I The Dream of The Rood

The Dream of the Rood is one of the earliest Christian poems in the corpus of Old English literature. The word rood is derived from the Old English rōd, meaning 'pole' or, more specifically, 'crucifix'. Preserved in the 10th-century Vercelli Book, the poem may date as far back as the 8th century and is regarded as one of the oldest surviving works in Old English.

The poem begins with the narrator recounting a dream or vision in which he speaks to the Cross upon which Jesus was crucified. At first, the dreamer sees the Cross adorned with precious gems, recognizing his own wretchedness in contrast to the glory of the tree. However, he soon notices that beneath the beautiful stones, the Cross is stained with blood. In a later stanza, the Cross itself recounts the Crucifixion. A story told from the perspective of the Cross.

II ΤΗΙ ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΗΙ

"The Fairest" — In Greek mythology, the Tree of Life is represented by a pomegranate tree, guarded by snakes. The pomegranates on this tree are believed to possess divine and magical powers. According to myth, during the wedding banquet of Peleus and Thetis, hosted by Zeus, the king of the gods, Eris, the goddess of discord, was not invited due to her disruptive nature. In retaliation, Eris arrived uninvited and threw a golden apple into the ceremony, inscribed with the words "ΤΗΙ ΚΑΛΛΙΣΤΗΙ," meaning "To the fairest." Three goddesses claimed the apple, a rivalry that eventually sparked the Trojan War.



III Gaokerena

The Gaokerena is a large, sacred Haoma tree in Iranian mythology. The white Haoma is believed to possess the power to ensure the continuance of life in the universe through its vitality. Ahriman, a destructive force in the pre-Persian pantheon, created a frog to invade and destroy the tree, with the aim of preventing all trees from growing on earth. In response, Ahura Mazda, Ahriman’s counterpart, created several kar-fish to guard the tree. These fish continuously watch the frog, remaining vigilant and ready to act if it threatens the tree.



IV Kalpavriksha

Kalpavriksha, in Hindu tradition, is known as the Tree of Life or the "World Tree" and is mentioned in the Vedic scriptures. In the earliest accounts from these ancient texts, Kalpavriksha is described as emerging from the primal waters during the "churning of the ocean of milk," along with Kamadhenu, the divine cow that fulfills all desires. The tree is also symbolically associated with the Milky Way or the birthplace of the star Sirius. Indra, the king of the devas, is said to have taken the Kalpavriksha to his heavenly abode, where he planted it in his paradise.