5 Obscure Facts about Ask & Embla, Norse Myth First Humans

Who was Ask and Embla?

Ask and Embla are the first two humans in Norse mythology and have a very similar role to that of Adam and Eve in Christianity and Judaism. 

Unfortunately, the Norse mythological texts almost never mention these two enigmatic figures, with the exception of their creation story and how they and their human descendants were destined to rule Midgard, the Middle-court and home of humanity.

Thus, the importance of Ask and Embla is to clarify the origins of humanity and, more importantly, establish its relationships with the Norse gods.

Thus, the story of Ask and Embla makes it clear that the Norse gods have the power to both create and destroy humanity, but that they also gave mankind unique divine gifts not found among other animals.

Most importantly, Odin gifted Ask and Embla with souls, which made humans independent beings that could control their own fates (or “örlog” in Old Norse).

How were Ask and Embla created?

According to the Prose Edda, the gods Odin, Vili (sometimes Lothur or even Loki), and Vé (Hoenir) were walking along the seashore after having created heaven and earth, the sun, and constellations, as well as dividing the day into nighttime and daytime. 

During their walk, they found two logs, one made of an ash tree and the other from an elm. 

The gods stared at these two logs in quiet wonder and decided to give them a use. Thus, Odin gave them souls, Vili gave them blood and complexion, and Vé gave the logs senses and perception.

Out of the ash tree, the gods made the first man, Ask, while the first woman, Embla, was made from the elm.

The gods then gave them clothes and found them a dwelling on Midgard, which they populated with their descendants. 

Why gods made humanity out of an elm and ash tree

Most mythologies choose to create mankind out of various natural substances, which are then animated with various divine gifts. 

In Greek mythology, the Titan Prometheus created man’s from out of clay, while the goddess Athena breathed life into it and gave mankind a soul.

Similarly, the Christian God created Adam out of dust and shaped him in His image, and then breathed life into Adam’s nostrils.

In Zoroastrianism, the first man and woman, Meshia and Meshiane, were branches of a tree.

The story of Ask and Embla follows a similar pattern, only that instead of earth, mankind was created out of wood.

The central theme of all these creation stories is that even though mankind exists in the material world, it’s true place is in the divine realm alongside the gods.

The next question is: why did the Norse choose to make humanity out of trees? There is no clear answer for this, but there are multiple theories.

The ash tree from which Ask was made is an integral part of Norse cosmology. Most notably, the World Tree, Yggdrasil, which connects and supports all realms of existence, is thought to be an ash tree. 

Thus, it’s fitting that humans, who play a pivotal role in Norse myths and sagas, are also made from the same tree as Yggdrasil. This connection signifies humanity’s integral part in the grand design of the Norse cosmos.

Besides this, ash trees in most cultures symbolize strength, resilience, and nobility. By crafting Ask from an ash tree, Norse mythology highlights that strength and resilience are the foundational roles of masculinity.

The elm tree that was used to create Embla doesn’t have such a pronounced a role in Norse mythology as the ash tree, however the elm has its own distinct symbolic meaning.

Elm trees were associated with femininity, since elm wood is also known for its beauty and durability. It can be inferred that Embla’s creation from an elm reflects qualities traditionally associated with femininity, like grace, beauty, and endurance.

Thus, creating men and women from two different trees highlights that the genders are different but complementary to one another. 

For the Norse, even if men and women came from different sources, together they formed the entirety of humanity.

Ask and Embla versus Adam and Eve

The story of Ask and Embla is remarkably similar to that of Adam and Eve, although there are some very distinct differences that carry major moral and religious implications.

In terms of similarities:

Both the Norse and Christian couples are described as the first humans; both have a distinct connection to the material world (trees for Norse, dust for Christians), and both are animated through the will of divine figures.

Next, both the Norse and Christian couples reside in a sort of paradise world: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, and Ask and Embla in a newly created Midgard.

Finally, both couples receive dominion over their realms, even if only temporarily, as in the case of Adam and Eve.

Differences:

Almost from the very beginning, Christianity establishes that mankind has wronged God and committed sin by disobeying Him and eating the forbidden fruit. This causes Adam and Eve to be expelled from Eden, which in turn introduces sin and death among mankind. 

The Norse Ask and Embla do not carry this moral weight. Thus, in Norse mythology, mankind does not carry the guilt of an original sin committed against its gods. 

Next, Eve is created from Adam’s rib, implying that Eve isn’t made from the same substance as Adam, and thus is not Adam’s equal.  In contrast, both Ask and Embla are created from individual, separate trees. The implication is that even if man and woman are different, they are still equal.

The stories also reflect the cultural and environmental contexts of their origins. The Garden of Eden, with its rivers and fruit-bearing trees, mirrors the agrarian settings familiar to ancient Semitic cultures. 

The creation of Ask and Embla from trees might reflect the wooded landscapes familiar to the Norse.

As a conclusion, Adam and Eve’s story has profound theological implications in Christian doctrine, influencing concepts of sin, redemption, and salvation. 

Ask and Embla, even though central to the Norse understanding of human origin, don’t have a comparable continued presence or influence in subsequent Norse myths.

Líf and Lífþrasir: The post-Ragnarock Ask and Embla

 In Norse mythology, both mankind and Midgard are almost completely destroyed during Ragnarok, the final conflict between the gods.

However, Líf (meaning “Life”) and Lífþrasir (meaning “Eager for Life” or “Striving for Life”) are the two humans prophesied to survive Ragnarök, the cataclysmic series of events marking the end of the world in Norse mythology. They’re destined to repopulate the new world that emerges after the destruction.

During the events of Ragnarök, these two find shelter in Hoddmímis holt (often believed to be another name for Yggdrasil, the World Tree). They sustain themselves on morning dew and are shielded from the chaos and destruction that engulfs the world.

After Ragnarök ends and the world is renewed, Líf and Lífþrasir emerge from their shelter and begin the task of repopulating the earth. 

In this sense, Líf and Lífþrasir have a remarkably similar purpose to Ask and Embla.

Both pairs, Ask and Embla and Líf and Lífþrasir, are pivotal to the origin and continuation of humanity in Norse mythology. The former marks the beginning, while the latter signifies a new start post-destruction.

Both sets of humans are intrinsically tied to the gods’ plans. Ask and Embla are crafted and given life by the deities, while Líf and Lífþrasir are predestined to survive the end times and fulfill a divine purpose.

Both stories emphasize a deep connection with Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Ask and Embla are created from trees, linking them to Yggdrasil’s symbolism, while Líf and Lífþrasir take refuge in Yggdrasil during Ragnarök.

Thus, Ask and Embla and Líf and Lífþrasir are two foundational pairs in Norse mythology, representing the cyclical nature of life, destruction, and rebirth.

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Resources:

• The Mythology of All Races – Eddic by John Arnott MacCulloch, Louis Herbert Gray
• The Norsemen Myths and Legends by Guerber Helene Adeline
• Asgard and the Norse heroes by Katharine Boult
• Old Norse stories by Sarah Powers Bradish
• Teutonic Mythology by Viktor Rydberg & Anders Rasmus Bjorn
• Teutonic Mythology by Jacob Grimm