Odin, the all-father.

As mentioned before, the birth of Odin happened very early in Norse mythology. Odin was born from a union of a Man named Borr and a Giantess named Bestla. Together with his brothers usually named Villi and Vé he created the world and placed humankind here. However Odin is seen as the all-father for many more reasons. We shall explore those reasons here! 

Odin as all-father had many companions. The more famous ones are his two Ravens, Huginn and Muninn, meaning thought and memory. On the daily both Huginn and Muninn soared out to the world in pursuit of, you’ve guessed it, the thoughts and memories of the inhabitants of Midgard. Nevertheless it was never enough and thus after a while, Huginn and Muninn flew out at night. Thus the raven became black. 

Then there are Geri and Freki, Odin’s wolves. Odin, who never ate and only consumed wine, gave his food to these wolves. Even though wolves are mentioned often in viking norse mythology very little is actually known about both Geri and Freki.

Frigg (Edda) or Frigga (Gesta Danorum) is one of the first of the Aesir. She is the wife of Odin, and I guess you can say All-Mother. Frigg stood for marriage and motherhood. Also prophecy. Only Frigg, like Odin, is the only of the Aesir that is allowed to sit on the throne Hlidskjalf. 

Odin appears in a lot of the saga’s and also in more popular shows such as the show Vikings. He never appears under the same name. For example, in Vikings he has the appearance as Harbard, which would mean something as greybeard. This is also described in the saga Grímnismál or Hárbardsljód. Another of the popular names is Havi, meaning High one. This name is used for Odin in the popular video game Assassins Creed: Valhalla. but also in the Hávamál. Thus often he is mentioned in the sagas, yet almost never directly as Odin himself.

Obviously we have to talk about Valhalla, the hall of the slain. This mighty hall with five hundred and fifty doors, a thatch roof with shields spanning the entire length and mail armor covering the benches. It is said to believe that you will only reach Valhalla when you are slain in combat. Thus only fifty percent of the warriors will ever make it to Valhalla. Valkyries chose the slain combatants for Freyja, exactly fifty percent and the other will go to Valhalla. There the warriors fight one another in the courtyard and dine in the evening. Everyday they will come back to life and the cycle repeats itself. On the day of Ragnarök those warriors in Valhalla, known as Einherjar, will march out of the gates of Valhalla, exactly five hundred per door and fight.

Odin had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Thus the stories mention him setting out to the well of knowledge. This well, known as Mimisbrunnr, lies beneath the world tree Yggdrasil, exactly where. once the Ginnungapap was. This well was the source of all knowledge in the world. Guarded by the being Mimir, who drank from the well daily, Odin asked for just one single sip. Tho he did not get it unless he gave up one of his eyes as a pledge. Thus Odin gave him that eye, becoming the one eyed god as we know him.