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His wisdom was endless and all-embracing. He could see the future and was a symbol for the soul of the universe. His favourite wife was Frigg, with her he was the father of Baldr, Hödr and Hermod, with the giantess Gunnlöd he was the father of Bragi, with Grid the father of Vidar, with the giantess Rind father of Vali, with Jörd father of Thor and with the nine "Billow Maidens" father of Heimdall. His fosterling was the king named Geirröd. Together with his brothers, Ve and Vili, he killed the first giant Ymir and created out of his body the world: out of an Ash Tree, the first man, Askr, and out of an Elm the first woman, Embla. As a god of the wind, Odin gave them the soul, life and the breath; Vili gave them the mind and the thirst for knowledge; and Ve gave them the five senses. In his quest to learn the runes, Odin hung himself ("Hangatyr") in Yggdrasil, nine nights, wounded by his own spear (Gungnir). Once he gave Mimir one of his eyes in exchange for the water of the Mimir's-Born. It is said, that Mimir was Odin's uncle and that Odin learned "The Nine Magic Songs" by him, on Odin's search for the Runes. Odin's hall called Valaskjalf ("Seat or Shelf of the Slain") and in this hall stood his seat, Hlidskjalf ("Gate-Seat"). His other hall was Valhalla ("Hall of the Slain"). Each of the two halls was located in Asgard. He had two raven named Hugin ("Thought") and Munin ("Memory"), accompanying him. His two wolves called Freki ("The Ravenous") and Geri ("The Greedy"). Odin gave them always all his food, 'couse he don't needed to eat, he only drank Mead (honey-wine). Draupnir (the ring of gold) was the name of his wonderful ring. This ring reproduced itself every ninth night. He bourned this ring together with his son Baldr, but later Baldr sent it back to his father and Hermod brought it to his father. Gungnir was Odin's spear, that found its goal without help. It was made by the sons of Ivaldi (Brokk and Sindri). And Sleipnir ("The Slipper") was the name of his eight-footed steep, the fastest horse of the world. He always sent the Valkyries to the battlefields. They took the warriors, died honourable in battle with them and brought one half to Freyja's hall Folkvang and the other half to Odin's hall, Valhalla. These warriors were called Einherjar. In Valhalla they drank and fought till Ragnarok. At Ragnarok he'll be killed by the wolf Fenrir. Odin's names:
Maybe Freyja's lover Odr (Odur) was also Odin.
Old Norse: Óðinn
Viking-Songs:
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