Embla

Embla is a figure in Norse mythology recognized as the first woman, who, with the first man Ask, forms the origin of humanity in the mythic tradition. They are said to have been created by the Æsir from trees found on a shore—Ask from an ash tree and Embla from an elm tree.

In the most commonly cited account, the gods grant them life, intelligence, and the ability to move. A customary version states that Odin breathed life into them, Vili bestowed wit and feeling, and Ve gave them form and limbs. This act distinguishes humans from the gods and marks the beginning of human life in Midgard.

Embla and Ask are described as the ancestral progenitors of humankind, populating the earth and giving rise to subsequent generations. The tale emphasizes the human traits of consciousness and mortality, set within the broader framework of Norse myth where the gods shape the fate of mortals.

Source and variations: The story of Ask and Embla appears in the Prose Edda, compiled by Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century, though versions and phrasing vary among sources. In some retellings, the roles of Odin, Vili, and Ve are described with slight differences, but the core idea remains that the gods endowed the first humans with life, senses, and movement. Embla’s name is often interpreted as meaning elm, reflecting the tree-origin motif common to early human creation myths.