8. Yggdrasil
According to the myths, Odin was looking to obtain further wisdom, so he went on a journey astride his horse, Sleipnir.
In an action that draws several parallels to the Christ story, Odin hanged himself on the world tree for a total of nine days and nine nights.
Odin was also pierced by a spear, although in this myth he inflicts the injury upon his own body.
It is said in the myths that after his long ordeal, Odin was able to gain the wisdom that he was seeking from magical runes.
9. Nariphon
One of the strangest folk tales ever told comes from Thailand and involves something called the Nariphon.
The legend goes that the wife of a princess was exiled in the Himvanti forest, where she came across trees growing a very strange fruit—miniature women.
According to the stories, the purpose of these trees was to protect our heroine as she traversed the forests, because women were immune to their charms. However, these trees were said to be very dangerous for men.
10. The Kalpa Tree
The Kalpa Tree, also known as the Kalpavriksha, is known as a wishing tree, but its mythology is actually much more complex than that.
The Kalpa Tree isn't just one specific tree in Indian mythology—it's an entire spiritual concept. Wish-fulfilling may not be the most direct translation, however, because the point of the tree is not to be a genie that can give you whatever you want.
Kalpa Trees are prayed to because people believe they have a connection to the divine.
Even Alexander the Great went searching for these trees in the hopes of having his wishes fulfilled.
