Odin
In Norse mythology, Odin was the king of the Æsir. He is a god of war, but also associated to wisdom, poetry, and magic. Odin rides on an eight-legged horse called Sleipnir, and his famous spear is called Gungnir. He also has a precious arm ring called Draupnir, and two ravens called Hugin and Munin who tell him all the things happening around the world. Odin only has one eye, because he sacrificed one to drink from the fountain of wisdom.
Half of the souls of heroes slain in battles will be guided by the Valkyries, battle maidens, to Odin's hall, Valhalla. The other half belongs to the goddess Freyja.
His wives are Frigg and Jord, the Earth. His eldest son is Thor, god of thunder.
Odin would be swallowed by Loki's son, the wolf Fenrir at Ragnarok.
In German, Odin is named Wotan. In older English, Odin is named Woden. It is from that name the weekday Wednesday in English comes from "Wodens day". In old Norse he is named Oden and the weekday Wednesday is today, in Scandinavia, "Onsdag", from "Odens day". Odin sacrificed his eye for wisdom. He threw his eye into a well of wisdom. He also impaled himself to a tree for many days, driving a spear through himself, and discovered runes. He got his wish, wisdom.
Related pages [change]
- Tinia - Etruscan mythology version of Odin.
- Jupiter - Roman mythology version of Odin.
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