What is the meaning of the name Odin in Proto-Germanic?
The reconstructed Proto-Germanic theonym Wōðanaz translates to lord of frenzy or leader of the possessed. This root adjective wōðaz means possessed, inspired, delirious, or raging.
Questions about Odin
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Adam of Bremen describe Odin as a god of war and fury?
Adam of Bremen wrote in 1075 that Odin equates to furor, a Latin term for rage, fury, madness, or frenzy. He described a statue of Wodan at Uppsala flanked by Thor and Fricco where Wodan rules war and gives strength against enemies.
How many names are recorded for the deity Odin among Germanic peoples?
More than 170 names are recorded for this deity, making him the god with the most known names among Germanic peoples. These cognate terms exist in Middle Low German, Middle Dutch, Old Frisian, and Old Norse.
Who were the first humans created by Odin according to Völuspá?
The poem Völuspá recounts how Odin, Hœnir, and Lóðurr found Ask and Embla on land. They gave these first humans spirit, sense, blood, motion, and goodly color.
What happened to Odin during Ragnarök in the poem Lokasenna?
The poem Lokasenna features Odin fighting the monstrous wolf Fenrir during Ragnarök. Odin will be consumed by the wolf yet his son Víðarr will avenge him by stabbing the beast in the heart.