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Trees in mythology

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from at least 3000 years ago. Here one of the brothers leaves his heart on the top of the flower of the acacia and falls dead when it is cut down. Sometimes, however, the tree is a mysterious token which shows its sympathy with an absent hero by weakening or dying, as the man becomes ill or loses his
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Sometimes the new-born child is associated with a newly planted tree with which its life is supposed to be bound up; or, on ceremonial occasions (betrothal, marriage, ascent to the throne), a personal relationship of this kind is instituted by planting trees, upon the fortunes of which the career of
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The custom of transferring disease or sickness from humans to trees is well known. Sometimes the hair, nails, clothing, etc. of a sickly person are fixed to a tree, or they are forcibly inserted in a hole in the trunk, or the tree is split and the patient passes through the aperture. Where the tree
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the individual depends. Sometimes, boughs or plants are selected and the individual draws omens of life and death. Again, a person will put themselves into relationship with a tree by depositing upon it something which has been in close contact with them, such as hair or clothing.
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Bell's New Pantheon; Or, Historical Dictionary of the Gods, Demi-gods, Heroes, and Fabulous Personages of Antiquity: Also, of the Images and Idols Adored in the Pagan World; Together with Their Temples, Priests, Altars, Oracles, Fasts, Festivals, Games
60:, and the annual death and revival of their foliage, have often seen them as powerful symbols of growth, death and rebirth. Evergreen trees, which largely stay green throughout these cycles, are sometimes considered symbols of the eternal, 241:
The world tree, with its branches reaching up into the sky, and roots deep into the earth, can be seen to dwell in three worlds—a link between heaven, the earth, and the underworld, uniting above and below. This great tree acts as an
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has been thus injured, its recovery and that of the patient are often associated. Different explanations may be found of such customs which naturally take rather different forms among peoples in different grades.
349:; sacrifices are made, and the sick who sleep beneath them receive prescriptions in their dreams. Here, as frequently elsewhere, it is dangerous to pull a bough. This dread of damaging special trees is familiar: 558:, an element of the plot is the Nemeton, a sacred tree from which druids draw power through human sacrifices, and which later acts as a beacon, drawing supernatural entities to the nearby town of Beacon Hills. 483:
series, one of the main religions, that of "the old gods" or "the gods of the North", involves sacred groves of trees ("godswoods") with a white tree with red leaves at the center known as the "heart tree".
198:) prayers. Wreaths, ribbons or rags are suspended to win favor for sick humans or livestock, or merely for good luck. Popular belief associates the sites with healing, bewitching, or mere wishing. 338:
brought thither before the Christian era. The tree spirits will hold sway over the surrounding forest or district, and the animals in the locality are often sacred and must not be harmed.
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In many parts of the world travelers have observed the custom of hanging objects upon trees in order to establish some sort of a relationship between themselves and the tree. Throughout
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Early Buddhism held that trees had neither mind nor feeling and might lawfully be cut; but it recognized that certain spirits might reside in them, such as
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life. These two features very easily combine, and they agree in representing to us mysterious sympathy between tree and human life.
380:, a tree either located at the end of a valley or on a cliff near the sea, is used by the soul as a gateway to the Underworld (AKA 209:
recorded a tree honored by numerous offerings (rags, meat, cigars, etc.); libations were made to it, and horses were sacrificed.
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In Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, the Fjerdans worship a god called Djel, symbolized as a white ash tree.
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instructed the woodman to sacrifice to the male or female deity before thinning a grove, while in the
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were seen as manifestations of a goddess who offers her blessings by giving fruits in abundance.
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to Aphrodite the tree nymph is wounded when the tree is injured, and dies when the trunk falls.
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of the teacher, and the terebinth of the diviners may reasonably be placed in this category. In
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One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the
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people, like the Hometrees, the Tree of Souls and the Tree of Voices as well as Woodsprites.
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were inhabited by gods who gave responses, and so numerous are the examples that the old
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throughout the world reflect a firmly-rooted belief in an intimate connection between a
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The presence of trees in myth sometimes occurs in connection to the concept of the
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was tended by priests who slept on the ground. Forms of the tall oaks of the old
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Nordic Runes: Understanding, Casting, and Interpreting the Ancient Viking Oracle
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as part of the scenery where the soul of the deceased finds blissful repose.
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A History of the Peoples of Siberia: Russia's North Asian Colony 1581-1990
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habitates trees, which are of fundamental importance for the
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stands as a symbol of Gondor in the Court of the Fountain in
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describes a "holy tree" in his poem "The Two Trees" (1893).
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Sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology
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Ziffer, Irit. "WESTERN ASIATIC TREE-GODDESSES". In:
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The Meaning of Trees: Botany, History, Healing, Lore
376:woodman will place a fresh sprig upon the tree. In 322:, oak trees are said to be inhabited by spirits or 372:prays to the tree before he cuts it down, and the 1152: 133:both appear to have involved cultic practice in 918: 345:In Arab folklore, sacred trees are haunted by 16:Significance of trees in religion and folklore 170:. Trees are an attribute of the archetypical 1054:Trees in Indian Art, Mythology, and Folklore 424:In literature, a mythology was developed by 399:, or Kadambariyamman, associated with the 121:, trees are often said to be the homes of 1120:20 (2010): 411-30. Accessed May 8, 2021. 1074:. Inner Traditions / Bear & Company. 1067: 1031: 893: 1088: 815: 789: 559: 489: 410: 257: 222: 18: 887: 52:are significant in many of the world's 1153: 103:tree of the knowledge of good and evil 508:In the third (sixth chronologically) 299:Often a tree will be associated with 1122:http://www.jstor.org/stable/23789949 1092:The Forest in Folklore and Mythology 761: 744: 742: 740: 738: 736: 734: 732: 730: 728: 391:, such as Puliyidaivalaiyamman, the 13: 1110: 683:Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil 415:A temple in India with the sacred 14: 1187: 1128: 725: 502: 147:itself possibly derives from the 749: 406: 179: 967: 946: 1095:. Courier Dover Publications. 1013:. Cambridge University Press. 912: 878: 866: 844: 835: 809: 783: 442:combines the allegorical tale 432:playing a central role in his 1: 1068:Mountfort, Paul Rhys (2003). 719: 212: 1089:Porteous, Alexander (2002). 76:occurs in many mythologies. 7: 570: 10: 1192: 1024:Gollwitzer, Gerda (1984). 930:University of Hawaii Press 873:"The Voyage of the Beagle" 564:Tree worship in Chandigarh 436:cosmogony. Tolkien's 1964 216: 183: 1052:Malla, Bansi Lal (2000). 1028:, DuMont Buchverlag Köln. 477:In George R. R. Martin's 153:Egyptian Book of the Dead 1032:Hageneder, Fred (2005). 976:Die Mythologie der Bäume 796:"Teutonic Peoples"  1166:Mythological archetypes 1007:Forsyth, James (1992). 982:Brosse, Jaques (1989). 884:Mountfort 2003:41, 279. 828:Encyclopædia Britannica 802:Encyclopædia Britannica 776:Encyclopædia Britannica 698:Tree of life (Kabbalah) 693:Tree of life (biblical) 623:Mesoamerican world tree 1143:Encyclopedia Americana 565: 499: 480:A Song of Ice and Fire 420: 238: 137:, especially grove of 46: 31:is believed to be the 984:Mythologie des arbres 973:Becker, Lore (2002). 563: 524:worship trees on the 493: 457:The Lord of the Rings 414: 258:Religion and folklore 226: 79:Examples include the 22: 1137:"Tree Worship"  763:Cook, Stanley Arthur 618:List of tree deities 526:forest moon of Endor 462:White Tree of Gondor 430:Two Trees of Valinor 288:Tale of Two Brothers 83:and the sacred fig ( 1171:Religious practices 1118:Ägypten Und Levante 1038:. Chronicle Books. 1026:Botschaft der Bäume 841:Gollwitzer 1984:13. 583:Celtic sacred trees 68:. The image of the 1161:Trees in mythology 925:Hawaiian Mythology 904:J. Bell. pp.  854:. Oxford Reference 566: 543:Pandoran biosphere 533:fictional universe 517:Return of the Jedi 500: 421: 378:Hawaiian tradition 239: 127:Germanic mythology 47: 1176:Trees in religion 992:978-2-228-88711-3 668:Sidrat al-Muntaha 552:In the TV series 131:Celtic polytheism 1183: 1147: 1139: 1106: 1085: 1049: 962: 961: 950: 944: 943: 916: 910: 909: 891: 885: 882: 876: 870: 864: 863: 861: 859: 848: 842: 839: 833: 832: 824: 813: 807: 806: 798: 787: 781: 780: 755: 753: 752: 746: 613:Karam (festival) 598:Enchanted forest 494:Tree worship at 451:On Fairy-Stories 426:J. R. R. Tolkien 284:Ancient Egyptian 1191: 1190: 1186: 1185: 1184: 1182: 1181: 1180: 1151: 1150: 1134: 1131: 1113: 1111:Further reading 1103: 1082: 1046: 970: 965: 958:www.khandro.net 952: 951: 947: 940: 932:. p. 155. 920:Martha Beckwith 917: 913: 892: 888: 883: 879: 871: 867: 857: 855: 852:"locus amoenus" 850: 849: 845: 840: 836: 814: 810: 788: 784: 750: 748: 747: 726: 722: 717: 588:Ceremonial pole 573: 505: 409: 264:popular stories 260: 252:Norse mythology 236:Norse mythology 221: 215: 188: 182: 86:Ficus religiosa 34:Ficus religiosa 17: 12: 11: 5: 1189: 1179: 1178: 1173: 1168: 1163: 1149: 1148: 1130: 1129:External links 1127: 1126: 1125: 1112: 1109: 1108: 1107: 1101: 1086: 1080: 1065: 1050: 1044: 1029: 1022: 1005: 1002:Rivers of Life 998:Forlong, James 995: 980: 979:, Papyrus 1-2. 969: 966: 964: 963: 945: 938: 911: 886: 877: 865: 843: 834: 819:, ed. (1911). 817:Chisholm, Hugh 808: 793:, ed. (1911). 791:Chisholm, Hugh 782: 771:Chisholm, Hugh 723: 721: 718: 716: 715: 710: 705: 700: 695: 690: 685: 680: 675: 670: 665: 660: 655: 650: 645: 640: 635: 630: 628:Nature worship 625: 620: 615: 610: 605: 600: 595: 593:Christmas tree 590: 585: 580: 574: 572: 569: 568: 567: 550: 529: 504: 503:In film and TV 501: 488: 487: 484: 475: 469: 448:and his essay 445:Leaf by Niggle 408: 405: 386:Ancient Indian 259: 256: 217:Main article: 214: 211: 184:Main article: 181: 178: 39:Gautama Buddha 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1188: 1177: 1174: 1172: 1169: 1167: 1164: 1162: 1159: 1158: 1156: 1145: 1144: 1138: 1133: 1132: 1123: 1119: 1115: 1114: 1104: 1102:0-486-42010-8 1098: 1094: 1093: 1087: 1083: 1081:0-89281-093-9 1077: 1073: 1072: 1066: 1063: 1062:81-7305-179-8 1059: 1055: 1051: 1047: 1045:0-8118-4823-X 1041: 1037: 1036: 1030: 1027: 1023: 1020: 1019:0-521-47771-9 1016: 1012: 1011: 1006: 1003: 999: 996: 993: 989: 985: 981: 978: 977: 972: 971: 959: 955: 949: 941: 939:9780824805142 935: 931: 927: 926: 921: 915: 907: 903: 902: 896: 890: 881: 874: 869: 853: 847: 838: 830: 829: 823: 822:"Norns"  818: 812: 804: 803: 797: 792: 786: 778: 777: 772: 768: 764: 759: 758:public domain 745: 743: 741: 739: 737: 735: 733: 731: 729: 724: 714: 711: 709: 706: 704: 701: 699: 696: 694: 691: 689: 686: 684: 681: 679: 676: 674: 671: 669: 666: 664: 661: 659: 656: 654: 651: 649: 648:Sacred garden 646: 644: 641: 639: 636: 634: 633:New Year tree 631: 629: 626: 624: 621: 619: 616: 614: 611: 609: 608:Gerichtslinde 606: 604: 601: 599: 596: 594: 591: 589: 586: 584: 581: 579: 576: 575: 562: 557: 556: 551: 548: 544: 540: 539: 534: 530: 527: 523: 519: 518: 513: 512: 507: 506: 497: 492: 485: 482: 481: 476: 473: 470: 467: 463: 459: 458: 453: 452: 447: 446: 441: 440: 439:Tree and Leaf 435: 431: 427: 423: 422: 418: 413: 407:In literature 404: 402: 398: 397:tamarind tree 395:deity of the 394: 390: 387: 383: 379: 375: 371: 367: 363: 358: 356: 352: 348: 343: 339: 337: 333: 329: 325: 321: 317: 314: 310: 306: 303:. The oak of 302: 297: 293: 290: 289: 285: 281: 277: 273: 269: 265: 255: 253: 249: 245: 237: 233: 229: 225: 220: 210: 208: 204: 203:South America 199: 197: 193: 187: 180:Wishing trees 177: 175: 174: 173:locus amoenus 169: 165: 160: 158: 154: 151:for oak. The 150: 146: 145: 140: 136: 135:sacred groves 132: 128: 124: 120: 116: 115:folk religion 112: 108: 104: 100: 96: 92: 88: 87: 82: 77: 75: 71: 67: 63: 59: 55: 51: 44: 43:enlightenment 40: 36: 35: 30: 26: 21: 1141: 1117: 1091: 1070: 1053: 1034: 1025: 1008: 1001: 983: 974: 968:Bibliography 957: 948: 924: 914: 899: 889: 880: 875:, Chapter IV 868: 856:. Retrieved 846: 837: 826: 811: 800: 785: 774: 767:Tree-Worship 688:Tree of life 673:Talking tree 658:Sacred herbs 653:Sacred grove 553: 536: 535:of the film 515: 509: 478: 466:Minas Tirith 455: 449: 443: 437: 401:kadamba tree 389:tree deities 359: 355:Homeric poem 344: 340: 298: 294: 286: 261: 240: 200: 189: 171: 168:sacred grove 161: 142: 123:tree spirits 111:Christianity 84: 78: 70:Tree of life 49: 48: 37:under which 32: 678:Trail trees 472:W. B. Yeats 382:Pit of Milu 362:Nang Takian 268:human being 164:sacred tree 149:Celtic word 141:. The term 129:as well as 62:immortality 54:mythologies 1155:Categories 720:References 708:World tree 638:Plant soul 603:Five Trees 578:Axis mundi 434:mythopoeic 328:hamadryads 320:Greek myth 244:axis mundi 219:World tree 213:World tree 74:world tree 25:Bodhi Tree 895:John Bell 765:(1911). " 703:Wish tree 555:Teen Wolf 511:Star Wars 336:Sri Lanka 316:terebinth 309:Prussians 262:Numerous 248:Yggdrasil 232:World Ash 228:Yggdrasil 196:Christian 186:Wish Tree 157:sycamores 155:mentions 66:fertility 41:attained 29:Bodh Gaya 1000:(1883). 922:(1976). 897:(1790). 571:See also 498:in India 384:). Some 366:Thailand 166:and the 119:folklore 95:Buddhism 91:Hinduism 1146:. 1920. 954:"Trees" 858:23 June 773:(ed.). 760::  663:Sefirot 541:, the 531:In the 374:African 332:Bo tree 326:called 301:oracles 107:Judaism 99:Jainism 1099:  1078:  1060:  1042:  1017:  990:  936:  769:". In 754:  538:Avatar 520:, the 514:film, 496:Kannur 460:, the 428:, his 417:banyan 324:nymphs 313:Hebrew 305:Dodona 280:flower 270:and a 230:, the 207:Darwin 192:Europe 101:, the 81:banyan 713:Zapis 547:Na'vi 522:Ewoks 454:. In 393:Tamil 370:Burma 276:plant 250:from 144:druid 113:. In 89:) in 58:trees 50:Trees 1097:ISBN 1076:ISBN 1058:ISBN 1040:ISBN 1015:ISBN 988:ISBN 934:ISBN 860:2016 419:Tree 351:Cato 347:jinn 272:tree 117:and 109:and 97:and 23:The 908:–7. 906:366 901:... 364:in 334:at 278:or 234:of 201:In 139:oak 105:of 72:or 64:or 27:of 1157:: 1140:. 1056:, 986:, 956:. 928:. 825:. 799:. 727:^ 274:, 254:. 205:, 176:. 125:. 93:, 1124:. 1105:. 1084:. 1064:. 1048:. 1021:. 994:. 960:. 942:. 862:. 528:. 468:.

Index


Bodhi Tree
Bodh Gaya
Ficus religiosa
Gautama Buddha
enlightenment
mythologies
trees
immortality
fertility
Tree of life
world tree
banyan
Ficus religiosa
Hinduism
Buddhism
Jainism
tree of the knowledge of good and evil
Judaism
Christianity
folk religion
folklore
tree spirits
Germanic mythology
Celtic polytheism
sacred groves
oak
druid
Celtic word
Egyptian Book of the Dead

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