Odin

Óðinn

One-eyed Allfather of the Norse gods: wanderer, seeker of wisdom, poetry and runes

Odin (Óðinn, the Allfather) is chief of the Æsir in Old Norse tradition, a one-eyed wanderer who trades comfort for understanding. Devotees believe he gave an eye at Mímir's well to drink from wisdom, and that in the Hávamál he hung nine nights on a windswept tree to win the secrets of the runes. People turn to him for wisdom, poetry, magic, and as protector of heroes. Wednesday is "Woden's day", and the Old English Woden and German Wuotan or Wotan are related but separate strands.

Today he is honoured in living Heathenry, including Ásatrú and Forn Sed, at seasonal feasts such as Winter Nights, Yule and Sigrblót. Most of his stories were written down in the 13th century, in the Prose Edda, the Poetic Edda and Ynglinga saga. The community is divided, and inclusive groups such as The Troth reject any use of Germanic religion for racism.

See the gallery

Georg von Rosen - Oden som vandringsman, 1886 (Odin, the Wanderer), 1886date QS:P571,+1886-00-00T00:00:00Z/9. Wikimedia Commons (public domain), Georg von Rosen

How to recognise Odin

Old wandererA tall, old man with a long, flowing grey beard and a weathered, watchful face, never young and never clean-shaven.
One eyeHe has a single eye, because he gave the other for a drink from Mímir's well of wisdom.
Broad hat and cloakIn his wanderer guise he wears a wide-brimmed hat and long cloak, and an Icelandic tale describes a one-eyed rider in a wide hat and blue cloak.
Spear GungnirHis spear Gungnir, one of his main attributes, is shown as a plain, straight spear with a leaf-shaped head.
Ravens Huginn and MuninnTwo ravens, Thought and Memory, perch on his shoulders after flying across the world to report back to him, and they are among his strongest identifying marks.
Wolves Geri and FrekiTwo wolves, his companions, usually lie or sit at his feet.
Ring DraupnirA plain gold arm-ring may mark Draupnir, which drips new rings every ninth night.
SleipnirIn some images he rides Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse that can cross every realm.

Names and titles

The Allfather'All-Father', a common title for Odin as chief of the gods
Wanderer in the Broad HatHis traveller guise: a wide-brimmed hat, a cloak and a spear
Keeper of Thought and MemoryHuginn ('thought') and Muninn ('memory') fly out each day and report back to him
Gave an Eye for WisdomHe gave one eye to Mímir to drink from the well of wisdom
Master of YuleJólnir, one of his many names, links him to the midwinter feast