nine realms of Norse are the branches (all of life) (three 3s)

three wells and three roots

1. Asgard home of the Gods (on a mountain)

2. Alfhiem home of the elves

3. Nioavellir home of dwarves

4. Midgard home of the humans

5. Jontunheim land of the giants

6. Vanaheim home of the God vanir

7. Niflheim world of ice

8. Muspelheim land of fire

9. Helhiem land of the dead

   Mephistopheles- demon that tempted faust

   3 roots

   1. in Milgard

   2. in Jontunheim

   3. in Helhiem

      3 wells (baptism, life)

      1. Hvergeimir (stag/ horns, symbol of masculinity, phallic) water from horns

      2. Well of Urd- represent past, present, and future (carve it in) (associated with Christ)

      3. Mimisbrunnr Well- water holds knowledge (Odin's eye gets dropped in the water)

         Eagle watches at the top of the tree

         Niohoggr- Dragon at the base of the tree eating the roots (as well as snakes)

         Ratatoskr- Squirrel spreads rumors to get Eagle and Dragon to fight

         Self sacrifice- to gain purity

         Odin hangs himself on a tree for 9 days, 9 nights- ruins were created, no one gave him bread or a horn (phallic symbolism) (horn holds water and a life) knowledge is not gained without a sacrifice

         fig trees (Bible- symbolizes tree that does not produce fruit)

Divine Comedy- represents the journey of the soul toward God

Inferno- describes the recognition and rejection of sin