Template:Norse infobox
Óðinn
Óðinn, anglicised as Odin or Woden is the chief ruler of the gods and leader of the Æsir (the main pantheon of deities) in Norse mythology.[1] He is a god associated with war, wisdom, sovereignty, magic, shamanism, poetry, and the dead. Odin is compared to Mercury by Tacitus.
Etymology
His name came from Old Norse "Óðinn", Old English "Wôden", Old Saxon "Wôdan", Old High German "Wôtan" which all came from Proto-Germanic "*Wōđanaz" which means "Master of Ecstacy". His name is also related to "Óðr" which means "Divine Madness", "frantic", "furious", "vehement", "eager", as a noun "mind, feeling" and also "song, poetry"; Orchard (1997) gives "the frenzied one."
Names
| Name (Old Norse) | Name (Anglicised) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aldaföðr | Aldafodr | Father of men |
| Aldagautr | - | Gautr of men |
| Alföðr | Alfodr/Allfather | Father of all |
| Algingautr | - | The aged Gautr |
| Angan Friggjar | - | Delight of Frigga |
| Arnhöfði | Arnhofdi | Eagle head |
| Atriðr | Atridr | Attacking rider |
| Asagrim | - | Lord of the Aesir |
| Auðun | Audun | Friend of wealth |
| Bági ulfs | - | Enemy of the wolf |
| Baldrsfaðr | Baldrsfadr | Baldr's father |
| Báleygr | - | Flaming eye |
| Biflindi | - | Spear shaker/Shield shaker |
| Bileygr | - | Flashing eye |
| Blindr | - | Blind |
| Brúni | - | Brown/Bear |
| Böðgæðir | Bodgaedir | Battle enhancer |
| Bölverkr | Bolverkr | Bale-worker/Evil-worker |
| Bróðir Vilis | Brodir Vilis | Vili's brother |
| Burr Bors | - | Borr's son |
| Darraðr | Darradr | Spearman |
| Draugadróttinn | - | Lord of the undead |
| Ennibrattr | - | High forehead/Straight forehead |
| Eylúðr | - | The ever-booming |
| Faðmbyggvir Friggjar | Fadmbyggvir Friggjar | Dweller in Frigg's embrace |
| Faðr galdr | Fadr galdr | Father of magical songs |
| Farmagnuðr | Farmagnudr | Journey enhancer |
| Farmaguð | Farmagud | God of cargo |
| Farmr arma Gunnlaðar | Farmr arma Gunnladr | Burden of Gunnlöð's arms |
| Fengr | - | Fetcher |
| Fimbultýr | - | Mighty god |
| Fimbulþulr | Fimbulthuler | Mighty thuler |
| Fjallgeiguðr | Fjallgeigudr | Shap-shifting god |
| Fjölnir | Fjolnir | Wise one |
| Fjölsviðr | Fjolsvidr | Very wise |
| Foldardróttinn | Foldardrottinn | Lord of the Earth |
| Forni | - | Ancient one |
| Fráríðr | Frarifdr | One who rides forth |
| Frumverr Friggjar | - | First husband of Frigg |
| Galdraföðr | Galdrafodr | Father of magical songs |
| Gangari/Ganglari | - | Wanderer/Wayweary one |
| Gapþrosnir | Gapthrosnir | The one in the gaping frenzy |
| Gautatýr | - | God of the Geats |
| Geirlöðnir | - | Spear inviter |
| Geirölnir | - | Spear charger |
| Geirtýr | - | Spear god |
| Geirvaldr | - | Spear master |
| Gestumblindi | - | Blind guest |
| Glapsviðr | Glapsvidr | Swift trickery/Swift in deceit/Maddener/Wise in magical spells |
| Goði hrafnblóts | Godi hrafnblots | Goði of raven offerings |
| Goðjaðarr | Godjadarr | God protector |
| Göllnir/Göllungr | - | Yeller |
| Göndlir | - | Wand-bearer |
| Gramr Hliðskjálfar | Gramr Hlidskjalfar | King of the Hliðskjálf |
| Grímnir | - | Hooded one |
| Gunnblindi | - | Battle blinder |
| Hagvirkr | - | Skillful worker |
| Hangadróttinn | - | Lord of the hanged |
| Hangatýr | - | God of the hanged |
Background
According to the fourth verse of the poem Voluspa on the Poetic Edda, Borr is the father of Odin, his mother being Bestla. Odin also has two brothers, Vili and Ve.
He is depicted as tall, old, and wise. He has a long white beard, and he broods deeply over the mysteries of life and death.[2] He sacrificed his eye in his youth to drink the magic mead from the Well of Mimir.[3] Odin is said to summon kings and heroes who die in battle to Valhalla, where they spent their time feasting and fighting, ready to defend Asgard in the event of attack.[4] Odin teaches that there must be self-sacrifice so that wisdom and power may be obtained.[5]
Odin is killed by the wolf Fenrir at the end of the world. His son Vidar rips the wolf apart, avenging his father's death.
Odin was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins on the 2011's Marvel Entertainment's feature film Thor.[6]
Equipment
Gungnir
In Old Norse, it means "the swaying one." It is the lance of the god Odin. It is made of Yggdrasil's sacred ash and Odin wrote his magic runes on its tip. According to Prose Edda, it was created by the Dvergr known as the Sons of Ivaldi under supervision of the master blacksmith dvergr Dvalin. It is described as a lance that is so well balanced that it never misses and will always strike its target when thrown, regardless of the skill and strength of the wielder.
Crossbow
It was also said that Odin had a crossbow that could fire ten arrows at once, each hitting separate targets.
Draupnir
From Old Norse which means "The Dripper," it is a gold ring worn by Odin. It has the ability to multiply itself by letting eight new rings 'drip' from it every ninth night, each one of the same size and weight as the original. It was forged by the dvergr brothers Brokkr and Eitri.
Sleipnir
From Old Norse which means "The Slipper," it is a grey eight-legged horse owned by the god Odin. It is identified as the best of all horses. It was given to him by Loki.
Huginn and Munnin
Huginn came from Old Norse which means "Thought", while Munnin means "Memory" or "Mind." They are a pair of ravens that fly all around the world to bring information back to Odin.
Hliðskjálf
It is the high seat or throne of Odin which allows him to see through all realms.
In Popular Culture
Portrayal
In Video Games
Family
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See Also
External Links
http://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/the-aesir-gods-and-goddesses/odin/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin
Notes
References
- World Mythology by Roy Willis
- TEUTONIC MYTH AND LEGEND by Donald A. Mackenzie