Editing World tree (section)

===Greek mythology===
Like in many other [[Proto-Indo-European mythology|Indo-European cultures]], one tree species was considered the World Tree in some cosmogonical accounts.

====Oak tree====
The [[sacred tree]] of [[Zeus]] is the oak,<ref name="Philpot">{{cite book|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/47215/47215-h/47215-h.htm|first=Mrs. J.H.|last=Philpot|title=The Sacred Tree; or the tree in religion and myth|publisher=MacMillan & Co.|place=London|year=1897}}</ref> and the one at [[Dodona]] (famous for the cultic worship of Zeus and the oak) was said by later tradition to have its roots furrow so deep as to reach the confines of Tartarus.<ref>Philpot, Mrs. J. H. (1897). ''[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/47215/47215-h/47215-h.htm#c5 The Sacred Tree; or the tree in religion and myth]''. London: MacMillan & Co. pp. 93–94.</ref>

In a different cosmogonic account presented by [[Pherecydes of Syros#Reconstruction|Pherecydes of Syros]], male deity ''Zas'' (identified as [[Zeus]]) marries female divinity ''Chthonie'' (associated with the earth and later called Gê/[[Gaia]]), and from their marriage sprouts an oak tree. This oak tree connects the heavens above and its roots grew into the Earth, to reach the depths of [[Tartarus]]. This oak tree is considered by scholarship to symbolize a cosmic tree, uniting three spheres: underworld, terrestrial and celestial.<ref>Marmoz, Julien. "La Cosmogonie de Phérécyde de Syros". In: ''Nouvelle Mythologie Comparée'' n. 5 (2019–2020). pp. 5–41.</ref>

====Other trees====
Besides the oak, several other [[Trees in mythology|sacred trees]] existed in [[Greek mythology]]. For instance, the [[olive]], named [[Moria (tree)|Moriai]], was the world tree and associated with the [[Twelve Olympians|Olympian goddess]] [[Athena]].

In a separate Greek myth the [[Hesperides]] live beneath an [[apple tree]] with [[golden apple]]s that was given to the highest Olympian goddess [[Hera]] by the primal [[Mother goddess]] [[Gaia]] at Hera's marriage to Zeus.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hesperides-Greek-mythology|title=Hesperides|series=Greek mythology|encyclopedia=Britannica online}}</ref> The tree stands in the [[Hesperides#The Garden of the Hesperides|Garden of the Hesperides]] and is guarded by [[Ladon (mythology)|Ladon]], a dragon. [[Heracles]] defeats Ladon and snatches the golden apples.

In the epic quest for the [[Golden Fleece]] of ''[[Argonautica]]'', the object of the quest is found in the realm of [[Colchis]], hanging on a tree guarded by a never-sleeping dragon (the [[Dragons in Greek mythology#The Colchian dragon|Colchian dragon]]).<ref>Godwin, William. ''[https://archive.org/details/livesnecromance04godwgoog/page/n63/mode/2up Lives of the Necromancers]''. London: F. J. Mason, 1876. p. 41.</ref> In a version of the story provided by Pseudo-Apollodorus in ''Bibliotheca'', the Golden Fleece was affixed by King [[Aeetes]] to an oak tree in a grove dedicated to war god [[Ares]].<ref>Pseudo-Apollodorus. ''[http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0022%3Atext%3DLibrary%3Abook%3D1%3Achapter%3D9%3Asection%3D1 Bibliotheca]'' 1.9.1. Translation by Sir James George Frazer.</ref> This information is repeated in [[Valerius Flaccus (poet)|Valerius Flaccus]]'s ''Argonautica''.<ref>Valerius Flaccus. ''[https://www.loebclassics.com/view/valerius_flaccus-argonautica/1934/pb_LCL286.261.xml Argonautica]''. Translated by Mozley, J H. Loeb Classical Library Volume 286. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928. Book V. Lines 228ff.</ref> In the same passage of Valerius Flaccus' work, King Aeetes prays to Ares for a sign and suddenly a "serpent gliding from the Caucasus mountains" appears and coils around the grove as to protect it.<ref>Valerius Flaccus. ''[https://www.loebclassics.com/view/valerius_flaccus-argonautica/1934/pb_LCL286.263.xml Argonautica]''. Translated by Mozley, J H. Loeb Classical Library Volume 286. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1928. Book V. Lines 241 and 253ff.</ref>