Odin is an ambivalent deity; Old Norse (Viking Age) connotations of Odin lie with "poetry, inspiration" as well as with "fury, madness": Several myths do associate Odin with wisdom and poetry. Odin left his eye in the purifying waters of Mimir's spring for wisdom. Odin gives to worthy poets the mead of inspiration from the vessel Óð-rœrir.[1] Odin is associated with the concept of the Wild Hunt, a noisy, bellowing movement across the sky, leading a host of the sl ...

See also:

Odin, Odin - Characteristics, Odin - Origins, Odin - Seid, Odin - Blót, Odin - Edda, Odin - Attributes, Odin - Names, Odin - Odin and Jesus, Odin - Persisting beliefs in Odin, Odin - Modern age, Odin - Modern popular culture, Odin - Germanic neopaganism, Odin - Notes, Odin - Literature

Read more here: » Odin: Encyclopedia II - Odin - Characteristics

The goddess Freyja is described as an adept of the mysteries of seid (shamanism), a völva, and it is said that it was she who initiated Odin into its mysteries. In Lokasenna, Loki verbally abuses Odin for practising seid, condemning it as a unmanly art. A justification for this may be found in the Ynglinga saga where Snorri opines that in following the practice of seid, the practitioner was rendered unmanly. Another explanation is that its manipulative aspects ran counter to the male ideal o ...

See also:

Odin, Odin - Characteristics, Odin - Origins, Odin - Seid, Odin - Blót, Odin - Edda, Odin - Attributes, Odin - Names, Odin - Odin and Jesus, Odin - Persisting beliefs in Odin, Odin - Modern age, Odin - Modern popular culture, Odin - Germanic neopaganism, Odin - Notes, Odin - Literature

Read more here: » Odin: Encyclopedia II - Odin - Seid

It is attested in primary sources that sacrifices were made to Odin during blóts. Adam of Bremen relates that every ninth year, people assembled from all over Sweden to sacrifice at the Temple at Uppsala. Male slaves and males of each species were sacrificed and hanged from the branches of the trees. As the Swedes had the right not only to elect king but also to depose a king, the sagas relate that both king Domalde and king Olof Trätälja were sacrificed to Odin after years of famine. It has been argued that the killing of a combat ...

See also:

Odin, Odin - Characteristics, Odin - Origins, Odin - Seid, Odin - Blót, Odin - Edda, Odin - Attributes, Odin - Names, Odin - Odin and Jesus, Odin - Persisting beliefs in Odin, Odin - Modern age, Odin - Modern popular culture, Odin - Germanic neopaganism, Odin - Notes, Odin - Literature

Read more here: » Odin: Encyclopedia II - Odin - Blót

According to the Prose Edda, Odin was a son of Bestla and Borr and brother of Vé and Vili and together with these brothers he cast down the frost giant Ymir and created the world from Ymir's body. The three brothers are often mentioned together. "Wille" is the German word for "will" (English), "Weh" is the German word (Gothic wai) for "woe" (English: great sorrow, grief, misery) but is more likely related to the archaic G ...

See also:

Odin, Odin - Characteristics, Odin - Origins, Odin - Seid, Odin - Blót, Odin - Edda, Odin - Attributes, Odin - Names, Odin - Odin and Jesus, Odin - Persisting beliefs in Odin, Odin - Modern age, Odin - Modern popular culture, Odin - Germanic neopaganism, Odin - Notes, Odin - Literature

Read more here: » Odin: Encyclopedia II - Odin - Edda

In the pre-Christian clan-culture of Scandinavia the members of a clan were obliged to avenge injuries against their dead and mutilated relatives. A balancing structure was necessary to reduce tribal feuds and avoid social anarchy. We know from the North-Germanic cultures the balancing institution was the thing although similar assemblies are reported also from other Germanic peoples. The thing was the assembly of the free men of a country, province or a hundred (hundare/härad/herred). There were consequently, hierarchies of t ...

See also:

Thing assembly, Thing assembly - Viking and medieval society, Thing assembly - National parliaments and current institutions

Read more here: » Thing assembly: Encyclopedia II - Thing assembly - Viking and medieval society

The national parliaments of Iceland, Norway and Denmark all have names that incorporate thing: Alþingi - The Icelandic General Thing Folketing - The Danish People's Thing Storting - The Norwegian Great Thing The parliaments of the self-governing territories of Åland, Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Isle of Man also have names that refer to thing. Lagting - The Åland Law Thing Løgting - The Faroese Law ThingSee also:

Thing assembly, Thing assembly - Viking and medieval society, Thing assembly - National parliaments and current institutions

Read more here: » Thing assembly: Encyclopedia II - Thing assembly - National parliaments and current institutions

The name Tyr meant "god" (cf. Hangatyr, the "god of the hanged" as one of Odin's names) and goes back to a Proto-Germanic Tîwaz, continuing Proto-Indo-European Dyeus, originally the chief god, the precursor also of e. g. Zeus in Greek mythology, and Dyaus Pitar in Vedic religion. The oldest attestation of the god is Gothic Tyz (Vienna cod. 140 [1]) Tîwaz was overtaken in popularity and in authority by Odin at some point in both the North Germanic and West Germanic traditions. Among East Germanic tribes, h ...

See also:

Tyr, Tyr - Origins, Tyr - Tyr in the Edda, Tyr - Other traces, Tyr - The Tyr rune, Tyr - Modern popular culture, Tyr - Games, Tyr - Literature, Tyr - Music, Tyr - Misc

Read more here: » Tyr: Encyclopedia II - Tyr - Origins

According to the Edda, at one stage the gods decided to shackle the wolf Fenrisulfr (Fenris), but the beast broke every chain they put upon him. Eventually they had the dwarfs make them a magical ribbon called Gleipnir from such items as a woman's beard and a mountain's roots. But Fenrir sensed the gods' deceit and refused to be bound with it unless one of them put his hand in the wolf's mouth. Tyr, known for his great courage, agreed, and the other gods bound the wolf. Fenrir sensed that he had been tricked and bit off the god's hand. Fenrir will remain bound until the day of Ragnarok. During Ragnarok, Tyr is destined to kill and be ki ...

See also:

Tyr, Tyr - Origins, Tyr - Tyr in the Edda, Tyr - Other traces, Tyr - The Tyr rune, Tyr - Modern popular culture, Tyr - Games, Tyr - Literature, Tyr - Music, Tyr - Misc

Read more here: » Tyr: Encyclopedia II - Tyr - Tyr in the Edda

The t-rune ᛏ is named after Tyr, and was identified with this god., the reconscructed Proto-Germanic name is Tîwaz. The rune is sometimes also referred to as Teiwaz, or spelling variants. The rune was also compared with Mars as in the Icelandic rune poem: ᛏ Týr er einhendr áss ok ulfs leifar ok hofa hilmir. Mars tiggi. Tyr is a ...

See also:

Tyr, Tyr - Origins, Tyr - Tyr in the Edda, Tyr - Other traces, Tyr - The Tyr rune, Tyr - Modern popular culture, Tyr - Games, Tyr - Literature, Tyr - Music, Tyr - Misc

Read more here: » Tyr: Encyclopedia II - Tyr - The Tyr rune

See Germanic mythology, Germanic paganism, Migration Period art The Germanic tribes were each politically independent, under a hereditary king (see Germanic king). The kings appear to have claimed descendancy from mythical founders of the tribes, the name of some of which is preserved: Angul — Angles (the Kings of Mercia, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, other Anglo-Saxon dynasties are derived from other descendents of Woden) Aurvandil — Vandals (uncertain) Burgundus — Burgundians C ...

See also:

Germanic peoples, Germanic peoples - Etymology of German, Germanic peoples - Classification, Germanic peoples - The concept of Volk, Germanic peoples - Culture, Germanic peoples - History, Germanic peoples - Origin, Germanic peoples - Collision with Rome, Germanic peoples - Migration Period, Germanic peoples - Role in the Fall of Rome, Germanic peoples - Conversion to Christianity, Germanic peoples - Assimilation

Read more here: » Germanic peoples: Encyclopedia II - Germanic peoples - Culture

See Germanic mythology, Germanic paganism, Migration Period art The Germanic tribes were each politically independent, under a hereditary king (see Germanic king). The kings appear to have claimed descendancy from mythical founders of the tribes, the name of some of which is preserved: Angul — Angles (the Kings of Mercia, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, other Anglo-Saxon dynasties are derived from other descendents of Woden) Aurvandil — Vandals (uncertain) Burgundus — Burgundians C ...

See also:

Germanic peoples, Germanic peoples - Etymology of Germani, Germanic peoples - Classification, Germanic peoples - The concept of Volk, Germanic peoples - Culture, Germanic peoples - History, Germanic peoples - Origin, Germanic peoples - Collision with Rome, Germanic peoples - Migration Period, Germanic peoples - Role in the Fall of Rome, Germanic peoples - Conversion to Christianity, Germanic peoples - Assimilation

Read more here: » Germanic peoples: Encyclopedia II - Germanic peoples - Culture

The goddess Freya is described as an adept of the mysteries of seid (shamanism), a völva, and it is said that it was she who initiated Odin into its mysteries. In Lokasenna, Loki verbally abuses Odin for practising seid, condemning it as a unmanly art. A justification for this may be found in the Ynglinga saga where Snorri opines that in following the practice of seid, the practitioner was rendered unmanly. Another explanation is that its manipulative aspects ran counter to th ...

See also:

Wodanaz, Wodanaz - Etymology, Wodanaz - Odin and Mercury, Wodanaz - Celtic parallels, Wodanaz - Shamanic traits, Wodanaz - Worship, Wodanaz - Migration period, Wodanaz - Viking Age, Wodanaz - Medieval reception, Wodanaz - Revivals, Wodanaz - Notes, Wodanaz - Literature

Read more here: » Wodanaz: Encyclopedia II - Wodanaz - Shamanic traits

Details of the Migration period of Germanic religion are sketchy, reconstructed from artefacts, sparse contemporary sources, and later the later testimonies of medieval legends and placenames. It was common, particularly amongst the Cimbri, to sacrifice a prisoner to Odin prior to or after a battle. According to Jonas Bobiensis, the 6th century Irish missionary Saint Columbanus is reputed to have disrupted a Beer sacrifice to Wuodan (Deo suo Vodano nomine) in Bregenz, Alemannia. Wuodan was the chief god of the Alamanni, his name appears in the runic in ...

See also:

Wodanaz, Wodanaz - Etymology, Wodanaz - Odin and Mercury, Wodanaz - Celtic parallels, Wodanaz - Shamanic traits, Wodanaz - Worship, Wodanaz - Migration period, Wodanaz - Viking Age, Wodanaz - Medieval reception, Wodanaz - Revivals, Wodanaz - Notes, Wodanaz - Literature

Read more here: » Wodanaz: Encyclopedia II - Wodanaz - Worship

The Anglo-Saxon tribes brought their pagan faith to England around the 5th and 6th centuries and continued in that form of worship until nearly all were converted to Christianity by the 8th century. The Anglo-Saxon kings claimed descent from Woden. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the Historia Britonum, Woden had the sons Wecta, Baeldaeg, Casere and Wihtlaeg, who in turn were ancestors of the royal houses of the Heptarchy Lombardic Godan appears in the 7th century Origo Gentis Langobardorum. According to the le ...

See also:

Wodanaz, Wodanaz - Etymology, Wodanaz - Odin and Mercury, Wodanaz - Celtic parallels, Wodanaz - Shamanic traits, Wodanaz - Worship, Wodanaz - Migration period, Wodanaz - Viking Age, Wodanaz - Medieval reception, Wodanaz - Revivals, Wodanaz - Notes, Wodanaz - Literature

Read more here: » Wodanaz: Encyclopedia II - Wodanaz - Migration period

Scandinavian Óðinn emerged from Proto-Norse *Wōdin during the Migration period, Vendel artwork (bracteates, image stones) depicting the earliest scenes that can be aligned with the High Medieval Norse mythological texts. The context of the new elites emerging in this period aligns with Snorri's tale of the indigenous Vanir who were eventually replaced Aesir intruders from the Continent.[9] According to the Prose Edda, Odin was a son of Bestla and Borr and brother of Vé and Vili and together with t ...

See also:

Wodanaz, Wodanaz - Etymology, Wodanaz - Odin and Mercury, Wodanaz - Celtic parallels, Wodanaz - Shamanic traits, Wodanaz - Worship, Wodanaz - Migration period, Wodanaz - Viking Age, Wodanaz - Medieval reception, Wodanaz - Revivals, Wodanaz - Notes, Wodanaz - Literature

Read more here: » Wodanaz: Encyclopedia II - Wodanaz - Viking Age

As the chief god of the Germanic pantheon, Odin received particular attention from the early missionaries. For example, his day is the only day to have been renamed in the German language from "Woden's day", still extant in English Wednesday (compare Norwegian, Danish and Swedish onsdag, Dutch woensdag) to the neutral Mittwoch ("mid-week"), while other gods were not deemed important enough for propaganda (Tuesday "Tyr's day" and Friday "Freyja's day" remained intact in all Germanic languages). "Woden ...

See also:

Wodanaz, Wodanaz - Etymology, Wodanaz - Odin and Mercury, Wodanaz - Celtic parallels, Wodanaz - Shamanic traits, Wodanaz - Worship, Wodanaz - Migration period, Wodanaz - Viking Age, Wodanaz - Medieval reception, Wodanaz - Revivals, Wodanaz - Notes, Wodanaz - Literature

Read more here: » Wodanaz: Encyclopedia II - Wodanaz - Medieval reception

Less is known about the role of Odin as receiver of the dead among the more southern Germanic tribes. The Roman historian Tacitus probably refers to Odin when he talks of Mercury. The reason is that, like Mercury, Odin was regarded as Psychopompos, "the leader of souls". Julius Caesar calls Mercury the "deum maxime" of the Gauls in De Bello Gallico 6.17.1. Paulus Diaconus (or Paul the Deacon), writing in the late 8th century, tells that Odin (Guodan) was the chief god of the Langobards and, like earlier southern s ...

See also:

Wodanaz, Wodanaz - Etymology, Wodanaz - Odin and Mercury, Wodanaz - Celtic parallels, Wodanaz - Shamanic traits, Wodanaz - Worship, Wodanaz - Migration period, Wodanaz - Viking Age, Wodanaz - Medieval reception, Wodanaz - Revivals, Wodanaz - Notes, Wodanaz - Literature

Read more here: » Wodanaz: Encyclopedia II - Wodanaz - Odin and Mercury

While the early Christianization of the Goths, the Irish, the Franks and the Alamanni was achieved by peaceful missionary activity, facilitated by the prestige of the Christian Roman Empire among European pagans, in the Middle Ages, conversion of remaining Germanic pagans was less peaceful. Charlemagne in the 8th century converted Saxon pagans by force. In 772 he destroyed their Irminsul, and in 782 he ordered t ...

See also:

Persecution of Heathens, Persecution of Heathens - Middle Ages, Persecution of Heathens - Nazi Persecution, Persecution of Heathens - Contemporary

Read more here: » Persecution of Heathens: Encyclopedia II - Persecution of Heathens - Middle Ages

While the early Christianization of the various Germanic peoples was achieved by various means, and was partly facilitated by the prestige of the Christian Roman Empire amongst European pagans. The rise of Germanic Christianity was, thus, mainly due to voluntary conversion, from the 8th century on the Continent mainly pursued by the Anglo-Saxon mission. In some instances, however, conversion was forceful. Charlemagne in the course of the Saxon Wars converted Saxon pagans by force. In 772 he destroyed their Irminsul, and in 782 he allegedly o ...

See also:

Persecution of Heathens, Persecution of Heathens - Middle Ages, Persecution of Heathens - Nazi Persecution, Persecution of Heathens - Contemporary

Read more here: » Persecution of Heathens: Encyclopedia II - Persecution of Heathens - Middle Ages

The word Krampus originates from the Old High German word for claw (Krampen). In the Alpine region the Krampus is represented by a male incubus in company of St Nicholas. Traditionally, young men dress up as the Krampus in the first two weeks of December and particularly in the evening of December 5th and roam the streets frightening children (and adults) with rusty chains and bells. The present day Krampus costume consists of red wooden masks, black sheep's skin and horns. Considerable effort goes into the manufacture of the hand-crafted masks, as many younger adults in rural ...

See also:

Paganism in the Eastern Alps, Paganism in the Eastern Alps - Survival through the ages, Paganism in the Eastern Alps - Krampus, Paganism in the Eastern Alps - Perchten

Read more here: » Paganism in the Eastern Alps: Encyclopedia II - Paganism in the Eastern Alps - Krampus

Goddess - Hinduism. Hinduism is a complex of various belief systems that sees many gods and goddesses as being representative of and/or emanative from a single source, Brahman, understood either as a formless, infinite, impersonal monad in the Advaita tradition or as a dual God in the form of Lakshmi-Vishnu, Radha-Krishna, Devi-Shiva in Dvaita traditions. Shaktas, worshippers of the Goddess, equate this God with Devi, the mother goddess. Such aspects of One God as male God (Shaktiman) and female energy (Shakti), ...

See also:

Goddess, Goddess - Ancient Near East, Goddess - Egypt, Goddess - Mesopotamia, Goddess - Arabia, Goddess - Indo-European religion, Goddess - Hinduism, Goddess - Graeco-Roman religion, Goddess - Celtic religion, Goddess - Germanic religion, Goddess - Abrahamic religions, Goddess - Judaism, Goddess - Christianity, Goddess - Islam, Goddess - New religious movements, Goddess - Wicca and Neopaganism, Goddess - Religious feminism, Goddess - Secular use

Read more here: » Goddess: Encyclopedia II - Goddess - Indo-European religion

Monotheist cultures, which recognise only one central deity, generally do characterize that deity as male, implicitly already grammatically by using masculine gender, but also explicitly by terms such as "Father" or "Lord". In all monotheist religions, however, there are mystic undercurrents which emphasize the feminine aspects of the godhead, e.g. the Collyridians in the time of early Christianity, who viewed Mary as a Goddess, the medieval visionary Julian of Norwich, the Judaic Shekinah and the Gnostic Sophia traditions, and some Sufi texts in Islam.< ...

See also:

Goddess, Goddess - Ancient Near East, Goddess - Egypt, Goddess - Mesopotamia, Goddess - Arabia, Goddess - Indo-European religion, Goddess - Hinduism, Goddess - Graeco-Roman religion, Goddess - Celtic religion, Goddess - Germanic religion, Goddess - Abrahamic religions, Goddess - Judaism, Goddess - Christianity, Goddess - Islam, Goddess - New religious movements, Goddess - Wicca and Neopaganism, Goddess - Religious feminism, Goddess - Secular use

Read more here: » Goddess: Encyclopedia II - Goddess - Abrahamic religions