Óðin is the chief god of the Æsir. He is the god of wisdom,
poetry, and battles, as well as a patron of warriors, rulers, and poets. He goes
by many names: Óðin, Wodan, Wotan, Alföðr ("Father of All"), Valföðr ("Father of
the Slain"), Hangaguð ("God of the Hanged"), Hár ("High One"), Grímr ("Hooded
One"), Svipall ("Changeable"), Báleygr ("Firey-eyed"), Bölverkr ("Evil Doer"),
Viðurr ("Destroyer"), and Yggr ("Terror") to list only a few. He was also the
creator of the first man and woman.
His hall in Valhöll (Valhalla) is called Valaskjálf, and
His throne is Hliðskjálf. From here, Óðin can see everything that happens in the
9 worlds. He also has two ravens, Huginn ("Thought") and Muninn ("Memory"), who
fly out every morning, travel through the 9 worlds, and return at night with
reports on what has happened that day. Besides His birds, He also has two
wolves, Geri and Fekri, and an eight-legged horse called Sleipnir. With Sleipnir,
He can travel anywhere, as the horse can travel throughout the nine worlds with
ease, even through the air.
Óðin is often pictures as an old man with a long grey
beard. He is generally seen wearing either a winged helmet or a floppy hat, and
usually wears a blue-grey cloak. He carries a spear, called Gungnir that never
misses its mark, and a bow that releases 10 arrows with each pull. He also has a
magick ring, Draupnir, that creates 9 of itself every night.
Óðin places great value on knowledge and wisdom. In fact,
He not only sacrificed an eye for a drink from Mimir's well, but also hung
Himself on Yggdrasil for nine days to gain the wisdom and power of the runes. He
also learned seiðr from Freya, even though it's a rather effeminate magick and
is probably the root of another of His names – Jálkr ("Gelding").
The half of the slain warriors (Einheriar) that do not go
with Freya are taken to Valhöll with the Valkyries, who serve the warriors mead
and meat. The mead flows eternally from Óðin's goat, Heidrun, and the meat is
provided by a boar named Sæhrimnir. The cook, Andrhrimnir, boils the boar meat
in a caldron – Eldhrimnir – before each meal, the warriors feast, and then go
out to battle with each other. These battles are practice for when they must
battle alongside Óðin at Ragnarök. Before each meal, both boar and warriors are
resurrected to start over again.
Although Óðin can be generous with both treasures and wise
counsel, He can also be devious and unreliable. It is not unheard of for Him to
break a ring oath, the most sacred of Norse oaths. It is also common for Him to
revoke His favor from a warrior in the heat of battle, usually resulting in the
warrior's death. His reasoning for this is that He "needs the best warriors at
His side during Ragnarök". Many times He has proven untrustworthy, and is
regarded more with respect for His position and authority, rather than with
Love. He is, however, a valiant warrior, Himself. Despite the knowledge that He
was destined to die at Ragnarök, He fought, nobly, and was eaten by Fenrir.
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