Odin

Odin
Odinian, Odinic, Odinitic, adj.Odinism, n.Odinist, n.
/oh"din/, n. Scand. Myth.
the ruler of the Aesir and god of war, poetry, knowledge, and wisdom; Wotan: the chief god.
Also, Othin.
[ < ON Othinn; c. OE Woden, OS Woden, OHG Wuotan; see WODEN]

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One of the principal Norse gods.

A war god from earliest times, Odin appeared in Scandinavian heroic literature as the protector of heroes. Fallen warriors were believed to join him in Valhalla. Odin was the great magician among the gods and was associated with runic writing. His eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, could gallop through the air and over the sea. Odin was usually depicted as a tall old man with a flowing beard and only one eye (the other he gave in exchange for wisdom); he wore a cloak and a wide-brimmed hat and carried a spear. The wolf and the raven were dedicated to him.

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▪ Norse deity
also called  Wodan,  Woden , or  Wotan 

      one of the principal gods in Norse mythology. His exact nature and role, however, are difficult to determine because of the complex picture of him given by the wealth of archaeological and literary sources. The Roman historian Tacitus stated that the Teutons worshiped Mercury; and because dies Mercurii (“Mercury's day”) was identified with Wednesday (“Woden's day”), there is little doubt that the god Woden (the earlier form of Odin) was meant. Though Woden was worshiped preeminently, there is not sufficient evidence of his cult to show whether it was practiced by all the Teutonic tribes or to enable conclusions to be drawn about the nature of the god. Later literary sources, however, indicate that at the end of the pre-Christian period Odin was the principal god in Scandinavia.

      From earliest times Odin was a war god, and he appeared in heroic literature as the protector of heroes; fallen warriors joined him in Valhalla. The wolf and the raven were dedicated to him. His magical horse, Sleipnir, had eight legs, teeth inscribed with runes, and the ability to gallop through the air and over the sea. Odin was the great magician among the gods and was associated with runes. He was also the god of poets. In outward appearance he was a tall, old man, with flowing beard and only one eye (the other he gave in exchange for wisdom). He was usually depicted wearing a cloak and a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a spear.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Odin — Odin, IL U.S. village in Illinois Population (2000): 1122 Housing Units (2000): 485 Land area (2000): 1.010057 sq. miles (2.616035 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.010057 sq. miles (2.616035 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Odín — Odín, dios principal de la mitología escandinava. Ocupa un lugar similar al del Zeus de la mitología griega dado su carácter de cabeza de familia y líder de los demás dioses. Se lo describe como un anciano de barba blanca, tuerto, con dos cuervos …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • ODIN — ODIN, ÓDHINN, WOTAN ou WODEN Le principal dieu ase de la mythologie scandinave s’appelle Odin et il est bien attesté également (Wotan) dans tout le domaine germanique continental et anglo saxon (Woden). Il a donné son nom au mercredi (island.,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Odin, IL — U.S. village in Illinois Population (2000): 1122 Housing Units (2000): 485 Land area (2000): 1.010057 sq. miles (2.616035 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.010057 sq. miles (2.616035 sq. km) FIPS …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

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  • odin — odin·ic; odin·ism; odin·ist; …   English syllables

  • Odin — O din, prop. n. [Icel. ?; prob.akin to E. wood, a. See {Wednesday}.] (Northern Mythol.) The supreme deity of the Scandinavians; the same as {Woden}, of the German tribes. [1913 Webster] There in the Temple, carved in wood, The image of great Odin …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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