Editing World tree (section)

=== Hittite culture ===
A similar imagery is attested in [[Hittite mythology and religion|Hittite literature]]: a snake encircles the base of a tree, an eagle perches atop it, and a bee occupies its middle,<ref>Ünal, Ahmet. "[https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/216415011.pdf Parts of Trees in Hittite According to a Medical Incantation Text (KUB 43, 62)]". In: ''Hittite and Other Anatolian and Near Eastern Studies in Honour of Sedat Alp [Sedat Alp Festschrift]''. Heinrich Otten, Ekrem Akurgal, Hayri Ertem, Aygül Süel (eds.). Ankara: TÜRK TARlH KURUMU BASIMEVl, 1992. p. 496.</ref><ref>Collins, B. J. (2002). "Animals in Hittite Literature". In: ''A History of the Animal World in the Ancient Near East''. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill. pp. 244–245. {{doi|10.1163/9789047400912_008}}</ref> which [[Craig Melchert]] considers to be a version of the "world tree" or "tree of life" motif.<ref>Melchert, H. Craig. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=RtMSrGe8MY0C&dq=%22world+tree%22+hittite&pg=PA285 Hittite antaka- "loins" and an Overlooked Myth about Fire]". In: ''Hittite Studies in Honor of Harry A. Hoffner Jr. on the Occasion of His 65th Birthday''. Edited by Gary Beckman, Richard H. Beal and Gregory McMahon. University Park, US: Penn State University Press, 2003. pp. 284–285. {{doi|10.1515/9781575065434-025}}.</ref>