Difference between revisions of "Odin" - New World Encyclopedia

From New World Encyclopedia
(Imported and credited article from Wikipedia, plus removed some unneeded links)
 
(26 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
{{Dablink|This article focuses on the Norse god; see [[Wodanaz]] for a comparative discussion of the corresponding Germanic god.}}
+
{{Copyedited}}{{Paid}}{{Approved}}{{Submitted}}{{Images OK}}
−
<!--Need to disambig other uses for variant names when someone redirects them here—>
+
[[Image:Georg von Rosen - Oden som vandringsman, 1886 (Odin, the Wanderer).jpg|right|thumb|250px|An 1886 depiction of '''Odin''' by Georg von Rosen]]
−
{{Dablink|For other meanings of Odin, Woden or Wotan see [[Odin (disambiguation)]], [[Woden (disambiguation)]], [[Wotan (disambiguation)]].}}
 
  
−
'''Odin''' ([[Old Norse]] ''Óðinn'') is considered the chief [[deity|god]] in [[Norse mythology]] and [[Norse paganism]], like the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] ''[[Woden]]'' it is decended from [[Proto-Germanic]] '''''*[[Wodanaz|Wōđinaz]]''''' or '''''*Wōđanaz'''''.  
+
'''Odin''' (Old Norse: ''Óðinn'') is the chief [[god]] in [[Norse Mythology|Norse mythology]] whose role in the Norse pantheon is complex and multivalent: he is known as the god of wisdom, death, and victory in battle but is also revered as a god of [[magic]], [[poetry]], prophecy, and the hunt. However, unlike many father-ruler gods, Odin is not described as a moral exemplar and is often seen winning battles and out-maneuvering opponents using guile, trickery and outright deception. Further, as he is seen as the lord of warriors who have fallen in combat, and is occasionally depicted inciting his human constituents into battle&mdash;once again, often using duplicitous means.
 +
{{toc}}
 +
Though not as popular as [[Thor]] among the common people, Odin was still the recipient of considerable veneration, especially from members of the upper classes. He was also one of the three deities found in the major "pagan" [[temple]] at Uppsala, [[Sweden]], where animals were slaughtered and men were hung to death as consecrated sacrifices to the "Gallows God" (one of Odin's many sobriquets).<ref>One of the major sources for depictions of these ritual practices comes from Adam of Bremen, an eleventh century cleric, chronicler, and missionary. Described in Dubois, 60; Munch, 8-9. However, given the source's definite "anti-pagan" stance, it is perhaps advisable to approach these statements with a critical mindset.</ref>
  
−
His name is related to  ''[[óðr]]'', meaning "excitation," "fury" or "poetry," and his role, like many of the Norse [[Pantheon (gods)|pantheon]], is complex: he is god of [[wisdom]], [[war]], battle, and death. He is also attested as being a god of [[Magic (paranormal)|magic]], [[poetry]], prophecy, victory, and the hunt.
+
==Odin in a Norse Context==
−
[[Image:Georg von Rosen - Oden som vandringsman, 1886 (Odin, the Wanderer).jpg|right|thumb|250px|An 1886 depiction of Odin by Georg von Rosen.]]
 
  
−
==Characteristics==
+
Odin's name derives from the Proto-Germanic ''*Wōđinaz'' or ''*Wōđanaz'' and is related to ''óðr'', meaning "excitation," "fury" or "poetry."<ref>These linguistic roots are also the source of the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] ''[[Woden]].''</ref> As a Norse deity, Odin belonged to a complex religious, mythological and cosmological belief system shared by the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples. This mythological tradition, of which the Scandinavian (and particularly Icelandic) sub-groups are best preserved, developed in the period from the first manifestations of religious and material culture in approximately 1000 B.C.E. until the Christianization of the area, a process that occurred primarily from 900-1200 C.E.<ref>Lindow, 6-8. Though some scholars have argued against the homogenizing effect of grouping these various traditions together under the rubric of “Norse Mythology,” the profoundly exploratory/nomadic nature of Viking society tends to overrule such objections. As Thomas DuBois cogently argues, “[w]hatever else we may say about the various peoples of the North during the Viking Age, then, we cannot claim that they were isolated from or ignorant of their neighbors…. As religion expresses the concerns and experiences of its human adherents, so it changes continually in response to cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Ideas and ideals passed between communities with frequency and regularity, leading to and interdependent and intercultural region with broad commonalities of religion and worldview.” (27-28).</ref> The tales recorded within this mythological corpus tend to exemplify a unified cultural focus on physical prowess and military might.  
−
<!--poetic/mantic "odhr"—>
+
−
Odin is an ambivalent deity.  Old Norse ([[Viking Age]]) connotations of Odin lie with "poetry, inspiration" as well as with "fury, madness."  Odin left one of his eyes in the purifying waters of [[Mímir]]'s spring in order to gain the wisdom of the ages. Odin gives to worthy poets the [[mead]] of inspiration, made by the dwarves, from the vessel ''Óð-rœrir''.<ref>_____. ''[[Skaldskaparmal]],'' in ''Edda.'' Anthony Faulkes, Trans., Ed. (London: Everyman, 1996).</ref>  
+
Within this framework, Norse cosmology postulates three separate "clans" of deities: the ''Aesir'', the ''Vanir'', and the ''Jotun''. The distinction between Aesir and Vanir is relative, for the two are said to have made peace, exchanged hostages, intermarried and reigned together after a prolonged war. In fact, the greatest divergence between the two groups is in their respective areas of influence, with the Aesir representing war and conquest, and the Vanir representing exploration, fertility and wealth.<ref>More specifically, Georges Dumézil, one of the foremost authorities on the Norse tradition and a noted comparitivist, argues quite persuasively that the Aesir / Vanir distinction is a component of a larger triadic division (between ruler gods, warrior gods, and gods of agriculture and commerce) that is echoed among the Indo-European cosmologies (from Vedic India, through Rome and into the Germanic North). Further, he notes that this distinction conforms to patterns of social organization found in all of these societies. See Georges Dumézil's Gods of the Ancient Northmen (especially pgs. xi-xiii, 3-25) for more details.</ref> The Jotun, on the other hand, are seen as a generally malefic (though wise) race of giants who represented the primary adversaries of the Aesir and Vanir.
  
−
<!--Wild hunt, receiver of the dead—>
+
Odin is generally recognized (at least in the received sources) as the leader (or even the father) of the Aesir.
−
Odin is associated with the concept of the [[Wild Hunt]], a noisy, bellowing movement across the sky, leading a host of the slain.
 
−
[[Image:Ed0030.jpg|right|thumb|200px|An 1893 depiction of Odin taking the dead [[Sinfjötli]] to [[Valhalla]] by Fredrik Sander.]]
 
−
Consistent with this, [[Snorri Sturluson]]'s [[Prose Edda]] depicts Odin as welcoming the great dead warriors who have died in battle into his hall, [[Valhalla]], which when literally interpreted, signifies the hall of the slain. These fallen, the ''[[einherjar]]'', are assembled and entertained by Odin in order that they in return might fight for and support the gods in the final battle of the end of the world, [[Ragnarök]].
 
  
−
<!--war—>
+
==Characteristics==
−
He is also a god of war, appearing throughout Norse myth as the bringer of victory. In the [[Norse saga]]s, Odin sometimes acts as the instigator of wars, and is said to have been able to start wars by simply throwing down his [[javelin]] [[Gungnir]], and/or sending his [[valkyrie]]s, to influence the battle toward the end that he desires. [[Valkyrie]]s are Odin's beautiful battle maidens that went out to the fields of war to select and collect the worthy men who died in battle to come and sit at ''Odin's table'' in Valhalla, feasting and battling until they had to fight in the final battle, [[Ragnarök]]. Odin would also appear on the battlefield, sitting upon the leader of the Norse as two ravens on each shoulder and two wolves on each side.
+
According to the ''Prose Edda'' of Snorri Sturluson (1178&ndash;1241 C.E.), Odin is the first and most powerful of the Aesir. Despite this high status, he is an ambivalent deity, who is much more likely to arouse awe and fear than love, respect or veneration. His name, in the Old Norse language, connotes rage or frenzy, which was taken to refer to either “poetry and inspiration" or to "fury and madness" (leading many to assume that his name refers to the battle-rage of the famed Norse ''berserkers'').  
  
−
<!-- magician/shaman —>
+
Odin is a God of wisdom (both worldly and arcane),<ref>Note: This connection with divine wisdom led many Roman philosophers and chroniclers, from Caesar and Tacitus on, to relate Odin with [[Mercury]]/[[Apollo]]. See Dumézil, 19.</ref> visually symbolized by his one-eyed visage, as a popular myth describes him sacrificing his eye for a drink from Mimir’s fountain, which gave him knowledge of the end times ([[Ragnarok]]).<ref>Turville-Petre, 63.</ref> An oft-told story depicts his craftiness in stealing the "mead of poetry" from the giants, saving most of the skill for himself, but also making it available to fortunate human poets.  
−
Odin is also a [[shapechanger]], able to alter his skin and form in any way he liked. He is said to travel the world as an old man with a staff, one-eyed, grey-[[beard]]ed, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with a blue traveling coat.  Odin is said to be a healer, hinting at [[shamanistic]] origins, as he is god of magic and prophecy, common practices in cultures in which shamans are prominent.
 
  
−
==Origins==
+
Odin is constantly attended on by his two ravens, Huginn and Muninn (literally, “thought” and “memory”), whose constantly survey the mortal and divine realms and report their findings back to their master. He is also credited with the ability to use his magical runes to animate the dead (especially the hanged) in order to discover their secrets. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, Odin is described hanging himself from the world tree, being pierced by his own spear and literally dying in order to receive knowledge of runic magic:
−
{{main|Wodanaz}}
+
:I know that I hung
−
[[Image:Odin Vendel helmet.jpg|thumb|7th century depiction of Odin on a [[Vendel]] helmet plate, found in [[Uppland]].]]
+
:on the windswept tree
−
[[Image:Tangelgarda Odin.jpg|thumb|The 7th century [[Tängelgarda stone]] shows Odin leading a troop of warriors all bearing rings. [[Valknut]] symbols are drawn beneath his horse, which at this time still has the normal number of legs.]]
+
:for nine full nights,
−
[[Worship]] of Odin dates to [[Proto-Germanic]]  [[Germanic paganism|paganism]]. The [[Roman Empire|Roman]] historian [[Gaius Cornelius Tacitus|Tacitus]] may refer to Odin when he talks of [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]]. The reason is that, like Mercury, Odin was regarded as [[psychopomp|Psychopompos]], "the leader of souls".  
+
:wounded with a spear
 +
:and given to Odin,
 +
:myself to myself;
 +
:on that tree,
 +
:of which no man knows
 +
:of what roots it runs.<ref>A reference to [[Yggdrasil]], the famed World Tree of Norse mythology. See Lindow, 248.</ref>
 +
:...
 +
:I peered downward,
 +
:I grasped the runes,
 +
:screeching I grasped them;
 +
:I fell back from there
 +
:...
 +
:I learned nine mighty songs.<ref>Hávamál (strs. 138-45), quoted in Turville-Petre, 42.</ref>
 +
This particular episode creates a reasonable parallel between the deity and the [[shamanism|shamanistic]] practice of ritual death in service of magical initiation.  
  
−
Parallels between Odin and Celtic [[Lugus]] have often been pointed out: both are intellectual gods, commanding magic and poetry. Both have ravens and a spear as their attributes, and both are one-eyed. [[Julius Caesar]] (''de bello Gallico'', 6.17.1) mentions Mercury as the chief god of [[Celtic religion]].  A likely context of the diffusion of elements of Celtic ritual into Germanic culture is that of the [[Chatti]], who lived at the Celtic-Germanic boundary in [[Hesse]] during the final centuries before the Common Era. (It must be remembered that Odin in his Proto-Germanic form was not the chief god, but that he only gradually replaced [[Tyr]] during the [[Migration period]].)
+
[[Image:Ed0030.jpg|right|thumb|250px|An 1893 depiction of Odin taking the dead [[Sinfjötli]] to [[Valhalla]] by Fredrik Sander]]
  
−
Scandinavian ''Óðinn'' emerged from [[Proto-Norse]] ''*Wōdin'' during the [[Migration period]], [[Vendel]] artwork ([[bracteate]]s, [[image stone]]s) depicting the earliest scenes that can be aligned with the High Medieval Norse mythological texts. The context of the new elites emerging in this period aligns with [[Snorri]]'s tale of the indigenous [[Vanir]] who were eventually replaced by the [[Aesir]], intruders from the Continent.[http://www.algonet.se/~arador/postfestum.html]
+
Though not directly related to physical bravery or the art of combat (as were [[Thor]] and, to a lesser extent, [[Tyr]]), Odin was also understood in the context of war&mdash;specifically as a bringer of victory. By launching his dwarven-crafted javelin ''Gungnir'' over the enemy ranks, he was able to instill panic, blindness and numbness in the opposing troops, while simultaneously bolstering the courage and resolve of any army he favored. However, he was also associated with the dead of war&mdash;specifically, those who died honorably in combat. From their ranks, Odin, and his warrior-messengers, the [[valkyries]] (literally, "dead choosers"), recruited his troops of ''einherjar'', who lived at his side in [[Valhalla]] and would fight alongside the [[Aesir]] in the war of the apocalypse ([[Ragnarok|Ragnarök]]). Commenting on this martial role for the "father god," Dumézil notes, "in the ideology and in the practices of the Germanic peoples, war invaded all, colored everything."<ref>Dumézil, 42.</ref>
  
−
Some scholars have linked Odin with the "Death God" template.  A few of them, such as [[Jan de Vries]] and [[Thor Templin]], link Loki and Odin as being one-in-the-same until the early Norse Period.
+
While Odin is typically described as an old man with a staff (one-eyed, grey-bearded, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with a blue traveling coat), he is also described as a [[shapechanger]] who is able to alter his skin and form at will. In iconography (both religious and popular), Odin's power or presence are often represented by the Valknut&mdash;a symbol constructed of three interlocking triangles.
  
−
==Blót==
+
==Historical Origins==
−
It is attested in primary sources that sacrifices were made to Odin during [[blót]]s. [[Adam of Bremen]] relates that every ninth year, people assembled from all over [[Sweden]] to sacrifice at the [[Temple at Uppsala]]. Male slaves and males of each species were sacrificed and hanged from the branches of the trees.  
+
[[Image:Odin Vendel helmet.jpg|thumb|A seventh-century depiction of Odin on a [[Vendel]] helmet plate, found in Uppland]]
 +
[[Worship]] of Odin dates back to early Germanic [[paganism]]. The most compelling evidence of this historical connection is found in the accounts of Tacitus and [[Julius Caesar]], who describe the Germanic pagans participating in a cult of [[Mercury (mythology)|"Mercury"]] dedicated to a figure matching Odin in both attributes and areas of patronage.<ref>See Dumézil, 19, and also Julius Caesar's ''de bello Gallico'' (6.17.1), which mentions "Mercury" as the chief god of Celtic religion.</ref>
  
−
As the Swedes had the right not only to elect king but also to depose a king, the [[sagas]] relate that both King [[Domalde]] and King [[Olof Trätälja]] were sacrificed to Odin after years of famine. It has been argued that the killing of a combatant in battle was to give a sacrificial offering to Odin. The fickleness of Odin in battle was well-documented, and in [[Lokasenna]], [[Loki]] taunts Odin for his inconsistency.
+
Thus, it is theorized that Scandinavian ''Óðinn'' emerged from Proto-Norse ''*Wōdin'' during the Migration period (especially 100 B.C.E. - 600 C.E.). The archaeological record bolsters this conjecture, as Vendel artwork (bracteates, image stones) depicts scenes that can be aligned with the High Medieval Norse mythological texts. Further, the context of the new elites emerging in this period aligns with [[Snorri]]'s (euhemeristic) tale of the indigenous [[Vanir]] who were eventually replaced by the [[Aesir]], understood as intruders from the continent.<ref>Rundkvist, Martin. 2003. Post festum. Solid gold in the Vendel Period.</ref>
  
−
Sometimes sacrifices were made to Odin to bring about changes in circumstance. A notable example is the sacrifice of King [[Víkar]] that is detailed in [[Gautrek's Saga]] and in [[Saxo|Saxo Grammaticus]]' account of the same event. Sailors in a fleet being blown off course drew lots to sacrifice to Odin that he might abate the winds. The king himself drew the lot and was hanged.
+
Additionally, parallels between Odin and Celtic [[Lugus]] have often been pointed out: both are intellectual gods, commanding magic and poetry. Both have ravens and a spear as their attributes, and both are one-eyed. A likely context of the diffusion of elements of Celtic ritual into Germanic culture is that of the Chatti, who lived at the Celtic-Germanic boundary in [[Hesse]] during the final centuries before the Common Era. However, it must be remembered that Odin in his Proto-Germanic form was not the chief god, but that he only gradually replaced [[Tyr]] during the [[Migration period]].
  
−
Sacrifices were probably also made to Odin at the beginning of summer (mid April, actually—summer being reckoned essentially the same as did the Celt, at Beltene, Calan Mai [Welsh], which is Mayday—hence as summer's "herald"), since [[Ynglinga saga]] states one of the great festivals of the calendar is ''at sumri, þat var sigrblót'' "in summer, for victory"; Odin is consistently referred to throughout the Norse mythos as the bringer of victory.  
+
==Major Mythic Tales==
−
The Ynglinga saga also details the sacrifices made by the Swedish king [[Aun]], who, it was revealed to him, would lengthen his life by sacrificing one of his sons every ten years; nine of his ten sons died this way. When he was about to sacrifice his last son [[Ongenþeow|Egil]], the Swedes stopped him.
+
According to the Prose Edda, Odin, the first and most powerful of the Aesir, was a son of a giant (''Bor'') and a giantess (''Bestla''), who, along with his brothers ''Ve'' and ''Vili'', cast down the terrible frost giant ''Ymir''. From his corpse, the three created the cosmos, transmuting his various body parts into sky, seas, and land:
 +
<blockquote>From Ymir's flesh, the brothers made the earth, and from his shattered bones and teeth they made the rocks and stones. From Ymir's blood, they made the rivers and lakes. Ymir's skull was made into the sky, secured at four points by four dwarfs named Nordi, Sudri, Austri, and Westri (North, South, East, and West). And from Ymir's brains, they shaped the clouds and Ymir's eyebrows became Midgard, the place where men now dwell.<ref>Paraphrase from the ''Prose Edda'' as translated by Arthur Brodeur, p. 20.</ref></blockquote>
 +
In this account, Odin and his brothers are also attributed with creating mankind from hollow logs. In doing so, Odin first gave them breath and life; Vili gave them brains and feelings; and Ve gave them hearing and sight. The first man was named ''Ask'' and the first woman was ''Embla'', and from them all families of mankind are descended.  
 +
[[Image:Odin riding Sleipnir.jpg|thumb|200px|A depiction of Odin riding Sleipnir from an eighteenth-century [[Iceland|Icelandic]] manuscript]]Furthering this understanding of Odin as "All-Father," he also had several wives with whom he fathered many children. With his first wife, [[Frigg]], he had two sons: ''[[Balder]]'', who stood for happiness, goodness, wisdom and beauty, and the blind god ''Hod'', who was representative of darkness (and presented a perfect contrast to Balder's light). By the Earth Goddess ''Jord'', Odin sired his most famous son, ''[[Thor]]'' the Thunderer. In addition to these offspring, he is also described as the father of lesser deities (including ''Vidar'' and ''Vali'') and of many royal lineages among humans.
  
−
==Edda==
+
Some other important myths surrounding Odin include the sacrifice of his eye for a vision of the future and his nine-day crucifixion (suffered in order to receive the ability to perform feats of magic; both described above). In his eschatological vision (of [[Ragnarok]]), Odin sees that the Aesir will eventually be killed in their final battle with the giants (''Jotun''), and that he himself will die in the clutches of ''Fenrir''&mdash;a demonic wolf spawned by ''[[Loki]]''. Also important is the tale of his theft of the "mead of poetic inspiration" from the giants who had been guarding it - an account that revels in the god's quick-witted improvisation, shape-changing abilities and outright manipulation of the unwitting. Finally, Odin is featured in many of the heroic sagas, often granting temporary victory to the human warriors, though frequently depicted as requiring them to agree to sacrifice themselves (or their loved ones) in order to achieve their ends.
−
[[Image:Odin riding Sleipnir.jpg|thumb|200px|A depiction of Odin riding [[Sleipnir]] from an 18th century Icelandic manuscript.]]
 
−
According to the [[Prose Edda]], Odin, the first and most powerful of the Aesir, was a son of [[Bestla]] and [[Borr]] and brother of [[Ve]] and [[Vili]] and together with these brothers he cast down the frost giant [[Ymir]] and created the world from Ymir's body. The three brothers are often mentioned together. "Wille" is the German word for "will" (English), "Weh" is the German word (Gothic wai) for "woe" (English: great sorrow, grief, misery) but is more likely related to the archaic German "Wei" meaning 'sacred'.
 
  
−
Odin had several wives with whom he fathered many children. With his first wife, [[Frigg]], he fathered his most gentle son [[Balder]], who stood for happiness, goodness, wisdom and beauty. He also fathered the blind god Hod, who was representative of darkness (in contrast to Balder's light).  [[Frigg]] is best known for her love of her son Balder, as well as the story of how she travelled the world in order to protect him from fated death. By the Earth Goddess [[Jord]] (Fjorgin) Odin was the father of his most famous son, [[Thor]] the Thunderer. By the giantess [[Grid (Jotun)|Grid]], Odin was the father of [[Vidar|Vídar]], and by [[Rind|Rinda]] he was father of [[Váli (son of Odin)|Váli]]. Also, many royal families claimed descent from Odin through other sons. For traditions about Odin's offspring, see ''[[Sons of Odin]]''.
+
==Ritual / Worship==
 +
===Blót (Blood Sacrifice to the gods)===
 +
It is attested in primary sources that sacrifices were made to Odin during [[blót]]s (Blood sacrifices to the gods). [[Adam of Bremen]] (eleventh century) relates that every ninth year, people assembled from all over [[Sweden]] to sacrifice at the Temple at Uppsala, where male slaves and males of each species were sacrificed and hanged from the branches of the trees. Sacrifices were probably also made to Odin at the beginning of summer, since ''Ynglinga'' saga states one of the great festivals of the calendar is ''at sumri, þat var sigrblót'' ("in summer, for victory"). This particular phrase is significant, as Odin is consistently referred to throughout the Norse mythos as the bringer of victory.  
  
−
According to the [[Hávamál]] Edda, Odin was also the creator of the [[Runic alphabet]]. It is possible that the legends and genealogies  mentioning Odin originated in a real, prehistoric Germanic chieftain who was subsequently deified, but this is impossible to prove or disprove.
+
In addition to these prescribed sacrifices to Odin, more happenstance ritual offerings were also made in order to bring about changes in circumstances. A notable example is the sacrifice of King Víkar that is detailed in Gautrek's Saga and in Saxo Grammaticus's account of the same event. Sailors in a fleet being blown off course drew lots to sacrifice to Odin that he might abate the winds. The king himself drew the lot and was hanged. In a like manner, the sagas relate that both King Domalde and King Olof Trätälja were sacrificed to Odin after years of famine by commoners seeking a divine reprieve.  
  
−
===Exploits ===
+
The Ynglinga saga also details the sacrifices made by the Swedish king Aun, who, it was revealed to him, would lengthen his life by sacrificing one of his sons every ten years; nine of his ten sons died this way. When he was about to sacrifice his last son Egil, the Swedes stopped him.
−
[[Image:Manuscript Odinn.jpg|thumb|200px|Odin with his ravens and weapons (MS [[SÁM 66]], 18th century)]]
 
−
Odin and his brothers, Vili and Ve, are attributed with slaying [[Ymir]], the Ancient Giant, to create [[Midgard]]. From Ymir's flesh, the brothers made the earth, and from his shattered bones and teeth they made the rocks and stones.  From Ymir's blood, they made the rivers and lakes.  Ymir's skull was made into the sky, secured at four points by four dwarfs named East, West, North, and South. And from Ymir's brains, they shaped the clouds and Ymir's eyebrows became Midgard, the place where men now dwell. Odin and his brothers are also attributed with creating mankind.  
 
  
−
After having made earth from Ymir's body, the three brothers came across two logs. Odin gave them breath and life; Vili gave them brains and feelings; and Ve gave them hearing and sight. The first man was [[Ask and Embla|Ask]] and the first woman was [[Ask and Embla|Embla]] and from them all families of mankind are descended. Many kings and royal houses claim to trace their lineage back to Odin through Ask and Embla.
+
Finally, this understanding of "death as sacrifice" extended to the field of battle as well, where the killing of a combatant was interpreted as a sacrificial offering to Odin.<ref>DuBois, 43, 60; Turville-Pietrie, 50-55, 64-70.</ref>
  
−
Odin ventured to [[Mimir]]'s Well, near Jötunheim, the land of the giants, not as Odin, but as Vegtam the Wanderer, clothed in a dark blue cloak and carrying a traveller's staff. To drink from the Well of Wisdom Odin had to sacrifice his left eye, symbolizing his willingness to gain the knowledge of the past, present and future. As he drank, he saw all the sorrows and troubles that would fall upon men and the gods. But he also saw why the sorrow and troubles had to come to men. 
+
== Odinic Toponyms ==
  
−
Mimir accepted Odin's eye and it sits today at the bottom of the Well of Wisdom as a sign that the father of the gods had paid the price for wisdom. Sacrifice for the greater good is a recurring theme in Norse mythology. [[Tyr]] sacrificed his hand to fetter [[Fenrisulfr]], and similar to Odin, Heimdall sacrificed his hearing to [[Mimir]] to gain wisdom.
+
In northern France, Audresselles (Oderzell) (a district of Marquise):
 +
*Audinghen (Odingham), close to Raventhun (Raventown), Tardinghen (Thordingham),
 +
*Loquinghen (Lokingham) and Audembert (Odinberg)
  
−
Odin was said to have learned the mysteries of [[seid]] from the [[Vanir|Vanic]] goddess and [[völva]] [[Freya|Freyja]], despite the un-warrior-like connotations of using magic. In ''[[Lokasenna]]'', [[Loki]] derides Odin for practicing seid, implying it was woman's work. (Another example of this may be found in the ''[[Ynglinga saga]]'' where Snorri opines that men who used  seid were ''[[ergi]]'' or ''unmanly''.)
+
In central France (Berry):
 +
*Vatan (same as Wotan)
  
−
Odin's quest for wisdom can also be seen in his work as a farmhand for a summer, for [[Baugi]], and his seduction of [[Gunnlod]] in order to obtain the mead of poetry. (See [[Fjalar and Galar]] for more details.)
+
In Denmark:
 +
*Odense (Odins Vi, i.e. Odin's Sanctuary)
  
−
In the [[Rúnatal]], a section of the [[Hávamál]], Odin is attributed with discovering the runes. He was hung from the tree called [[Yggdrasill]] while pierced by his own javelin. He hung for nine days and nights, in order to learn the wisdom that would give him power in the nine worlds. Nine is a significant number in Norse magical practice (there were, for example, [[The Nine Worlds of Norse Mythology|nine realms of existence]]), thereby learning nine (later eighteen) magical songs and eighteen magical runes. 
+
In Finland:
 +
*"Udensö" ("Uden's island," called alternatively "Odin's island")  
  
−
Some scholars see this scene as influenced by the story of [[Christ]]'s [[crucifixion]]; and others note the similarity to the story of [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]'s enlightenment. In Shamanism, the traversal of the [[axis mundi]] by the shaman to bring back  mystic knowledge is a common pattern. We know that sacrifices, human or otherwise, to the gods were commonly hung in or from trees, often transfixed by spears. (See also: [[Peijainen]]) Additionally, one of Odin's names is ''Ygg'', and the Norse name for the World Ash &mdash;[[Yggdrasill]]&mdash;therefore means "Ygg's (Odin's) horse". Another of Odin's names is ''Hangatýr'', the god of the hanged.
+
In Norway:
 +
*Onsøy (Norse: ''Óđinsøy''; Odin's island), name of a peninsula (and also name of a parish and a former municipality) in the county of Østfold.
 +
*''Óđinsakr'' (Odin's field/acre), name of three farms (in the parishes Svinndal, Gran and Hole).
 +
*''Óđinsvin'' (Odin's meadow/pasture), name of three farms (in the parishes Buvik, Byneset and Meldal).
 +
*''Óđinsland'' (Odin's land), name of two farms (in the parishes Bru and Kyrkjebø).
 +
*''Óđinssalr'' (Odin's hall), name of two farms (in the parishes Onsøy and Melhus).
 +
*''Óđinshof'' (Odin's temple), name of a farm in the parish of Ullensaker (the names of the farms are given in the Norse form).
  
−
===Attributes===
+
==Modern age==
−
[[Image:Ardre Odin Sleipnir.jpg|thumb|220px|A depiction of Odin entering [[Valhalla]] riding on [[Sleipnir]] from the [[Tängvide image stone]].]]
+
===Modern popular culture===
−
Attributes of Odin are [[Sleipnir]], an eight-legged horse, which was given to Odin by Loki, and the severed head of [[Mimir]], which foretold the future. He employed [[Valkyries]] to gather the souls of warriors fallen in battle (the [[Einherjar|Einheriar]]), as these would be needed to fight for him in the battle of [[Ragnarök]]. They took the souls of the warriors to [[Valhalla]] (the hall of the fallen), Odin's reception hall in [[Asgard]].  
+
With the [[Romanticism|Romantic]] [[Viking revival]] of the early-to-mid nineteenth century, Odin's popularity increased again. Odin (as ''Wotan'') is one of the main protagonists of [[Richard Wagner]]'s [[opera]] cycle, ''Der Ring des Nibelungen''. This depiction in particular has had influence on many subsequent fiction writers and has since resulted in varying references and allusions in multiple types of media.  
  
−
Odin had three residences in Asgard. First, was Gladsheim, a vast hall where he presided over the twelve Diar or Judges, whom he had appointed to regulate the affairs of Asgard. Second, Valaskialf, built of solid silver, in which there was an elevated place, [[Hlidskialf]], from his throne on which he could perceive all that passed throughout the whole earth. Third, was Valhalla, where Odin received the souls of the warriors killed in battle, called the [[Einheriar]]. The souls of female warriors, and those strong and beautiful women whom Odin favored, became Valkyries, who functioned as the elite guard of Odin, in addition to the serving maids of the Einheriar. Valhalla has five hundred and forty gates, and a vast hall of gold, hung around with golden shields, and spears and coats of mail.
+
Gandalf, the wizard of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''The Lord of the Rings'', is largely based on Odin in his incarnation as "the Wanderer," an old man with one eye (though Gandalf retains both of his), a long white beard, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff. In fact, Tolkien explicitly states that he thinks of Gandalf as an "Odinic wanderer" in a letter of 1946 (''Letters'' no. 107).
  
−
Odin has a number of magical artifacts associated with him: the dwarven javelin [[Gungnir]], which never misses its target, a magical gold ring ([[Draupnir]]), from which every ninth night eight new rings appear, an eight-legged horse ([[Sleipnir]]) and two ravens [[Huginn and Muninn]] (Thought and Memory), who fly around the world daily, to which they report the happenings of the worlds to Odin at Valhalla nightly.  He also commands a pair of wolves named [[Geri and Freki]], to whom he gives his food in Valhalla since he consumes nothing but [[mead]] or wine. From his throne, [[Hlidskjalf]] (located in [[Valaskjalf]]), Odin could see everything that occurred in the universe.  
+
===Germanic neopaganism===
 +
Odin, along with the other Germanic Gods and Goddesses, is recognized and venerated by [[Germanic Neopaganism|Germanic neopagans]]. His Norse form is particularly acknowledged in Ásatrú, the "faith in the [[Aesir]]," an officially recognized religion in [[Iceland]], [[Denmark]], [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]].
  
−
The [[Valknut]] is a symbol associated with Odin.
 
  
 
===Names===
 
===Names===
−
The Norsemen gave Odin many nicknames; this was in the Norse [[Skald|skaldic]] tradition of [[kennings]], a poetic method of indirect reference, as in a riddle. See [[List of names of Odin]]. The name Alföðr ("Allfather", "father of all") appears in [[Snorri Sturluson]]'s [[Younger Edda]]. (It probably originally denoted [[Tyr|Tiwaz]], as it fits the pattern of referring to [[Sky father|Sky Fathers]] as "father".) According to [[Bernhard Severin Ingemann]], Odin is known in [[Wendish mythology]] as ''Woda'' or ''Waidawut''.
+
The Norsemen ascribed many sobriquets to Odin, in keeping with the Norse [[Skald|skaldic]] tradition of [[kennings]], a poetic method of indirect reference. The name Alföðr ("Allfather," "father of all") appears in [[Snorri Sturluson]]'s Younger Edda, though it probably originally denoted [[Tyr]], as it fits the pattern of referring to Sky Gods as "father."
−
 
 
−
==Odin and Jesus==
 
−
The 13th century eddaic account of Odin likely contains elements similar to Christianity. In Havamal where Odin hangs from a tree as a sacrifice to himself has been suggested to reflect the [[crucifixion]] of [[Jesus]], down to the detail of having his side pierced with a spear. However, archaeological evidence, such as the above referenced [[Tollund Man]], clearly establish that this form of sacrifice existed long before the time of Christ and most likely developed independently.
 
−
 
 
−
Other inconsistencies, such as that Odin was hung by a rope from a tree{{fact}} whereas Jesus was nailed to a cross (both wood, but in different contexts) further supports an independent origin of the myth. It is still likely that early [[Germanic Christianity|Germanic Christians]] connected the two myths, moulding their image of Christ after Odin and vice versa, an effect that is also suggested by the Anglo-Saxon ''[[Dream of the Rood]]'' which portrays Christ as a Germanic warrior-king.
 
−
 
 
−
Odin's son [[Balder]], a god of light, shares some of Jesus' traits as a youthful [[Life-death-rebirth deity|"dying and rising" god]], who returns after [[Ragnarok]], the end of the world (comparable to the Christian [[Apocalypse]]) to usher in a new era of peace. The Havamal account of Odin's sacrifice positions Odin in the otherwise unique [[Paul of Tarsus|Pauline]] [[Christianity|Christian]] attributes of a "[[God the Father|father god]]" who suffers and defeats [[death]].
 
−
 
 
−
The similarity of Odin and Jesus was resurrected by [[Richard Wagner]]. Wagner's association of Odin with Jesus is treated in the ''Notes of the Seminar Given in 1928-1930'' of [[Carl Jung]]. Recently, the German [[National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD)|NPD]] issued T-Shirts labeled ''Odin statt Jesus'' ("Odin instead of Jesus") which are popular amongst the [[Heavy Metal]] music scene.
 
  
−
==Persisting beliefs in Odin==
+
{| border="1" class="wikitable"
−
[[Snorri Sturluson]] feels compelled to give a rational account of the Aesir in his preface. In this scenario, Snorri speculates that Odin and his peers were originally refugees from the [[Anatolia|Anatolian]] city of [[Troy]], etymologizing ''Aesir'' as derived from the word [[Asia]]. Some scholars believe that Snorri's version of Norse mythology is an attempt to mould a more shamanistic tradition into a Greek mythological cast. In any case, Snorri's writing (particularly in [[Heimskringla]]) tries to maintain an essentially scholastic neutrality. That Snorri was correct was one of the last of [[Thor Heyerdahl]]'s archeo-anthropological theories (see [[Jakten på Odin|The search for Odin]]).
+
!width="9%"|Name<br/>(Old Norse)!!width="9%"|Name<br/>(anglicized)!!width="12%"|Meaning!!width="70%"|Sources (Eddaic titles italicized)
−
 
+
|-
−
The spread of Christianity was slow in Scandinavia, and it worked its way downwards from the nobility. Among common people, beliefs in Odin may have lingered for some time, and legends would be told until modern times.
+
|Alföðr
−
 
+
|Alfodr
−
The last battle where Scandinavians attributed a victory to Odin was the [[Battle of Lena]] in [[1208]] [http://runeberg.org/img/sverhist/1/0325.5.png]. The former Swedish king [[Sverker II of Sweden|Sverker]] had arrived with a large Danish army, and the Swedes discovered that the Danish army was more than twice the size of their own. Naturally, the Danes got the upper hand and they should have won. However, the Swedes claimed that they suddenly saw Odin riding on Sleipnir. Accounts vary on how Odin gave the Swedes victory, but in one version, he rode in front of their battle formation.
+
|Allfather, Father of All
−
 
+
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(48)</small>
−
The ''[[bagler]]-saga'', written in the 13th century concerning events in the first two decades of the 13th century, tells a story of a one-eyed rider with a broad-brimmed hat and a blue coat who asks a smith to shoe his horse. The suspicious smith asks where the stranger stayed during the previous night. The stranger mentions places so far distant that the smith does not believe him. The stranger says that he has stayed for a long time in the north and taken part in many battles, but now he is going to Sweden. When the horse is shod, the rider mounts his horse and says "I am Odin" to the stunned smith, and rides away. The next day, the battle of Lena took place. The context of this tale in the saga is that a peace-treaty has been signed in Norway, and Odin, a god of war, no longer has a place there. ''[[Haakon IV of Norway|Håkon Håkonssons]] saga'', written in the 1260s, describes how, at some point in the 1230s, [[Skule Baardsson]] has the skald [[Snorri Sturluson]] compose a poem comparing one of Skule's enemies to Odin, describing them both as bringers of strife and disagreement. These episodes do not necessary imply a continued belief in Odin as a god, but show clearly that his name was still widely known at this time.
+
|-
−
 
+
|Atriðr
−
[[Scandinavian folklore]] also maintained a belief in Odin as the leader of the [[Wild Hunt]] (''Åsgårdsreia'' in Norwegian). His main objective seems to have been to track down and kill the forest creature ''[[huldra]]n'' or ''skogsrået''. In these accounts, Odin was typically a lone huntsman, save for his two wolves. Originally, he was armed with a javelin, but in later accounts this was sometimes changed to a [[rifle]].
+
|Atrid
−
 
+
|Rider
−
== Toponyms with the name of Odin ==
+
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(48)</small>
−
 
+
|-
−
* On the sea-side, in northern France, successively occupied by germano-celtic populations, Romans, Saxons, Danes, Flemish, English people around [[Audresselles]] (Oderzell) district of [[Marquise]]:
+
|Báleygr
−
+
|Baleyg
−
[[Audinghen]] (Odingham), close to Raventhun (Raventown), [[Tardinghen]] (Thordingham), 
+
|Flame Eye
−
 
+
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>, Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld's ''Hákonardrápa'' <small>(6)</small>, Gísl Illugason's ''Erfikvæði um Magnús berfœtt'' <small>(1)</small>
−
[[Loquinghen]] (Lokingham) and [[Audembert]] (Odinberg)
+
|-
−
 
+
|Biflindi
−
* In central France (Berry):
+
|/
−
 
+
|Spear Shaker
−
[[Vatan]] same as [[Wotan]]
+
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(49)</small>
−
 
+
|-
−
* In Denmark:
+
|Bileygr
−
 
+
|Bileyg
−
[[Odense]] (Odins Vi, i.e. Odin's Sanctuary)
+
|Feeble Eye or Wavering Eye
−
 
+
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>, ''þulur''
−
* In Finland island "Udensö" ("Uden's island", called alternatively at 1785 "Odin island")  
+
|-
−
 
+
|Blindi, Blindr
−
* In Norway:
+
|/
−
 
+
|Blind
−
[[Onsøy]] ([[Norse]] ''Óđinsøy'' - Odins island), name of a peninsula (and also name of a parish and a former municipality) in the county of [[Østfold]].
+
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Helgakviða Hundingsbana II'' <small>(prose)</small>
−
 
+
|-
−
''Óđinsakr'' (Odins field/acre), name of three farms (in the parishes [[Svinndal]], [[Gran]] and [[Hole, Norway|Hole]]).
+
|Bölverkr
−
''Óđinsvin'' (Odins meadow/pasture), name of three farms (in the parishes [[Buvik]], [[Byneset]] and [[Meldal]]).
+
|Bolverk
−
''Óđinsland'' (Odins land), name of two farms (in the parishes [[Bru]] and [[Kyrkjebø]]).
+
|Evil Worker or Evil Deed
−
''Óđinssalr'' (Odins hall), name of two farms (in the parishes [[Onsøy]] and [[Melhus]]).
+
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Hávamál'' <small>(109)</small>, ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>
−
''Óđinshof'' (Odins temple), name of a farm in the parish of [[Ullensaker]]. (The names of the farms are given in the [[Norse]] form.)
+
|-
−
 
+
|Farmaguð, Farmatýr
−
[indirectly, but similar to wednesday:]
+
|Farmagud, Farmatyr
−
* In the Netherlands, Westfriesland has "Wijdenes", Viking settlement founded by Rolf Wodansson a.k.a. Roelof van Wienesse.
+
|God of Cargoes (or Burdens)
−
 
+
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(48)</small>
−
==Modern age==
+
|-
−
===Modern popular culture===
+
|Fimbultýr
−
[[Image:Odintegnefim.jpg|thumb|Odin in the cartoon [[Valhalla (comics)|Valhalla]]]]
+
|Fimbultyr
−
{{main|Odin in popular culture}}
+
|Mighty God
−
<!--only extremely notable examples should be added here. minor references go to the main article —>
+
|''Völuspá'' <small>(60)</small>
−
With the [[Romanticism|Romantic]] [[Viking revival]] of the early-to-mid [[19th century]], Odin's popularity increased again. Odin ([[Wotan]]) is one of the main protagonists of [[Richard Wagner]]'s opera cycle, [[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]. This depiction in particular has had influence on many subsequent fiction writers and has since resulted in varying references and allusions in multiple types of media.
+
|-
−
 
+
|Fimbulþulr
−
[[Gandalf]], the [[Wizard (Middle-earth)|wizard]] of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', is largely based on Odin in his incarnation as "the Wanderer", an old man with one eye (though Gandalf retains both of his), a long white beard, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff. Tolkien states that he thinks of Gandalf as an "Odinic wanderer" in a letter of 1946 (''Letters'' no. 107).
+
|Fimbulthul <ref>Also the name of a river, one of the Élivágar.</ref>
−
 
+
|Mighty Poet (or Sage)
−
===Germanic neopaganism===
+
|''Hávamál'' <small>(80, 142)</small>
−
Odin, along with the other Germanic Gods and Goddesses, is recognized by [[Germanic Neopaganism|Germanic neopagans]]. His Norse form is particularly acknowledged in [[Ásatrú]], the "faith in the [[Aesir]]", an officially recognized religion in [[Iceland]], [[Denmark]], [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]].
+
|-
 +
|Fjölnir
 +
|Fjolnir
 +
|Wise One
 +
|''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>, ''Reginsmál'' <small>(18)</small>, ''Gylfaginning'' <small>(3, 20)</small>, many skaldic poems, ''þulur''  
 +
|-
 +
|Fjölsviðr
 +
|Fjolsvid, Fjolsvin
 +
|Very Wise
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Gagnráðr
 +
|Gagnrad
 +
|Advantage Counsel
 +
|''Vafþrúðnismál'' <small>(8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Gangari, Ganglari
 +
|/
 +
|Wanderer or Wayweary
 +
|''Gylfaginning''
 +
|-
 +
|Gangleri <ref>Also an assumed name used by [[Gylfi]].</ref>
 +
|/
 +
|Wanderer or Wayweary
 +
|''Grímnismál'' <small>(46)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Gautr
 +
|Gaut
 +
|Geat (a tribe of Northern Swedes)
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(54)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Gautatýr
 +
|Gautatyr
 +
|God of the Northern Swedes
 +
|''Skáldskaparmál'', Eyvindr skáldaspillir's ''Hákonarmál'' <small>(1)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Gestumblindi
 +
|/
 +
|Blind Guest
 +
|''Hervarar saga'' <small>(10)</small>, ''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Glapsviðr
 +
|Glapsvid, Glapsvin
 +
|Swift in Deceit, Maddener
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Göndlir <ref>"Geldnir" in other manuscripts.</ref>
 +
|Gondlir
 +
|Wand Bearer
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(49)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Grímnir
 +
|Grimnir
 +
|Hooded, Masked One
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(introduction, 47, 49)</small>, Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld's ''lausavísur'' <small>(9)</small>, Eilífr Goðrúnarson's ''Þórsdrápa'' <small>(3)</small>, ''Húsdrápa'' <small>(1)</small>, Rögnvaldr kali Kolsson'''s lausavísur'' <small>(7)</small>, ''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Grímr
 +
|Grim
 +
|Mask
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(46, 47)</small>, ''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Hangaguð, Hangatýr
 +
|Hangagud, Hangatyr
 +
|God of the Hanged
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál''
 +
|-
 +
|Haptaguð
 +
|Haptagud
 +
|God of Prisoners
 +
|''Gylfaginning''
 +
|-
 +
|Hárbarðr
 +
|Harbard
 +
|Grey Beard
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(49)</small>, ''Hárbardsljód'', ''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Hárr
 +
|Har
 +
|High
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(46)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Hávi
 +
|Havi
 +
|High One
 +
|''Hávamál'' <small>(109, 111, 164)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Helblindi <ref>Also the name of a brother of [[Loki]].</ref>
 +
|/
 +
|Hel Blinder
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(46)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Herföðr, Herjaföðr
 +
|Herfodr, Herjafodr
 +
|Father of Hosts
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Völuspá'' <small>(29, 43)</small>, ''Vafthrúdnismál'' <small>(2)</small>, ''Grímnismál'' <small>(19, 25, 26)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Herjan
 +
|/
 +
|Warrior
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(46)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Herteitr
 +
|Herteit
 +
|War-merry
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Hjálmberi
 +
|Hjalmberi
 +
|Helmet Bearer
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(46)</small>, ''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Hnikarr
 +
|Hnikar
 +
|Overthrower
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>, ''Reginsmál'' <small>(18, 19)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Hnikuðr
 +
|Hnikud
 +
|Overthrower
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(48)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Hrafnaguð
 +
|Hrafnagud
 +
|Raven God
 +
|''Gylfaginning''
 +
|-
 +
|Hroptr, Hroptatýr
 +
|Hropt, Hroptatyr
 +
|Sage<ref>The meaning is disputed according to Lindow but Larrington gives the translation "Sage" in the Poetic Edda.</ref>
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Hákonarmál'' <small>(14)</small>, Úlfr Uggason's ''Húsdrápa'' <small>(8)</small>, ''Hávamál'' <small>(160)</small>, ''Grímnismál'' <small>(54)</small>, ''Sigrdrífumál'' <small>(13)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Jafnhárr
 +
|Jafnhar
 +
|Just as High, Equally High
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(49)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Jálg, Jálkr
 +
|Jalk
 +
|Gelding
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(49, 54)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Kjalarr
 +
|Kjalar
 +
|Keel
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(49)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Langbarðr
 +
|Langbard
 +
|Long Beard
 +
|''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Ómi
 +
|Omi
 +
|Shouter
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(49)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Óski
 +
|Oski
 +
|God of Wishes
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(49)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Saðr
 +
|Sadr, Sann
 +
|Truthful
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Sanngetall
 +
|/
 +
|Truthful
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Síðgrani
 +
|Sidgrani
 +
|Long Beard
 +
|''Alvíssmál'' <small>(6)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Síðhöttr
 +
|Sidhott <ref>"Sidhofr" in other manuscripts.</ref>
 +
|Broad Hat
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(48)</small>, ''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Síðskeggr
 +
|Sidskegg
 +
|Long Beard
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(48)</small>, ''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Sigföðr
 +
|Sigfodr
 +
|Father of Victory, War Father
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Völuspá'' <small>(54)</small>, ''Grímnismál'' <small>(48)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Sigtýr<ref>In plural, ''sigtívar'' refers to the gods in many [[Poetic Edda|Eddic poems]].</ref>
 +
|Sigtyr
 +
|God of Victory, War God
 +
|''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Atlakviða'' <small>(30)</small>, Glúmr Geirason's ''Gráfeldardrápa'' <small>(12)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Skilfingr
 +
|Skilfing
 +
|Trembler
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(54)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Svipall
 +
|/
 +
|Changing
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(47)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Tvíblindi
 +
|Tviblindi
 +
|Twice Blind
 +
|''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Þekkr
 +
|Thekk
 +
|Known
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(46)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Þriði
 +
|Thridi
 +
|Third
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(46)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Þróttr
 +
|Thrott
 +
|Strength
 +
|''Glymdrápa'' <small>(2)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Þundr
 +
|Thund
 +
|Thunderer
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Hávamál'' <small>(145)</small>, ''Grímnismál'' <small>(46, 54)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Váfuðr
 +
|Vafud
 +
|Wanderer
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(54)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Vakr
 +
|Vak
 +
|Wakeful
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Grímnismál'' <small>(54)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Valföðr
 +
|Valfodr
 +
|Father of the Slain
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Völuspá'' <small>(1, 27, 28)</small>, ''Grímnismál'' <small>(48)</small>, ''þulur''
 +
|-
 +
|Valgautr
 +
|Valgaut
 +
|Slaughter-Gaut, Gaut of the Slain
 +
|''Skáldskaparmál''
 +
|-
 +
|Vegtam
 +
|/
 +
|Wanderer or Way-tame
 +
|''Baldrs draumar'' <small>(6, 13)</small>
 +
|-
 +
|Yggr
 +
|Ygg
 +
|Terrible One
 +
|''Gylfaginning'', ''Skáldskaparmál'', ''Völuspá'' <small>(28)</small>, ''Grímnismál'' <small>(53, 54)</small>
 +
||
 +
|}<ref>This table reproduced (with some amendments) from [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_names_of_Odin&oldid=104659538 Wikipedia]. Also, many of these names are attested to in the Poetic Edda's ''Skáldskaparmál'' (II), (97-103 in the Brodeur edition).</ref>
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
−
==Literature==
+
==Bibliography==
−
*[[Douglas Adams]], ''[[The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul]]'', 1988 ISBN 0-671-74251-5
+
* DuBois, Thomas A. ''Nordic Religions in the Viking Age''. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999. ISBN 0812217144
−
*[[H. R. Ellis Davidson]], ''The Battle God of the Vikings'', York (1972)
+
* Dumézil, Georges. ''Gods of the Ancient Northmen''. Edited by Einar Haugen; Introduction by C. Scott Littleton and Udo Strutynski. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1973. ISBN 0520020448
−
*Hector Chadwick, ''The Cult of Othinn''
+
* Lindow, John. ''Handbook of Norse mythology''. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2001. ISBN 1576072177
−
*L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt ''[[The Incomplete Enchanter]]'' Henry Holt and Company (1941) and several reprints in paperback
+
* Munch, P. A. ''Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods and Heroes''. In the revision of Magnus Olsen; translated from the Norwegian by Sigurd Bernhard Hustvedt. New York: The American-Scandinavian foundation; London: H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1926.
−
*Kris Kershaw, ''Odin'', 2004, ISBN 3-935581-38-6
+
* Orchard, Andy. ''Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend''. London: Cassell; New York: Sterling Pub. Co., 2002. ISBN 0304363855
−
*Horst Obleser, ''Odin'', 1993, ISBN 3-926789-14-X
+
* Sturlson, Snorri. ''The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson: Tales from Norse Mythology''. Introduced by Sigurdur Nordal; Selected and translated by Jean I. Young. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1954. ISBN 0520012313
−
*[[Neil Gaiman]], ''[[American Gods]]'', 2001, ISBN 0-7472-6374-4
+
* Snorri Sturluson. ''The Prose Edda''. Translated from the Icelandic and with an introduction by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur. New York: American-Scandinavian foundation, 1916.
−
*Grenville Pigott, ''A Manual to Scandinavian Mythology'', 2001, ISBN 0-89875-539-5
+
* Turville-Petre, Gabriel. ''Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia''. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1964.
−
*[[Padraic Colum]], ''Nordic Gods and Heroes'', 1996, ISBN 0-486-28912-5
 
−
*Peter Sawyer, ''The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings'', 1997, ISBN 0-19-285434-8
 
−
*Neil Philip, ''The Illustrated Book of Myths'', 1995, ISBN 0-7894-0202-5
 
−
*[[Snorri Sturlson]], ''Prose Edda'' Jean I. Young, trans. 2002, ISBN 0-520-23477-4
 
−
*____. ''Poetic Edda'', Carolyne Larrington, trans. 1999, ISBN 0-19-283946-2
 
−
*Sverre Bagge, "Society and Politics in Snorri Sturluson's Heimskringla", 1991, ISBN 0-520-06887-4
 
−
 
 
−
== External links ==
 
−
 
 
−
* [http://www.boundless-realms.com/odin/ Byronic Hero: The Official Odin Allfather Fanlisting]
 
−
* [http://www.vaidilute.com/books/norroena/rydberg-contents.html Viktor Rydberg's "Teutonic Mythology: Gods and Goddesses of the Northland" e-book]
 
−
* [http://www.vaidilute.com/books/asgard/asgard-contents.html W. Wagner's "Asgard and the Home of the Gods" e-book]
 
−
* [http://www.vaidilute.com/books/guerber/guerber-contents.html H. A. Guerber's "Myths of Northern Lands" e-book]
 
−
* [http://www.vaidilute.com/books/munch/munch-contents.html  Peter Andreas Munch's "Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods and Heroes" e-book]
 
  
−
[[Category: Philosophy and religion]]
+
[[Category:Philosophy and religion]]
−
[[Category: Religion]]
+
[[Category:Religion]]
  
 
{{Credit|103461253}}
 
{{Credit|103461253}}

Latest revision as of 10:20, 11 March 2023

An 1886 depiction of Odin by Georg von Rosen

Odin (Old Norse: Óðinn) is the chief god in Norse mythology whose role in the Norse pantheon is complex and multivalent: he is known as the god of wisdom, death, and victory in battle but is also revered as a god of magic, poetry, prophecy, and the hunt. However, unlike many father-ruler gods, Odin is not described as a moral exemplar and is often seen winning battles and out-maneuvering opponents using guile, trickery and outright deception. Further, as he is seen as the lord of warriors who have fallen in combat, and is occasionally depicted inciting his human constituents into battle—once again, often using duplicitous means.

Though not as popular as Thor among the common people, Odin was still the recipient of considerable veneration, especially from members of the upper classes. He was also one of the three deities found in the major "pagan" temple at Uppsala, Sweden, where animals were slaughtered and men were hung to death as consecrated sacrifices to the "Gallows God" (one of Odin's many sobriquets).[1]

Odin in a Norse Context

Odin's name derives from the Proto-Germanic *Wōđinaz or *Wōđanaz and is related to óðr, meaning "excitation," "fury" or "poetry."[2] As a Norse deity, Odin belonged to a complex religious, mythological and cosmological belief system shared by the Scandinavian and Germanic peoples. This mythological tradition, of which the Scandinavian (and particularly Icelandic) sub-groups are best preserved, developed in the period from the first manifestations of religious and material culture in approximately 1000 B.C.E. until the Christianization of the area, a process that occurred primarily from 900-1200 C.E.[3] The tales recorded within this mythological corpus tend to exemplify a unified cultural focus on physical prowess and military might.

Within this framework, Norse cosmology postulates three separate "clans" of deities: the Aesir, the Vanir, and the Jotun. The distinction between Aesir and Vanir is relative, for the two are said to have made peace, exchanged hostages, intermarried and reigned together after a prolonged war. In fact, the greatest divergence between the two groups is in their respective areas of influence, with the Aesir representing war and conquest, and the Vanir representing exploration, fertility and wealth.[4] The Jotun, on the other hand, are seen as a generally malefic (though wise) race of giants who represented the primary adversaries of the Aesir and Vanir.

Odin is generally recognized (at least in the received sources) as the leader (or even the father) of the Aesir.

Characteristics

According to the Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson (1178–1241 C.E.), Odin is the first and most powerful of the Aesir. Despite this high status, he is an ambivalent deity, who is much more likely to arouse awe and fear than love, respect or veneration. His name, in the Old Norse language, connotes rage or frenzy, which was taken to refer to either “poetry and inspiration" or to "fury and madness" (leading many to assume that his name refers to the battle-rage of the famed Norse berserkers).

Odin is a God of wisdom (both worldly and arcane),[5] visually symbolized by his one-eyed visage, as a popular myth describes him sacrificing his eye for a drink from Mimir’s fountain, which gave him knowledge of the end times (Ragnarok).[6] An oft-told story depicts his craftiness in stealing the "mead of poetry" from the giants, saving most of the skill for himself, but also making it available to fortunate human poets.

Odin is constantly attended on by his two ravens, Huginn and Muninn (literally, “thought” and “memory”), whose constantly survey the mortal and divine realms and report their findings back to their master. He is also credited with the ability to use his magical runes to animate the dead (especially the hanged) in order to discover their secrets. Finally, and perhaps most significantly, Odin is described hanging himself from the world tree, being pierced by his own spear and literally dying in order to receive knowledge of runic magic:

I know that I hung
on the windswept tree
for nine full nights,
wounded with a spear
and given to Odin,
myself to myself;
on that tree,
of which no man knows
of what roots it runs.[7]
...
I peered downward,
I grasped the runes,
screeching I grasped them;
I fell back from there
...
I learned nine mighty songs.[8]

This particular episode creates a reasonable parallel between the deity and the shamanistic practice of ritual death in service of magical initiation.

An 1893 depiction of Odin taking the dead Sinfjötli to Valhalla by Fredrik Sander

Though not directly related to physical bravery or the art of combat (as were Thor and, to a lesser extent, Tyr), Odin was also understood in the context of war—specifically as a bringer of victory. By launching his dwarven-crafted javelin Gungnir over the enemy ranks, he was able to instill panic, blindness and numbness in the opposing troops, while simultaneously bolstering the courage and resolve of any army he favored. However, he was also associated with the dead of war—specifically, those who died honorably in combat. From their ranks, Odin, and his warrior-messengers, the valkyries (literally, "dead choosers"), recruited his troops of einherjar, who lived at his side in Valhalla and would fight alongside the Aesir in the war of the apocalypse (Ragnarök). Commenting on this martial role for the "father god," Dumézil notes, "in the ideology and in the practices of the Germanic peoples, war invaded all, colored everything."[9]

While Odin is typically described as an old man with a staff (one-eyed, grey-bearded, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat, with a blue traveling coat), he is also described as a shapechanger who is able to alter his skin and form at will. In iconography (both religious and popular), Odin's power or presence are often represented by the Valknut—a symbol constructed of three interlocking triangles.

Historical Origins

A seventh-century depiction of Odin on a Vendel helmet plate, found in Uppland

Worship of Odin dates back to early Germanic paganism. The most compelling evidence of this historical connection is found in the accounts of Tacitus and Julius Caesar, who describe the Germanic pagans participating in a cult of "Mercury" dedicated to a figure matching Odin in both attributes and areas of patronage.[10]

Thus, it is theorized that Scandinavian Óðinn emerged from Proto-Norse *Wōdin during the Migration period (especially 100 B.C.E. - 600 C.E.). The archaeological record bolsters this conjecture, as Vendel artwork (bracteates, image stones) depicts scenes that can be aligned with the High Medieval Norse mythological texts. Further, the context of the new elites emerging in this period aligns with Snorri's (euhemeristic) tale of the indigenous Vanir who were eventually replaced by the Aesir, understood as intruders from the continent.[11]

Additionally, parallels between Odin and Celtic Lugus have often been pointed out: both are intellectual gods, commanding magic and poetry. Both have ravens and a spear as their attributes, and both are one-eyed. A likely context of the diffusion of elements of Celtic ritual into Germanic culture is that of the Chatti, who lived at the Celtic-Germanic boundary in Hesse during the final centuries before the Common Era. However, it must be remembered that Odin in his Proto-Germanic form was not the chief god, but that he only gradually replaced Tyr during the Migration period.

Major Mythic Tales

According to the Prose Edda, Odin, the first and most powerful of the Aesir, was a son of a giant (Bor) and a giantess (Bestla), who, along with his brothers Ve and Vili, cast down the terrible frost giant Ymir. From his corpse, the three created the cosmos, transmuting his various body parts into sky, seas, and land:

From Ymir's flesh, the brothers made the earth, and from his shattered bones and teeth they made the rocks and stones. From Ymir's blood, they made the rivers and lakes. Ymir's skull was made into the sky, secured at four points by four dwarfs named Nordi, Sudri, Austri, and Westri (North, South, East, and West). And from Ymir's brains, they shaped the clouds and Ymir's eyebrows became Midgard, the place where men now dwell.[12]

In this account, Odin and his brothers are also attributed with creating mankind from hollow logs. In doing so, Odin first gave them breath and life; Vili gave them brains and feelings; and Ve gave them hearing and sight. The first man was named Ask and the first woman was Embla, and from them all families of mankind are descended.

A depiction of Odin riding Sleipnir from an eighteenth-century Icelandic manuscript

Furthering this understanding of Odin as "All-Father," he also had several wives with whom he fathered many children. With his first wife, Frigg, he had two sons: Balder, who stood for happiness, goodness, wisdom and beauty, and the blind god Hod, who was representative of darkness (and presented a perfect contrast to Balder's light). By the Earth Goddess Jord, Odin sired his most famous son, Thor the Thunderer. In addition to these offspring, he is also described as the father of lesser deities (including Vidar and Vali) and of many royal lineages among humans.

Some other important myths surrounding Odin include the sacrifice of his eye for a vision of the future and his nine-day crucifixion (suffered in order to receive the ability to perform feats of magic; both described above). In his eschatological vision (of Ragnarok), Odin sees that the Aesir will eventually be killed in their final battle with the giants (Jotun), and that he himself will die in the clutches of Fenrir—a demonic wolf spawned by Loki. Also important is the tale of his theft of the "mead of poetic inspiration" from the giants who had been guarding it - an account that revels in the god's quick-witted improvisation, shape-changing abilities and outright manipulation of the unwitting. Finally, Odin is featured in many of the heroic sagas, often granting temporary victory to the human warriors, though frequently depicted as requiring them to agree to sacrifice themselves (or their loved ones) in order to achieve their ends.

Ritual / Worship

Blót (Blood Sacrifice to the gods)

It is attested in primary sources that sacrifices were made to Odin during blóts (Blood sacrifices to the gods). Adam of Bremen (eleventh century) relates that every ninth year, people assembled from all over Sweden to sacrifice at the Temple at Uppsala, where male slaves and males of each species were sacrificed and hanged from the branches of the trees. Sacrifices were probably also made to Odin at the beginning of summer, since Ynglinga saga states one of the great festivals of the calendar is at sumri, þat var sigrblót ("in summer, for victory"). This particular phrase is significant, as Odin is consistently referred to throughout the Norse mythos as the bringer of victory.

In addition to these prescribed sacrifices to Odin, more happenstance ritual offerings were also made in order to bring about changes in circumstances. A notable example is the sacrifice of King Víkar that is detailed in Gautrek's Saga and in Saxo Grammaticus's account of the same event. Sailors in a fleet being blown off course drew lots to sacrifice to Odin that he might abate the winds. The king himself drew the lot and was hanged. In a like manner, the sagas relate that both King Domalde and King Olof Trätälja were sacrificed to Odin after years of famine by commoners seeking a divine reprieve.

The Ynglinga saga also details the sacrifices made by the Swedish king Aun, who, it was revealed to him, would lengthen his life by sacrificing one of his sons every ten years; nine of his ten sons died this way. When he was about to sacrifice his last son Egil, the Swedes stopped him.

Finally, this understanding of "death as sacrifice" extended to the field of battle as well, where the killing of a combatant was interpreted as a sacrificial offering to Odin.[13]

Odinic Toponyms

In northern France, Audresselles (Oderzell) (a district of Marquise):

  • Audinghen (Odingham), close to Raventhun (Raventown), Tardinghen (Thordingham),
  • Loquinghen (Lokingham) and Audembert (Odinberg)

In central France (Berry):

  • Vatan (same as Wotan)

In Denmark:

  • Odense (Odins Vi, i.e. Odin's Sanctuary)

In Finland:

  • "Udensö" ("Uden's island," called alternatively "Odin's island")

In Norway:

  • Onsøy (Norse: Óđinsøy; Odin's island), name of a peninsula (and also name of a parish and a former municipality) in the county of Østfold.
  • Óđinsakr (Odin's field/acre), name of three farms (in the parishes Svinndal, Gran and Hole).
  • Óđinsvin (Odin's meadow/pasture), name of three farms (in the parishes Buvik, Byneset and Meldal).
  • Óđinsland (Odin's land), name of two farms (in the parishes Bru and Kyrkjebø).
  • Óđinssalr (Odin's hall), name of two farms (in the parishes Onsøy and Melhus).
  • Óđinshof (Odin's temple), name of a farm in the parish of Ullensaker (the names of the farms are given in the Norse form).

Modern age

Modern popular culture

With the Romantic Viking revival of the early-to-mid nineteenth century, Odin's popularity increased again. Odin (as Wotan) is one of the main protagonists of Richard Wagner's opera cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen. This depiction in particular has had influence on many subsequent fiction writers and has since resulted in varying references and allusions in multiple types of media.

Gandalf, the wizard of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, is largely based on Odin in his incarnation as "the Wanderer," an old man with one eye (though Gandalf retains both of his), a long white beard, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff. In fact, Tolkien explicitly states that he thinks of Gandalf as an "Odinic wanderer" in a letter of 1946 (Letters no. 107).

Germanic neopaganism

Odin, along with the other Germanic Gods and Goddesses, is recognized and venerated by Germanic neopagans. His Norse form is particularly acknowledged in Ásatrú, the "faith in the Aesir," an officially recognized religion in Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.


Names

The Norsemen ascribed many sobriquets to Odin, in keeping with the Norse skaldic tradition of kennings, a poetic method of indirect reference. The name Alföðr ("Allfather," "father of all") appears in Snorri Sturluson's Younger Edda, though it probably originally denoted Tyr, as it fits the pattern of referring to Sky Gods as "father."

Name
(Old Norse)		 Name
(anglicized)		 Meaning Sources (Eddaic titles italicized)
Alföðr Alfodr Allfather, Father of All Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál (48)
Atriðr Atrid Rider Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (48)
Báleygr Baleyg Flame Eye Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál (47), Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld's Hákonardrápa (6), Gísl Illugason's Erfikvæði um Magnús berfœtt (1)
Biflindi / Spear Shaker Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (49)
Bileygr Bileyg Feeble Eye or Wavering Eye Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (47), þulur
Blindi, Blindr / Blind Gylfaginning, Helgakviða Hundingsbana II (prose)
Bölverkr Bolverk Evil Worker or Evil Deed Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Hávamál (109), Grímnismál (47)
Farmaguð, Farmatýr Farmagud, Farmatyr God of Cargoes (or Burdens) Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál (48)
Fimbultýr Fimbultyr Mighty God Völuspá (60)
Fimbulþulr Fimbulthul [14] Mighty Poet (or Sage) Hávamál (80, 142)
Fjölnir Fjolnir Wise One Grímnismál (47), Reginsmál (18), Gylfaginning (3, 20), many skaldic poems, þulur
Fjölsviðr Fjolsvid, Fjolsvin Very Wise Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (47)
Gagnráðr Gagnrad Advantage Counsel Vafþrúðnismál (8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17)
Gangari, Ganglari / Wanderer or Wayweary Gylfaginning
Gangleri [15] / Wanderer or Wayweary Grímnismál (46)
Gautr Gaut Geat (a tribe of Northern Swedes) Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál (54)
Gautatýr Gautatyr God of the Northern Swedes Skáldskaparmál, Eyvindr skáldaspillir's Hákonarmál (1)
Gestumblindi / Blind Guest Hervarar saga (10), þulur
Glapsviðr Glapsvid, Glapsvin Swift in Deceit, Maddener Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (47)
Göndlir [16] Gondlir Wand Bearer Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (49)
Grímnir Grimnir Hooded, Masked One Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (introduction, 47, 49), Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld's lausavísur (9), Eilífr Goðrúnarson's Þórsdrápa (3), Húsdrápa (1), Rögnvaldr kali Kolsson's lausavísur (7), þulur
Grímr Grim Mask Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (46, 47), þulur
Hangaguð, Hangatýr Hangagud, Hangatyr God of the Hanged Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál
Haptaguð Haptagud God of Prisoners Gylfaginning
Hárbarðr Harbard Grey Beard Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (49), Hárbardsljód, þulur
Hárr Har High Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (46)
Hávi Havi High One Hávamál (109, 111, 164)
Helblindi [17] / Hel Blinder Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (46)
Herföðr, Herjaföðr Herfodr, Herjafodr Father of Hosts Gylfaginning, Völuspá (29, 43), Vafthrúdnismál (2), Grímnismál (19, 25, 26)
Herjan / Warrior Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (46)
Herteitr Herteit War-merry Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (47)
Hjálmberi Hjalmberi Helmet Bearer Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (46), þulur
Hnikarr Hnikar Overthrower Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (47), Reginsmál (18, 19)
Hnikuðr Hnikud Overthrower Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (48)
Hrafnaguð Hrafnagud Raven God Gylfaginning
Hroptr, Hroptatýr Hropt, Hroptatyr Sage[18] Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Hákonarmál (14), Úlfr Uggason's Húsdrápa (8), Hávamál (160), Grímnismál (54), Sigrdrífumál (13)
Jafnhárr Jafnhar Just as High, Equally High Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (49)
Jálg, Jálkr Jalk Gelding Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (49, 54)
Kjalarr Kjalar Keel Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál (49)
Langbarðr Langbard Long Beard þulur
Ómi Omi Shouter Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (49)
Óski Oski God of Wishes Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (49)
Saðr Sadr, Sann Truthful Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (47)
Sanngetall / Truthful Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (47)
Síðgrani Sidgrani Long Beard Alvíssmál (6)
Síðhöttr Sidhott [19] Broad Hat Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (48), þulur
Síðskeggr Sidskegg Long Beard Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (48), þulur
Sigföðr Sigfodr Father of Victory, War Father Gylfaginning, Völuspá (54), Grímnismál (48)
Sigtýr[20] Sigtyr God of Victory, War God Skáldskaparmál, Atlakviða (30), Glúmr Geirason's Gráfeldardrápa (12)
Skilfingr Skilfing Trembler Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (54)
Svipall / Changing Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (47)
Tvíblindi Tviblindi Twice Blind þulur
Þekkr Thekk Known Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (46)
Þriði Thridi Third Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál (46)
Þróttr Thrott Strength Glymdrápa (2)
Þundr Thund Thunderer Gylfaginning, Hávamál (145), Grímnismál (46, 54)
Váfuðr Vafud Wanderer Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Grímnismál (54)
Vakr Vak Wakeful Gylfaginning, Grímnismál (54)
Valföðr Valfodr Father of the Slain Gylfaginning, Völuspá (1, 27, 28), Grímnismál (48), þulur
Valgautr Valgaut Slaughter-Gaut, Gaut of the Slain Skáldskaparmál
Vegtam / Wanderer or Way-tame Baldrs draumar (6, 13)
Yggr Ygg Terrible One Gylfaginning, Skáldskaparmál, Völuspá (28), Grímnismál (53, 54)

[21]

Notes

  1. ↑ One of the major sources for depictions of these ritual practices comes from Adam of Bremen, an eleventh century cleric, chronicler, and missionary. Described in Dubois, 60; Munch, 8-9. However, given the source's definite "anti-pagan" stance, it is perhaps advisable to approach these statements with a critical mindset.
  2. ↑ These linguistic roots are also the source of the Anglo-Saxon Woden.
  3. ↑ Lindow, 6-8. Though some scholars have argued against the homogenizing effect of grouping these various traditions together under the rubric of “Norse Mythology,” the profoundly exploratory/nomadic nature of Viking society tends to overrule such objections. As Thomas DuBois cogently argues, “[w]hatever else we may say about the various peoples of the North during the Viking Age, then, we cannot claim that they were isolated from or ignorant of their neighbors…. As religion expresses the concerns and experiences of its human adherents, so it changes continually in response to cultural, economic, and environmental factors. Ideas and ideals passed between communities with frequency and regularity, leading to and interdependent and intercultural region with broad commonalities of religion and worldview.” (27-28).
  4. ↑ More specifically, Georges Dumézil, one of the foremost authorities on the Norse tradition and a noted comparitivist, argues quite persuasively that the Aesir / Vanir distinction is a component of a larger triadic division (between ruler gods, warrior gods, and gods of agriculture and commerce) that is echoed among the Indo-European cosmologies (from Vedic India, through Rome and into the Germanic North). Further, he notes that this distinction conforms to patterns of social organization found in all of these societies. See Georges Dumézil's Gods of the Ancient Northmen (especially pgs. xi-xiii, 3-25) for more details.
  5. ↑ Note: This connection with divine wisdom led many Roman philosophers and chroniclers, from Caesar and Tacitus on, to relate Odin with Mercury/Apollo. See Dumézil, 19.
  6. ↑ Turville-Petre, 63.
  7. ↑ A reference to Yggdrasil, the famed World Tree of Norse mythology. See Lindow, 248.
  8. ↑ Hávamál (strs. 138-45), quoted in Turville-Petre, 42.
  9. ↑ Dumézil, 42.
  10. ↑ See Dumézil, 19, and also Julius Caesar's de bello Gallico (6.17.1), which mentions "Mercury" as the chief god of Celtic religion.
  11. ↑ Rundkvist, Martin. 2003. Post festum. Solid gold in the Vendel Period.
  12. ↑ Paraphrase from the Prose Edda as translated by Arthur Brodeur, p. 20.
  13. ↑ DuBois, 43, 60; Turville-Pietrie, 50-55, 64-70.
  14. ↑ Also the name of a river, one of the Élivágar.
  15. ↑ Also an assumed name used by Gylfi.
  16. ↑ "Geldnir" in other manuscripts.
  17. ↑ Also the name of a brother of Loki.
  18. ↑ The meaning is disputed according to Lindow but Larrington gives the translation "Sage" in the Poetic Edda.
  19. ↑ "Sidhofr" in other manuscripts.
  20. ↑ In plural, sigtívar refers to the gods in many Eddic poems.
  21. ↑ This table reproduced (with some amendments) from Wikipedia. Also, many of these names are attested to in the Poetic Edda's Skáldskaparmál (II), (97-103 in the Brodeur edition).

Bibliography

  • DuBois, Thomas A. Nordic Religions in the Viking Age. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999. ISBN 0812217144
  • Dumézil, Georges. Gods of the Ancient Northmen. Edited by Einar Haugen; Introduction by C. Scott Littleton and Udo Strutynski. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1973. ISBN 0520020448
  • Lindow, John. Handbook of Norse mythology. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2001. ISBN 1576072177
  • Munch, P. A. Norse Mythology: Legends of Gods and Heroes. In the revision of Magnus Olsen; translated from the Norwegian by Sigurd Bernhard Hustvedt. New York: The American-Scandinavian foundation; London: H. Milford, Oxford University Press, 1926.
  • Orchard, Andy. Cassell's Dictionary of Norse Myth and Legend. London: Cassell; New York: Sterling Pub. Co., 2002. ISBN 0304363855
  • Sturlson, Snorri. The Prose Edda of Snorri Sturluson: Tales from Norse Mythology. Introduced by Sigurdur Nordal; Selected and translated by Jean I. Young. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1954. ISBN 0520012313
  • Snorri Sturluson. The Prose Edda. Translated from the Icelandic and with an introduction by Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur. New York: American-Scandinavian foundation, 1916.
  • Turville-Petre, Gabriel. Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1964.

Credits

New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:

The history of this article since it was imported to New World Encyclopedia:

Note: Some restrictions may apply to use of individual images which are separately licensed.

Retrieved from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Odin&oldid=1104401

Content is available under Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.
Copyright Logo
Powered by MediaWiki