Thorskegga has started a series of paintings depicting the gods worshipped by the Anglo-Saxon and Norse settlers in England. The mucky brown colour is gold on the original but our scanner can't cope with it. Black and white versions of these pictures have been used for the covers of Thunder and the Wain.
For an explanation of the symbolism, ravens are sacred to Woden as god of battle, myths tell of him learning wisdom through self sacrifice on an ash tree. Woden's magical spear and the riding Valkyrie are also symbolic of power over the battlefield. The crowns are from the tradition of Woden being the father of the English royal family as well as several other royal dynasties. The three horns symbol is from a Scandinavian rune stone and has been attributed to Odin. The runestone is linked to Woden's role as god of the dead. He wears the ring of wealth mentioned in the Norse Eddas.
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