Allfather Wotan / Wodan / Odin - Poster, Art Print

He is the chief god of the Æsir, the highest and first deity, god of poetry, knowledge, magic, and god of the sky, war, and the dead. As a storm god, he is the leader of Wuotan's army.

Odin, the discoverer of the runes, god of runic wisdom and patron god of the skalds. Odin, the Allfather, son of Bor and the giantess Bestla.

 

Together with his brothers Hönir and Lodur, Odin created the first human couple, Ask and Embla, and gave them souls. He sits on his throne Hlidskjalf in the hall Valaskjalf in the divine fortress Asgard and can observe the whole world from there. He is all-seeing in what is said and done. At Odin's side are the ravens Hugin (Thought) and Munin (Memory), who return every morning from their journey to report news from the world to Odin. He is also accompanied by the two wolves Geri (Greedy) and Freki (Voracious). With his eight-legged stallion Sleipnir, he rides against the powers of darkness!

Odin pledges his eye to his uncle Mimir to be allowed to drink the mead Odrörir from the well of truth. He owes his wealth to his golden ring Draupnir, from which eight more rings drip every nine days.

In battle, he relies on the spear Gungnir, which never misses its target.

Odin's mythical wife is Frigg, whose Old German name Frija is identical to the Norse name of the Vanir goddess Freyja. Frigg is also identified with Freyja in the Edda. His wife bore him the sons Thor, Balder, and Tyr.

Thus, Odin is not only the god of the fallen in Valhalla but generally the leader of the dead, as expressed by the older myth of the Wild Hunt, in which all spirits of the dead ride through the night under Odin's leadership.

His retinue consists of 13 spirit warrior women, the Valkyries (Valkyrjar), and the souls of fallen warriors, the Einherjar, who reside in Valhalla (Hall of the Fallen).

This splendid hall stood in Gladsheim, in front of it the grove Glasir, whose trees bore golden leaves. Above the main door of the hall, which was so high that its gable could hardly be seen, hung a wolf as a symbol of war, and above it an eagle. The hall itself, covered with shields over spear shafts, had 540 doors, through each of which 800 Einherjar passed when it came to the great battle with the Fenris wolf (The warriors gathered for Ragnarök).

For these brave ones, who came to Odin after death on the battlefield, he was destined. Under Odin's leadership, the Valkyries generously poured out the mead.