Óðinns

óðinns is the genitive form used in Old Norse and Icelandic to denote Óðinn, the chief god of the Norse pantheon. In many English sources the figure is simply called Odin; the original Norse form Óðinn is the nominative name, with Óðins or Óðinns appearing in the genitive. Odin is one of the principal Æsir and embodies wisdom, war, death, poetry, and magic.

Óðinn's attributes and iconography depict him as a complex, pursuit-driven deity. He is the All-Father, often described as wise and cunning, capable of shaping fate and knowledge. He is linked with war and the dead, yet also with runes, skaldic poetry, and magical practice. His companions include the ravens Huginn and Muninn, who fly over the world to bring him information, and the wolves Geri and Freki. He travels the world on the horse Sleipnir and wields the spear Gungnir; his ring Draupnir multiplies itself. He is sometimes shown missing an eye, a symbol of his sacrifice for wisdom.

Mythically, Óðinn seeks knowledge beyond the ordinary. He sacrifices an eye at Mímir’s well to gain insight, and he hangs on Yggdrasil for nine nights without food or drink to learn the runes, a rite that grants magical power and poetic inspiration. He is associated with seiðr, a form of Nordic magical practice, and with shaping destinies through prophecy and cunning.

Worship of Óðinn is attested in varied ways across Norse communities. The primary medieval sources are the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, which record many of his myths. Archaeological evidence for specific cult practices is fragmentary, but Odin’s image and symbolism recur in inscriptions and artifacts. His enduring influence extends into modern literature, art, and popular culture, where he remains a archetype of wisdom, war, and magic. See also Óðins or Woden for related forms in other Germanic traditions.