BASIC INFORMATION ON ODIN


by Phil Woodward

Odin by Thorskegga Thorn

DIVINE RACE

Aesir


MAIN INFLUENCES


APPEARANCE

Odin is generally pictured as either an elderly man with long grey beard, midnight blue cloak,staff and with a wide brimmed hat covering his missing eye,as a wanderer, or else fully armored and carrying his spear, ready for war.

HOLY DAY

Wednesday

IMMEDIATE FAMILY

THE NAMES OF ODIN

Odin has more eke-names than any other God (170 according to Simek) they include; Odin, Odhinn, Othinn, Woden, Wodan, Wotan, Votan, Uuodan, as well as the title-names and kennings; Aldafodr, aldagautr, aldingautr, alfodr, arnhofdi, atridi, atridr, audun, baleygr, biflindi, bileygr, bjorn, blindi, blindr, bolverk, bolverkr, bragi, bruni, brunn, darradr, dorrudr, draugadrottin, ennibrattr, eyludr, farmagud, farmatyr, farmognudr, fengr, fimbultyr, fimulthulr, fjolnir, fjolsvidr, forni, fornolvir, fraridr, fundinn, gagnradr, gagnrad, gangleri, gangradr, gapthosnir, gauti, gautr, geigudr, geirvaldr, geirtyr, geirlodnir, gestr, gestumblindi, ginmarr, gizurr, glapsvidr, godjadarr, gollnir, gollor, gollungr, gondlir, grimnir, grimr, gunnar, gunnblindi, hagvirkr, hangagud, hangatyr, hangi, haptagud, haptsoenir, har, havi, helblindi, herfoder, herjafoder, hergautr, herjan, herran, herteir, hertyr, hildolf, hjalmberi, hjarrandi, hlefreyr, hnikarr, hnikudr, hoarr, hovi, hrafnass, hrammi, hrani, hrjotr, hropatyr, hroptr, hrossharsgrani, hvatmodr, hvedrungr, itreker, jafnhar, jalfadr, jalfodr, jalgr, jalkr, jarngrimr, jolfr, jolnir, jormunr, karl, kjalarr, langbardr, lodungr, njotr, odr, ofnir, olgr, omi, oski, raudgrani, reidartyr, sanngetall, sannr, sadr, sidgrani, sidhottr, sidskeggr, sigdir, sigfadir, siggautr, sigmundr, sigrhofundr, sigrunnr, sigthror, sigtryggr, sigtyr, skollvaldr, svafnir, sveigdir, svidrir, svidurr, svipall, svolnir, thekkr, thrasarr, thridi, thriggi, thror, throttr, thrundr, thundr, thunnr, thudr, tveggi, tviblindi, unnr, udr, vafodr, vafudr, vakr, valfodr, valgautr, valkjosandi, valtamr, valtyr, valthrognir, vegtamr, veratyr, vidrir, vidfraegr, vidhrimnir, vidhurr, vingnir, vofudr, yggr, yrungr.

Odin with Torc by Phil Woodward

TREASURES

The Spear Gungnir, made by Ivaldi's sons the blacksmith dwarves, said to have Runes carved into the tip.

The Horse Sleipnir, Odins Eight-legged horse, the best horse of all the Gods.

The Ring Draupnir, which reproduces itself nine times every nine days

The Runes, Odin "discovered" the Runes through a self sacrificial ritual.

SACRED BEASTS

Hugin and Munnin, (thought and memory) The two Ravens who fly over the nine worlds each day and return to tell Odin all events each evening.

Freki and Geri The two wolves to whom Odin gives all the food served to him, prefering to drink only wine.

Odin is also associated with Horses, Snakes and Eagles.

STAR LORE

Odin is associated with Ursa Major which was known as Wodens Wagon

HOLY PLANTS

Ash tree, Yggdrsil (yggs horse) the world tree is usually depicted as an ash tree.

Yew tree, assotiated with death

Odin is also assotiated with the 'Nine herbs charm' which are generally accepted as being; Crab apple, mugwort, plantain, stune (lambs cress),chervil, fennel, chamomile, nettle, and attorlothe,( either cockspur grass or betony )

HALLS

Gladsheim, The Hall of Joy.

Vallhall, the hall of the slain, home of the Einherar, until the battle of Ragnarok.

Valaskjalf, where Odins throne Hlidskjalf sits.

Dragon and Valknut by Jim Kirkwood

SYMBOLS

The Valknut, the three interlocked triangles , the Knot of the Slain which binds his servants to him.

The Spear, with the Runes either graven on the tip or along the shaft

The Ring, Odin owns the ring Draupnir.

REFERENCES


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