Odin (Old Norse: Óðinn) is supreme god in Norse mythology (the greatest of pagan idols). Odin is endowed with the most varied characteristics of all gods and is not only deity consulted when war is prepared, but also god of poetry, dead, runes and magic. As leader of gods, he is divine archetype of ruler. Odin has his own throne in hall of Valhalla, located in Asgard - one of the Nine Worlds in Norse mythology. Most of all, he thirsts for knowledge - about his enemies and future - and to get it, he turns to shamans, seers and necromancers. He speaks in poetry and riddles and commands animals, sometimes even taking their form. Some historians suggest that mythical war of Aesir and Vanir reflected real historical conquest of Northern Europe. Beginning in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, local fertility cults were supplanted by advances of more warlike Germanic tribes. In this context, Odin's popularity and importance becomes clearer. Being both a warrior and a magician, Odin became a deity who uniquely bridged the differences between two cultures. His favorites are Valkyries - winged female warriors who decided fate of all who fought in battles, and berserkers - warriors who, according to legend, were intoxicated with a frantic thirst for blood of Odin. He maintains particularly close connections with other “shamanic warriors,” whose martial techniques and associated spiritual practices focus on achieving a state of ecstatic union with certain ferocious totem animals, usually wolves or bears, and, by extension, with Odin himself, lord of such beasts. These warriors are known as Einherjar - they become Odin's striking force against encroaching forces of underworld during Ragnarok. Shaman usually must undergo a ritual death and rebirth to gain his powers, and Odin passed just such a test when he discovered runes. Due to his knowledge of runes as well as magic of seidr (seiðr), he is also god of poetry and is considered the most skillful and most knowledgeable of all gods when it comes to this skill. He stole honey of poetry from giants, original source of ability to speak and write beautifully and convincingly, and since then he has been distributing it to individual gods, people and other creatures whom he considers worthy of this gift. Odin gained knowledge of runes through a heroic act of self-sacrifice. He hanged himself on Yggdrasil, world tree that stood at the center of created universe, whose branches supported nine worlds. Hanging on a tree, Odin fasted for nine days and nights, piercing himself with a spear, and thus sacrificed himself. (Fine Art Photography. Created in July 2024).
