Urðarbrunnr

Urdbrunnen, also Urdsbrunnen ( Old Norse Urðarbrunnr "fountain of Urd " or " fate source " ) referred to in Norse mythology a source. The name is used in the Skaldik from the 10th century, and in the eddischen literature. Further statements on the Urdbrunnen found only in the Edda texts, especially in the Prose Edda Snorri Sturluson from.

The spring rises then under the roots of the World Tree Yggdrasil. From it come the three Norns, which are regarded as their guardians, in particular Urd. The three throw every day the damp sand source on the world-ash to protect them. The water is so holy, is that everything that comes in contact know. In the source swim two birds called " swans " of which descended all animals of that name. Is located at the source of the court of justice of the gods and the seat of Thuls, which is a poet or orator, perhaps here as a name for Odin. In the literature eddischen two other sources are mentioned, which occur after Snorri Sturluson also at Yggdrasil's roots, namely Hvergelmir and Mimir's fountain.

In research, the view is predominantly represented that Urðarbrunnr originally not a "source of Urd " meant, but for " fate source " stand, so the name was transferred only in high medieval period to the Norne, Urd. However, as fate has it source from only the fact that the three Norns, the Fates and Urd's name literally means " fate " means.

It is assumed that the three springs at the foot of Yggdrasil are merely different manifestations of the same mythic source on the World Tree, which is widely attested in Eurasian mythologies.