odin

=Odin= = = Odin is a Norse god. Norse mythology was created in the northern most part of Europe. These are countries like Scandinavia, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway. He is seen as the lead god and is the only one who lives through the apocalypse myth so that he can create the new earth. Odin's wife is Frigg, and he has three sons named Thor, Baldr, and Váli. He is also depicted as the god of poetry, war, wisdom, hunting, battle, death, magic, prophecy, and victory. He is usually seen in images of him holding a spear or an axe. He is also often seen with his left eye missing. In one myth he sacrifices his left eye to gain wisdom. Odin also has a hall known as Valhalla which holds the people who died in battle. They were supposed to stay there until the end of the world where they were supposed to fight for Odin in Ragnarok, the final battle. Odin doesn't only have one name. He is also called Alfadr, which means all father, Yggr, or terror, Sigfodr, or Father of Victory, Herjafodr, or Father of Hosts, Aldafodr, or Father of Men/Age, and Valfodr, or Father of the slain. Odin is often associated with ravens and wolves. This is because he has a wolf on each side of him and a raven on each shoulder. The raven's names are Hugin, which means thought, and Munin, which means memory. His wolves names are Geri and Freki. Odin is associated with Santa Claus because he would ride an eight legged horse named Slepneir on Yule, a Germanic Pagan holiday. He would be referred to on that day as Sidgrani, Sidskeggr, Langbardr (all meaning long beard), and Jolnir (meaning Yule figure).

Sources: @http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin @http://heathengods.com/temple/modules/articles/article.php?id=21 @http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Ni-Pa/Norse-Mythology.html