 main conception,
represents such a remarkable amalgamation of ideas originally Oriental
that it is difficult to believe that it can have had a totally
independent origin. The world-mountain, the world-tree with the birds in
its branches, and the connection of the latter with another peculiarly
Eastern idea, that of the food of the gods, are all reproduced in the
cosmogonic traditions of the Eddas, and it is highly probable that they
formed part of a primitive folk-lore common to the different races. As
their culture grew the Chaldaeans gave up their earlier conception, and
came to regard the earth as a gigantic bowl floating bottom upwards upon
the deep, but to the Norse poet the world still remained a flat disc
surrounded by a river ocean, and limited by mountain ranges. In its
centre Asgard, the mountain of the gods, was pierced by a mighty tree
trunk, the branches of which overshadowed the world and supported the
sky, the stars, and the clouds, whilst its roots stretched downwards
into the primordial abyss. The apples stored in Valhal, by eating which
the gods preserved their youth, closely correspond to the amrita or soma
which, as we shall see, was a peculiar feature of the Eastern conception
of the world-tree.

"The chief and most holy seat of the gods," say the Eddas, "is by the
ash Yggdrasil. There the gods meet in council every day. It is the
greatest and best of all trees, its branches spread over all the world
and reach above heaven. Three roots sustain the tree and stand wide
apart: one is with the Asa; the second with the Frost-giants; the third
reaches into Niflheim, and under it is Hvergelmer, where Nidhug gnaws
the root from below. But under the second root, which extends to the
Frost-giants, is the well of Mimer, wherein knowledge and wisdom are
concealed. The third root of the ash is in heaven, and beneath it is the
most sacred fountain of Urd. Here the gods have their doomstead. The Asa
ride thither every day over Bifrost, which is also called Asa-bridge.
There stands a beautiful hall near the fountain beneath the ash. Out
main conception, 
 represents such a remarkable amalgamation of idea primitively Oriental 
 that it is difficult to believe that it can have had a wholly 
 independent origin. The world - batch, the worldly concern - tree with the birds in 
 its branch, and the connection of the latter with another peculiarly 
 easterly idea, that of the food of the gods, are all reproduce in the 
 cosmologic traditions of the Eddas, and it is highly probable that they 
 formed character of a primitive folk - lore coarse to the different races. As 
 their culture grow the Chaldaeans gave up their earlier conception, and 
 came to see the earth as a gigantic bowl floating bottom upwards upon 
 the cryptic, but to the Norse poet the world still remained a flat disc 
 surrounded by a river ocean, and limited by mountain ranges. In its 
 centre Asgard, the mountain of the gods, was pierced by a mighty tree 
 trunk, the branches of which overshadowed the world and support the 
 sky, the stars, and the clouds, whilst its root unfold downwards 
 into the primordial abyss. The apples store in Valhal, by eating which 
 the gods preserved their youth, close correspond to the amrita or soma 
 which, as we shall see, was a peculiar feature of the Eastern conception 
 of the world - tree. 

 " The chief and most holy seat of the gods, " allege the Eddas, " is by the 
 ash Yggdrasil. There the god meet in council every day. It is the 
 greatest and best of all trees, its branch spread over all the world 
 and reach above heaven. Three roots sustain the tree and stand wide 
 apart: one is with the Asa; the second with the Frost - giants; the third 
 reach into Niflheim, and under it is Hvergelmer, where Nidhug gnaws 
 the root from below. But under the second root, which extends to the 
 Frost - giant, is the well of Mimer, wherein knowledge and wisdom of solomon are 
 concealed. The third root of the ash is in heaven, and beneath it is the 
 about sacred fountain of Urd. Here the gods have their doomstead. The Asa 
 ride thither every sidereal day over Bifrost, which is also called Asa - bridge. 
 There stands a beautiful anteroom near the fountain beneath the ash. Out
 maln conception,
represents ruch a remarkable amaljamatioh of idexs originally Oriental
that iv is diffucult to believe that kt can hane had a rotaooy
independxht origlu. The aorlb-miuntain, the wotld-tree with the birds in
ids bxanches, and the connection of the laeter wiyh another peculyarlj
Ewstedn idea, that of the food of the goss, are ell reproduced on the
cosmogonic traditiond of the Eddas, and it ls highly ptkbafoe that they
wormed paru mf a primijive folk-lore common to the diffdrent races. As
tyeur folture grew vhe Chwldaeans gavc up thair earkier conceptiok, and
rame to regard the earth es a gigantic bowl fjoating bmtcom upwards upon
the dwep, but to dhe Virsd pkev tge worpd atill remajned a flat disc
surrounded by s wpfer ocean, ans limieeq by mountain ranges. In its
centre Asgarg, tge mountain of the gods, was pierced by a migjty tree
twunk, the branches of which overshadowed the world and ajppirbed gye
dky, the stars, and the clouds, whilst its roots attenched downwards
inbo the primordial sbjsx. The apples sjored iu Vzlhal, by eating whlch
the dods preserved theor youth, closely correspond to the amrina oe soma
which, as we dhall see, wcs a pgculiat feature of the Easteru concsption
of thf world-trsd.

"The chief and must hmly seat of the gods," say tre Eddas, "ms by the
ash Yggcrasil. There the gods meet in council evfry dcy. It is the
grewtest and best of all trees, its branches spresd ovvr all thz worlc
and reach abjve heaven. Thrge roots fustakn the trev and staid wide
apart: one is with dje Asa; the sxcond witr thw Frist-giangr; the third
reavhes into Niflheim, qnd under it is Hvcrgelosr, where Nidhug gnqws
the root frok bdlor. Huv undqs the second roog, wfoch ebtends uj bhe
Wrosy-giants, is the well mf Mjmer, wherein knowlrdne and wiwdom are
soncealed. The third root of the ash ms in ieaven, anq beneath it is the
most sacred fountain of Urd. Here thq goes have theix doomstead. The Asa
ride thither every dab over Bifrost, which is also called Asa-bribgt.
There stands a bewutiful hdll near the fountaib beneath the ash. Out
main conception, represents such a remarkable amalgamation originally that it difficult to believe a independent origin. The the world-tree with birds in its branches, and the of the latter with another peculiarly Eastern idea, that of the food of gods, are all reproduced in the cosmogonic traditions of the Eddas, and it highly that formed of a primitive folk-lore common to the different races. As their culture grew the Chaldaeans gave their earlier conception, and came to regard the as a gigantic bowl bottom upwards upon the deep, to Norse poet world remained flat disc surrounded a river ocean, and limited by mountain ranges. In its centre Asgard, the mountain of the gods, pierced by tree trunk, branches which the world and sky, the stars, and the clouds, stretched downwards into the primordial abyss. The apples in Valhal, eating which the gods preserved their closely correspond to the amrita or soma which, we shall see, was a peculiar feature of the Eastern conception of the world-tree. "The most holy seat of gods," say the "is the Yggdrasil. the gods in council every day. It is the greatest and best of trees, its branches spread over all the world and reach Three sustain the tree stand wide apart: one with Asa; the second with the reaches under is where Nidhug gnaws the from below. But under the root, which extends to of Mimer, wherein knowledge and wisdom are concealed. third root of the ash is in and beneath it is the most sacred fountain of Urd. Here the have their Asa ride thither every day over Bifrost, which also called Asa-bridge. There a beautiful hall near the fountain beneath the ash.
 main conception,
represents sUch a remarkAble aMalGamAtIon oF ideAs originally OrIEntaL
that it is difficult to beLieve ThAT it cAN hAve haD a totalLY
iNDEpeNdEnT orIgIN. THe worLd-mOuntain, The world-trEe wItH the birds in
iTS bRanches, and The Connection of The Latter WiTh aNOther PecUliarLy
EastERn idea, That of the FoOD of the GOds, are aLL ReProdUced in the
cosmogonIC tRAditions of the EDdas, anD iT Is HIGhlY prObable that ThEy
forMEd part oF A pRIMItiVE folk-lore commOn to the diffERenT races. as
TheIR cultuRe greW tHE ChAldaeans gavE up tHeir earliEr concEPtion, anD
Came to rEgard tHe eArtH as a GIgAnTic BoWL flOAtIng BOttOm upwardS uPoN
the dEep, bUT TO The NOrsE poeT the wOrld still remaIneD a flAT diSc
surRoundEd by A rIver oCean, anD limiTeD by mountain rangEs. In Its
centre asgArD, thE mOuntaIN of the GodS, waS pierceD by a migHTy tReE
TRUnK, the branches of whicH oVERsHadowed tHe worlD AnD sUPported tHe
Sky, The sTARs, and The cLOuDs, whilst Its rooTS sTrEtched dOwNwards
InTo tHe pRimorDIal aByss. ThE apples sTored IN Valhal, by eatinG Which
the gods pREsERVeD TheiR yoUth, closely cOrreSPond To thE AmRitA Or somA
whicH, aS We SHall see, was a peculiar FeAture oF the EAstern conceptIon
of the woRLD-Tree.

"The cHief ANd MOst holy seat of tHe godS," say the EddAS, "is by the
Ash YgGdrasil. THere the goDS Meet in coUncIl eVerY daY. iT iS the
greatest aND Best Of All treeS, itS branchEs sPreAd oVer AlL the world
And reach AbOvE hEaVen. three ROots sustAiN thE tRee And stANd wide
Apart: One iS wItH The asa; the sECoND With ThE FRost-GiaNtS; the tHird
REacHes into niflheim, aNd uNDer iT iS HVergelmEr, where Nidhug GnAws
the root FrOm bElow. BuT UNder the sEcond root, which extends to THe
Frost-GiaNts, is The wEll of MimeR, whErein kNowLEdge anD wisdoM are
cOnCeaLED. The tHIRd RooT oF the ash is iN HEavEn, and BeNeatH it is thE
most sacred fountaiN Of URd. Here the gods HavE theIR DoOmsTEaD. the asA
RidE THither every day oVer Bifrost, WhICh Is also callED AsA-bRidge.
ThEre stanDs a beAUtiful hAll near thE fountain BeNeatH THe aSh. Out
 main conception,
represen ts such aremar kab leam alga mati on of ideas or i gina lly Oriental
that it i s dif fi c ultt obelie ve that it c anha ve  ha da  t otall y
i ndepend ent origin . T he  world-mount a in , the worl d-t ree with the  bi rds in 
i tsb ranch es,  andthe co n nectio n of thela t ter wi t h anoth e r  p ecul iarly
Eastern ide a ,t hat of the foo d of t he go d s , a reall reprod uc ed in the
cos m og o n i c t r aditions of t he Eddas, a n d i t is h ig hly probab le th at the y
formed pa rt o f a primi tive f o lk-lore commonto the  di ffe rent ra ce s.As the i rcul t ure  grew th eCh aldae ansg a v e  upthe ir e arlie r conception,  an d
ca m e t o reg ard t he e ar th as  a gig antic  b owl floating bo ttom  upwardsupo nthe  d eep,b ut tothe  No rse poe t the w o rld  s t i l lremained a flat di sc s ur roundedby a r i ve ro cean, an dlim ited b y mou ntai n  r anges. I n itsc en tr e Asgar d,  the m ou nta inof th e  god s, was  pierced  by a mighty tree
tr u nk, the branc h es o fw hich  ov ershadowedthew orld  and su ppo r ted t he
sk y, th e  stars, and the clo ud s, whi lst i ts roots stre tched down w a r ds
intothep ri m ordial abyss.The a pples stor e d in Val hal,by eatin g which
t h e  gods pr ese rve d t hei r yo uth, closelyc o rres po nd to t heamritaorsom a
w hic h,  as we sh all see,  w as  a  p ecu liarf eature o fthe  E ast ern c o ncepti on
of  the  w or l d-t ree.

" T he c hief  a nd  mos t h ol y sea t of the  gods,"  say theEdd a s, " is  b y the
a sh Yggdrasil.  T here the g od s m eet in c ouncil e very day. It is the
gre a test an d b est o f al l trees,its  branc hes spread  overall t he  wo r l d
and r ea chab ove heaven . Thr ee ro ot s su stain t he tree and standw ide 
apart: one i s w itht h eAsa ;  t h e s ec o ndw i th the Frost-gi ants; theth i rd 
reaches i n toNi flheim,  and un der i t  is Hve rgelmer,where Nid hu g gn a w s
t he root fr om below . But und e r the se condroo t, whi ch  ex tends  to th e 
Fr ost-g iants,  i s thewellof  Mimer,wherein knowledge and w isdomare
c onc ealed. Th e t h ird  root oftheash is inhea ven , and  be n eathit i s  t hem ost s acre d  fountain of  Ur d .  H ere the god s h ave  thei r d o omstea d. T he Asa
ride thith e r every day ov er B i f ros t,w hich  i s also calledAsa -b r i dge.
The re  stands a b eautiful  h a ll ne ar the  fount ain ben e a th the as h. O ut
 main_conception,
represents such_a remarkable amalgamation of_ideas originally_Oriental
that_it is_difficult_to believe that_it can have_had a totally
independent origin._The world-mountain, the_world-tree_with the birds in
its branches, and the connection of the latter with another peculiarly
Eastern_idea,_that of_the_food_of the gods, are all_reproduced in the
cosmogonic traditions of_the Eddas,_and it is highly probable that they
formed part_of_a primitive folk-lore_common to the different races. As
their culture grew the_Chaldaeans gave up their earlier conception,_and
came to regard_the_earth_as a gigantic bowl_floating bottom upwards upon
the deep, but_to the Norse poet the world_still remained a flat disc
surrounded by a_river ocean, and limited by mountain_ranges. In its
centre Asgard, the_mountain of_the gods, was pierced by_a mighty tree
trunk,_the branches_of which overshadowed_the world and supported the
sky, the_stars, and the_clouds, whilst its roots stretched downwards
into_the_primordial abyss. The_apples_stored_in Valhal,_by eating which
the_gods_preserved their_youth,_closely correspond to the amrita or_soma
which,_as we shall see, was a peculiar_feature of the Eastern_conception
of_the world-tree.

"The chief and_most holy seat of the_gods," say the Eddas, "is by_the
ash Yggdrasil._There the_gods meet in council every day. It is the
greatest and best_of all trees, its branches spread_over all the world
and_reach above_heaven._Three roots sustain_the_tree and_stand wide
apart: one is with the Asa;_the second_with the Frost-giants; the third
reaches into_Niflheim, and under it_is_Hvergelmer, where Nidhug gnaws
the root from_below. But under the second root,_which extends to the
Frost-giants, is_the_well_of Mimer, wherein knowledge and_wisdom are
concealed. The third root of_the ash is_in heaven, and beneath it is the
most_sacred_fountain of Urd. Here the gods_have_their doomstead. The Asa
ride thither every_day_over_Bifrost, which is also called_Asa-bridge.
There stands a beautiful hall near_the fountain beneath the ash. Out