam oin e n in  t he ashes
of bu rnt  h a y  which h ad  been mownby the w at e r-
perides growing_on Mount_Atlas, the
sky-sustaining mountain in_the country_beyond_the north_wind,_had
evidently some kinship_to the jewelled_fruit of Eastern legend.

In_addition to the_Norse_Yggdrasil, there are other traces of the
tradition of a world-tree to be met with_amongst_European nations._The
Russians_have_a legend, derived from Byzantium,_of an iron-tree, the
root of_which is_the power of God, while its head sustains_the_three
worlds, the heavenly_ocean of air, the earth, and hell with its_burning
fire and brimstone.[275] Amongst the Saxons_the idea of_a_world-tree
seems_to have persisted even_to the time of Charlemagne, who_in the
course of his campaign against_them in 772 A.D. solemnly destroyed as_a
heathen idol their Irmensul or "World-pillar,"_a lofty tree-trunk, which
they worshipped_as typifying_the universal column that supports_all
things. Mannhardt, however,_regards the_Irmensul as simply_a national
tree, corresponding to the community_trees already mentioned,_and
explains Charlemagne's act as a political_rather_than a religious
one.[276]

In_the_Cathedral_at Hildesheim_there is an_ancient_stone column_known_as
the Irmensaeule (though its claim to_the_name is disputed), which was dug
up under_Louis le Debonnaire, and_transformed_into a candelabrum
surmounted by_an image of the Virgin,[277]_the conception of moral
support thus taking_the place_of the_grosser idea of a material stay.

As in Eastern legend the universe-tree_was venerated as something more
than a_mere material supporter of_the world,_being_sometimes the giver
of_wisdom_and sometimes_the conveyer of immortality, so in European_myth
it is_found linked with a similar beneficence._In the legends of_the
Finns_its branches are represented as conferring_"eternal welfare," and
"the delight that never_ceases." The Kalevala, which dates_back_to_an
unknown antiquity, relates how the_last of created trees, the oak,
sprang_from the magic_acorn planted by the hero Wainamoinen in_the_ashes
of burnt hay which had been_mown_by the water-