Odin – King of the Aesir

Morgan J. Roberts

Source: ​Norse Gods and Heroes.

Of all the Norse gods, Odin was one of the most tragic and noble. He possessed a
wisdom so vast and all-encompassing that he was unable to be of good cheer, since he
was able to see forward into the future to the time of Ragnarok, when the gods and the
universe would be destroyed. He is sometimes known as Wotan or Woden, and the day
Wednesday is named after him.

He was typically characterized as the spirit of the universe itself, the god of the wisdom
that comes with age, and the protector of warriors whose hearts are true and
courageous. He was also thought to be somewhat connected with the few summer
months of the north. During these short periods every year Odin was thought to rule.
During the longer periods of winter Odin relinquished his rule to Uller, the god of
winter.

Odin was one of the original gods, the sons of Bor, and therefore nearly all the other
gods of Asgard are in some way descended from him; hence his other name, Allfather,
Odin was the son of Bor and the giantess Bestla and is usually depicted as a
distinguished old man with a wide-brimmed, floppy hat concealing his face in shadows.
From Hildskialf, his throne, he was able to view the entirety of the nine worlds and
witness the goings-on of man and god alike. His second but most beloved wife, Frigga,
was the only other being who was allowed to sit upon Hildskialf.

Odin had two other wives besides Frigga. His first wife was named Jord, or Erda. She
was the offspring of the Primordial Chaos surrounding Ginnungagap and an unknown
giantess. With her Odin produced Thor, his mightiest child. His third wife was named
Rinda. She represented the barren, cold earth of winter and only begrudgingly allowed
Odin to be with her for a short time every year. During this time the land warmed and
the brief northern summer occurred. With Rinda, Odin produced a son, Vali. Vali was
one of the few gods to survive Ragnarok, and figured prominently in the story of the
death of Baldur, the god of light and truth.

Odin is usually shown holding his magnificent spear, Gungnir, and wearing the
armband Draupnir, which self-replicated every seven days. Respectively, these objects
symbolize Odin’s strength and fertility. Perched atop Odin’s shoulder could be found the
two ravens Hugin and Munin, their names meaning “thought” and “Memory,”
respectively. They were Odin’s far-reaching eyes and ears. Every day they left their lord,
scouring the world for any news that the king of the Aesir might have overlooked.
Odin also had two wolves familiar to him, Geri and Freki. Symbolizing the innate
hunting instinct of their master, these two wolves received every scrap of meat that was
set before Odin. Odin himself refrained from eating, his only sustenance being the
wonderful mead, or honey wine, that was served in Valhalla, the hall of the chosen slain.
When Odin found it essential to leave Asgard he rode his eight-legged horse Sleipnir, the
offspring of Loki and Svadilfari. Sleipnir was the fastest horse in the nine worlds.

On Midgard Odin’s furious spirit of battle was said to possess a certain type of warrior
called a berserk. The name comes from the fact that these warriors wore bearskin shirts
into battle instead of armor, believing that mighty Odin would shield them from all
harm. They fought in insane rages, slashing at anything that might come their way,
including members of their own clan, or boulders and trees if nothing else was around.
Their fearlessness ans shear brutality made them formidable enemies, and their undying
ferocity endeared them to Odin.