10 characteristics of Odin, the Norse god

The characteristics of Odin is that he was the supreme god of Norse mythology, he has the ability to see the future, to transform, he has an invincible spear... We tell you in a Teacher!

Like any great pantheon, the Norse had numerous gods, some with greater relevance and others with little presence, but among all of them one god stood out, this being Odin. This gods was the main god of norse beliefs, having a great participation within the myths of these beliefs. For all this and to get to know it better, in this lesson from a Teacher we are going to talk about the main features of odin.

odin he was one of the main norse and scandinavian gods and, for many, he was the most important god of all. He was considered the king of the gods, since it was said that he ruled over the rest of the deities and especially over those who inhabited Asgard. Also, he was called the father of all, since his great power and wisdom made him a kind of father figure to everyone.

Odin's relevance was not only for the gods, since he was also a

very important deity for human beings. It is said that it was Odin who he created the first couple of human beings, called Ask and Embla, so we can say that the human race is born from it. Odin was also united with human beings when they reached their end, since it is said that warriors who died in combat were taken to the Valhalla, where they would wait until Odin needed an army at Ragnarok.

Odin is one of the main Nordic deities, and therefore one of the most recognized and that has a greater role in Western culture. His role in most Norse myths has made him considered the most important god, possessing a Zeus-like role in Greek mythology.

Discover the main characteristics of norse mythology.

To get to know Odin, first of all we must understand what his figure was like, since this will help us to be able to differentiate him from other gods of the Norse culture, and at the same time see how he resembles the gods of other mythologies.

The main characteristics of Odin on a physical level are the following:

• Odin is depicted as a man of advanced age, having many wrinkles due to his age. He is also often depicted with a very long and gray beard, almost totally white.
• He had only one eye since the myths say that Odin sacrificed one of his eyes to the Spring of Mimir in order to obtain eternal wisdom as a reward for the sacrifice.
• The sources speak of Odin being a very tall person, much more than an average person. The reason for this height seems to be that the god could have greater authority by being larger.
• As for his clothing, it is often said that he wears a big hat and a big hooded cloak, which he uses to hide his face in most situations.
• He is often shown wearing a cape or hood that partially hides his face. The idea is that the clothes serve to appear as a mysterious and enigmatic figure.

To continue with this lesson on the main characteristics of Odin, we must talk about his main attributes, in order to understand what his main abilities were. For all this, the main attributes of Odin were the following:

• Odin is considered the supreme god of knowledge and wisdom, it is said that since he gave his eye in the Spring of Mimir he has the knowledge of the whole world, being therefore the wisest being that exists.
• Odin is known the norse god of magic thus being able to use this talent. It is said that Odin was the person who created the runes, these being the symbols used to create and modify magic.
• Odin is known for his ability to see the future and know the destinations of humans and gods. It is not clear if this ability was obtained thanks to Mimir or if it is something typical of Odin for being the god of divination.
• He has two ravens named Huginn and Muninn, which are released into the world so that they can collect all the information possible, being a kind of eyes of the king of the gods.
• Like his sons, Odin is considered a God of War, being one of the deities to which the Nordic soldiers entrust their lives when going into battle. It is said that it is Odin who welcomes the fallen in combat, taking them to Valhalla.
• odin was the god of poetry and creativity, so he was a deity closely linked to literary creation. It is said that it was he who created the epic poetry that was so important to recount the exploits of the Nordic heroes.
• he had attributions related to the dead, since it was he who decided if someone went to Valhalla or if his life after death went another way.
• Odin, like other gods of the characteristics of him as Zeus, he had the ability to transform in different beings, animals or even objects. This is why his appearances in myths are not always in the form of an old man.
• odin He has a spear called Gungnir, which is considered invincible, since myths say that it is the most powerful weapon in all mythology.
• Count with one eight-legged horse named Sleipnir, it is said that he is the fastest horse and is even able to pass between the various worlds that make up the Nordic universe.