Hello I’m Nord the Norwegian and today on All Things Norse I’m going to tell you about the Viking god, Odin.
It all began with the fiery world of Muspelheim, the icy fog of Niflheim, and the endless Ginungagap. The icy fog and fire mixed in the Ginungagap and eventually took the form of the ice giant Ymir and an ice cow. The giant drank the cow’s milk and the cow licked the salty edge of the gap so that neither went hungry. Then one night it all changed. Two giants came to life in Ymir’s warm armpit, and then a six headed troll came out of his feet. The cow also created life. She had licked so hard at the salty edge of the gap that her tongue got warmer and warmer until it had created man. He was tall and handsome. He married a pretty ice giant who gave forth three sons whose names where Odin, Hoenir, and Lodur. And they were the first of the gods.
Did you know that when Odin sits in his throne Lidskjalf he has two ravens perched on his shoulders? They fly around the the world at dawn and return to him at noon to whisper in his ears all that happens in the world. He also has two fierce wolves who lay at his feet to guard him.
There once was a very wise giant named Mimir who had a well, but not just any well. It was the well of wisdom said to give you wisdom when you drank from its waters. One day Odin flew down to the well to gain wisdom but Mimir wanted something in return for giving him a drink from his well. Odin gave him his eye in exchange for the drink. That is how Odin got his wisdom and lost his eye.
That’s all for now folks. This is Nord the Norwegian signing out.
