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The sacred tree at Uppsala was a sacred tree located at the Temple at Uppsala, Sweden, in the second half of the 11th century. It is not known what species it was, but a scholar has suggested that it was a yew tree.〔Ohlmarks, Å. (1994). ''Fornnordiskt lexikon''. p 372.〕〔(Hellquist, O. (1922). ''Svensk etymologisk ordbok''. p 266 )〕 It is even more sparsely documented than the famous temple by which it stood. In the 1070s, the writer of a scholium in Adam of Bremen's ''Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum'' explained: Near that temple is a very large tree with widespread branches which are always green both in winter and summer. What kind of tree it is nobody knows. There is also a spring there where the pagan are accustomed to perform sacrifices and to immerse a human being alive. As long as his body is not found, the request of the people will be fulfilled.〔(Adam of Bremen's ''Gesta Hammaburgensis Ecclesiae Pontificum'' at Northvegr. )〕 The description of the tree and the location of a well nearby are reminiscent of the evergreen, Yggdrasil, which stood above the Well of Urd, and it is possible that the Swedes consciously had created a copy of the world of their Norse gods at Uppsala.〔Harrison, D. & Svensson, K. (2007). ''Vikingaliv''. Fälth & Hässler, Värnamo. ISBN 978-91-27-35725-9. p. 141〕 The later Icelandic source, ''Hervarar saga'', contains a description of how the tree was used in the pagan rites, concerning an event taking place only a few years after the scholium was written. It is in reference to the ancient Indo-European ritual of horse sacrifice: Svein, the King's brother-in-law, remained behind in the assembly, and offered the Swedes to do sacrifices on their behalf if they would give him the Kingdom. They all agreed to accept Svein's offer, and he was then recognized as King over all Sweden. A horse was then brought to the assembly and hewn in pieces and cut up for eating, and the sacred tree was smeared with blood. Then all the Swedes abandoned Christianity, and sacrifices started again. They drove King Ingi away; and he went into Västergötland.〔(''The Saga of Hervör and Heithrek'' (c. 1325) ), in translation by Nora Kershaw.〕 ==See also== *Donar Oak *Irminsul *Sacred grove 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sacred tree at Uppsala」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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