Every ancient people had their own legends describing the structure of the world.Many of these radically different, but neighboring world crops usually very similar.Especially strong are the same legend of Slavic and Scandinavian peoples.And those and others axle supports all worlds is the world tree.
Pagan Slavs believed that the world is like an egg.According to legend odnoplemennyh people, the egg is laid some "space" a bird in Slavic legends mentioned Alive, the Great Mother gave birth to the earth and sky.The land in this gigantic egg yolk takes place on the upper half of which is the world of men, and the bottom - Night Country or World of the Dead.Earth is surrounded by "protein" - Ocean Sea.The shell of the "world egg" consists of nine layers according to the ninth heaven.Each heaven has its own purpose.In one around Earth, "walk" the sun and the stars, on the other dwells month following heaven reserved for the winds and clouds.Seventh heaven layer Slavs considered a solid ocean floor, an inexhaustible source of living and rainwater.
World Tree Slavs connects all parts of the "egg."Reminiscent of a huge oak tree, whose roots go back to the world of the dead and the crown reaches the seventh heaven.Ancestors believed that Oak is possible to climb to heaven.Before we reached the echoes of these beliefs in the form of fairy tales.On the branches of the tree of mature seeds and fruits of plants of the earth.Where the World Tree regard to the seventh heaven, is the island of Irey or Brawler, which inhabit all terrestrial ancestors of birds and animals.But even the oak did not reach Eighth and Ninth sky.These last heaven remained a mystery to the ancient Slavs.
In Norse legends, the world is a little different.Scandinavian World Tree - Yggdrasil - was clear.This Great Ash, who grew up in the center of the universe, had three roots.One right down to the underworld of Hel, the second reached the kingdom of frost giants of Jotunheim wise, and the third root sprouts in Midgard, the world of men.This world order seems somewhat strange since World Ash Nordic myths growing crown down.It is used as a log Norse peoples, propping their walls and ceilings of their homes.Ash's sister to take care of the Norns, the goddesses of the past and the future.Every day the World Tree Norns poured the water of life Urd's fountain, the striker at the roots of the tree.Crohn Ash gave shelter to the wise eagle, endowed with the gift of omniscience.The trunk of the tree of all worlds united described in Norse mythology, and the crown reaches his Valhalla, Odin's palace.Ash Scandinavians united not only the worlds.It binds together the times.
World Tree appears not only in the legends of northern peoples.Present this image in Chinese legends.Seven-Kisi Mutozhe roots, the Chinese tree of life, eat seven springs hidden in the bowels of the earth.Seven of its branches relate to the seven heavens, where the gods live.Chinese tree not only connects the heavens and the earth, but also serves as a ladder by which up and down "walk" the Sun with the Moon, as well as heroes and sages - intermediaries between the human world and the heavens.
