Odin

Odin vs. Zeus


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Like Zeus’s Odin is considered father of the gods in Norse myth, and like Zeus his ascension to power occurs at the down fall of a giant like creature similar to the Titans. Odin with his two brothers kill Ymir the frost giant and with his two brothers they form the world from his corps.

Unlike Zeus who was god of oaths Odin was known to have broken oaths in several myths. This difference may be a reflection of the fact that Odin was largely the god of Kings and soldiers. Kings and generals would want to have myths were a god breaks an oath for a purpose to have an example to explain why they might break an oath. Like Zeus Odin has the ability to shape shift. In one example Odin transformed into the shape of an eagle to steal Kvasir blood from a giant. The blood from Kvasir was made into mead and said to be the source of poetry. Odin gained several of his strengths from trails. He hung himself from the tree of life for 9 days as a sacrifice to himself from which he gained the ability to use magic. Odin may not have been as prolific in fathering a host of mortals as Zeus he did father his fair share. The “ //Prose Edda”// lists 6 royal lines Odin fathered (Joe, Genealogy). Unlike Zeus and most of the Greek gods Odin wasn’t described as the ideal of human form. He was known to wear a full beard, wide-brimmed hat, and a missing eye which he had sacrificed to the well of mirmir(wisdom) for a drink from it.

Sources Lindemans, Micha F. “Ve” __Encyclopedia Mythica__ March 3 2005; last modified 30 Novemer 2005. Encyclopedia Mythica Online. 05 Dec. 2010 <[]>. " **Germanic religion and mythology** ." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 04 Dec. 2010 <[]>. Joe, Jimmy “Genealogy – Houses of Northern Kingdoms” Timeless Myths (Norse Mythology) 17/08/2002 last modified: 24/06/06 [] viewed 04 Dec. 2010 Joe, Jimmy “Aesir” Timeless Myths (Norse Mythology) 23/07/1999 last modified: 10/02/08 [] viewed 04 Dec. 2010

CJ