There were three worlds encompassed by the universal tree Yggdrasil; that
of the Giants, Gods and man. The Gods descended from the Giants. Their abode was
bridged by the Rainbow. Odin (Woden - Wotan) was the principle God.
Men sprang directly from the vegetable world. Such at least was the
general tradition among the North Teutons. Three Gods, Odin, Hoenir and Lodur,
one day were traveling together on the still deserted earth. On the way they
came across two trees with inert and lifeless trunks. The gods resolved to make
mortals out of them. Odin gave them breath, Hoenir a soul and reasoning
faculties. Lodur gave them warmth and the fresh colours of life. The man was
called Ask ("Ash") and his wife Embla ("Vine"?). From them
proceeded the entire race of man.
Source: New Larousse encyclopedia of mythology, 1968.
