Who is odins father

Not even death prevented from indulging his lust for knowledge. His thirst for knowledge colored most everything about Odin, from the company he kept to his personal appearance. Sleipnir, the eight-legged horse, helped Odin to travel speedily throughout his realm.

His raven familiars, Huminn and Muninn, dutifully flew through the worlds, leaving each morning and returning at supper. They informed Odin of everything they saw. Odin even sacrificed his eye for knowledge. He threw it into the spring of Mimir the wise, and it was said that Mimir drank mead every morning as a result of Odin's sacrifice.

In another central myth, Odin discovered the knowledge of runes and delivered it to humankind. The very first Germanic alphabets were made up runes; these were pictographic symbols that worked as letters, with each rune standing for a different sound.

Crucially, the runes also embodied certain cosmic powers. Thus, to know a rune meant knowing the cosmic power it symbolized, and knowing it meant being able to wield it. Odin achieved knowledge of the runes through a heroic act of self-sacrifice.

Hanging from the tree, Odin fasted for nine days, pierced himself with a spear, and cryptically offered himself to himself:. I ween that I hung on the windy tree, Hung there for nine nights full nine; With the spear I was wounded, and offered I was, To Odin, myself to myself, On the tree that none may know What root beneath it runs.

None made me happy with a loaf or horn, And there below I looked; I took up the runes, shrieking I took them, And forthwith back I fell. Then began I to thrive, and wisdom to get, I grew and well I was; Each word led me on to another word, Each deed to another deed. While Odin loved all sorts of drink, he thirsted particularly for the Mead of Poetry, a beverage said to impart the gift of poetry and knowledge unto its drinker.

The Mead of Poetry came into existence through a complex series of events. At the end of the Aesir-Vanir War, the gods sought peace. In order to mark their new peace, they each spit into a large jar, and from their spittle formed a wise man called Kvasir. There was no question Kvasir could not answer, and he roamed the world sharing his wisdom. One day, Kvasir visited the home of the evil dwarves Fjalar and Galar, who murdered Kvasir and brewed the Mead of Poetry from his blood.

When Fjalar and Galar crossed the wrong family of giants, they too were killed and the mead fell into the hands of the giant Suttung. Odin tried to take the mead from Suttung first by tricks, then by treachery.

When Odin finished the work, however, Suttung refused even a sip of his precious beverage. Odin then transformed himself into a snake and bored his way into the giant's mountain home. While in flight, Odin spit his liquid loot into the vessels the Aesir gods left out for him, thus offering the Mead of Poetry to the world.

In the nineteenth century, the emergence of German nationalism stimulated a revival of Germanic culture and a rediscovery of its mythic history.

Odin, among other gods and heroes of old, was brought back into the realm of popular culture and has remained there ever since. In recent years, Odin has been featured prominently in many pieces of popular media. He also appeared in the God of War video game series. Perhaps the most accessible manifestation of Odin was seen in the Marvel comic book franchise, where Odin was featured as the father of Thor.

In these movies, as with most modern depictions of Odin, the all-father was cast as a wizened old leader who ruled benevolently over Asgard, fought honorably against various cosmic foes, and generally dispensed fatherly wisdom. In reality, Odin ruled with great cynicism, fought dishonorably through trickery and subterfuge, and was seldom the fatherly figure he has become in recent years.

Odin is often portrayed as a charming man who enjoys drinking mead and wine. The fact that he was a seer and a man provoked disgust in some quarters. Skadi is a giantess, but became accepted by the gods of Asgard when she married the sea god Njord.

Heimdall stands guard at all times, and with his sharp vision and incredible hearing he can see for a hundred miles and hear the growing sounds of grass. Freyja knows the art of predicting the future — prophecy — and she teaches Odin this magical art. Balder is the son of Odin and Frigg, and with his friendliness, gentleness and wisdom, he is loved by everyone in Asgard. Frigg is the Queen of Asgard and the highest of the goddesses. She is also the goddess of motherhood and marriage.

The other gods get golden apples from her. Read more about some of the mythological creatures from sagas and stories in the Norse mythology. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. I approve Read more. Search: Search. Odin — the one-eyed All-Father Odin has many names and is the god of both war and death. Thor joined his father and told him that he now understood why he had been banished and knew he still had much to learn.

Odin told Thor that he had already made him very proud and he would make a fine leader someday. Odin offers Thor some calm and vital advice. As a group of rag-tag invaders called the Marauders started to attack several of the Nine Realms , at the same time, Frigga discovered that Loki was alive and that he intended to conquer Earth. However, there was an amount of time for Thor to get back onto Asgard with Loki.

Odin watched Thor's confrontation with Loki through the eyes of Hugin and Munin. When Thor returned to Asgard with the now captured Loki and the Tesseract , Odin decided to speak with the prisoner.

Odin then condemned Loki to an eternal imprisonment inside the Asgardian Dungeons. Approximately a year after Thor helped the mortals in saving Earth from Loki and his army of the Chitauri , the Marauders were still pillaging the peaceful inhabitants of the Nine Realms , and Odin had to send Thor to lead the armies of Asgard against them.

During a final battle on Vanaheim , Thor along with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three managed to defeat the Marauders and force them to surrender. Once Thor had returned from the Battle of Vanaheim , they discussed the newly secured peace across the Nine Realms as Odin thanked his son for everything he had done. Odin then discussed a pressing matter with his son; his infatuation with Jane Foster , recommending that Thor instead seek a romantic relationship with an Asgardian rather than a human, suggesting Lady Sif for Thor's affections as she clearly had strong feelings for him.

Knowing that Thor would not listen, Odin suggested that he at least try to enjoy his victory over the Marauders by joining Fandral and Volstagg for celebrations in an Asgardian bar while having drinks with the people of Asgard. Odin introduces himself to Jane Foster. Thor eventually brought Jane Foster into Asgard , much to Odin's disapproval. Odin stormed into the room as Eir was conducting tests on a strange illness that had befallen Foster and demanded that she return to Midgard.

However, when it was discovered that Foster was carrying the Aether within her veins, Odin was mortified and decided to keep her protected within the Royal Palace of Valaskjalf. Odin tells Thor and Foster about the Aether. Odin showed Thor and Foster the Book of Yggdrasil and explained the history of the Dark Elves , a race of creatures that was believed to be extinct for thousands of years ever since Odin's father King Bor defeated them during the First Battle of Svartalfheim.

However, Odin knew that as the Aether had finally been found, the army of the Dark Elves, led by Malekith the Accursed would return seeking to finally reclaim their most powerful weapon once again. Odin speaks to Frigga for the final time. Along the way, he came across Frigga and Jane Foster ; he assured Frigga that there was nothing to fear and smiled as she showed her fear for his safety.

Odin said that even after he had survived so many previous battles, his wife still worries for him; she reminded him that it was due to her worrying that he had survived for so long. Odin witnesses the attack of the Dark Elves.

When Odin, Lady Sif and their squad of Einherjar soldiers returned to the upper chambers, they discovered that the army of Dark Elves had successfully invaded the palace and killed dozens of the Asgardian soldiers and destroyed Odin's own throne with a Black Hole Grenade.

Once Odin had dispatched one fleeing Dark Elf with a single powerful blast from Gungnir , Odin realized that the Dark Elves would likely attack Frigga to get to Foster and steal the Aether. Odin quickly went to their aid but was too late, and discovered that his beloved wife Frigga had been murdered by Malekith and Kurse while protecting Foster with her magic.

Upon discovering her body, Odin fell to his knees and cradled his beloved wife, devastated by the loss of the woman he truly loved so dearly while Thor looked on. Odin arranged for a ceremonial funeral for Frigga and the soldiers who died in the attack. Odin wore an all black armor and oversaw the ceremony where his wife's body was placed into a ship and transformed into glittering mist resembling stars in the universe.

Odin remained silent during the ceremony, silently mourning his beloved wife. Every resident of Asgard , including Heimdall and Lady Sif , showed their respect for their queen and the soldiers. Odin vows to destroy Malekith and his army. Desiring to destroy the Dark Elves once and for all, Odin met with Fandral and Volstagg to discuss military plans only to learn that they were almost completely defenceless against this threat.

Interrupting the meeting, Thor tried to convince his father to allow him leave Asgard with Jane Foster and draw Malekith away, but Odin declined, stating that he was powerful enough to defeat Malekith himself, and insisted they simply wait.

Odin said he was willing to sacrifice every soldier needed to avenge Frigga and defeat Malekith. Odin learns Heimdall has helped Thor escape.

Thor defied Odin's own orders and enlisted Heimdall , Lady Sif and the Warriors Three in helping him, Foster and Loki escape Asgard with the intention of using the Aether to draw Malekith into the open and destroy him and his weapon. Heimdall then sent for Odin and confessed his disobedience. A slightly surprised Odin simply ordered his guards to stop Thor, who was escaping on a Dark Elf Harrow , by any means, but they were too late and quickly lost him.

When the guard returned, he approached Odin with news that they had discovered Loki 's body. The guard, however, was actually Loki in a disguise. Some time later, the throne of Asgard was usurped by Loki who had disguised himself as the Allfather, allowing himself to rule Asgard as he had desired and send Thor to Earth. The appearance of Odin was used by Loki to rule the Asgardians for some time after Loki's faked death on Svartalfheim.

Some time after Odin was left on Earth, his retirement home was destroyed and he eventually overcame Loki's strong enchantment.

Doctor Strange contacted Odin during this time, however, Odin chose to stay on Earth instead of returning to Asgard. He subsequently traveled the Earth and enjoyed his time. When Thor exposed Loki's deceptive rule to the people of Asgard, Thor ensured his brother would aid him in his quest of finding their father.

However, Shady Acres Care Home was bulldozed and destroyed, upon arrival. Doctor Strange , having detected the presence of Asgardians in his city, stepped in and volunteered to help Thor find his father on the condition that Loki leaves Earth thereafter.

With the aid of several tomes within the New York Sanctum , Doctor Strange used Thor's hair to mystically pinpoint Odin's location and create a portal to Odin in Norway. Odin sits down with Thor and Loki. When his sons found him, Odin was nearing the end of his long life.

He commented that Norway was beautiful and revealed it took him a while to break Loki 's spell over him, noting that Frigga should be proud of him. He revealed that he could feel his time coming to an end by saying that his wife was calling out to him. When Thor insisted to take him back to Asgard, Odin instead took to resting on a rock. Telling his sons he loved them, Odin finally died and his spirit ascended to Valhalla.

Upon his death, Hela was finally freed from her banishment. Thor was devastated by his father's death and mourned him when he was imprisoned in Sakaar. Even Loki was also saddened and showed remorse for his death.

However, Hela rejoiced at his demise, commenting that she would have loved to see it. Thor's first vision of Odin allowed him to quickly gain the upper hand over Hulk and this allowed him to survive the Tournament , the only person to have ever done it, although he did not win thanks to the Grandmaster interfering.

Thor saw his father one more time when he was being easily defeated by Hela and had lost his eye in the process. When seeing Odin, Thor desperately admitted that he could not defeat Hela without his hammer , which she destroyed, and that he is not as powerful as Odin was. Odin telling Thor that he is stronger than him.

This vision allowed Thor to fight back against Hela alongside Valkyrie long enough for Loki to revive Surtur and destroy both Hela, and Asgard itself.

Odin was a patient, just, and wise king. He strived to maintain the peace between the Nine Realms and was thoughtful of the lives of the innocent. Despite his enemies warring against him and his willingness to cause mass destruction when needed, he was compassionate enough to not seek the obliteration of the innocents of the opposing force. He even adopted Loki , the abandoned son of his old foe Laufey , and raised and loved him as his own son, although he initially did this as a way to unite Asgard and Jotunheim.

Nevertheless, Odin was firm in his rule and did not hesitate to mete out justice on those who threaten the peace, even if those individuals were his own children. Odin was considered to be the wisest king in Asgard's history, admired by all for his leadership, and was thus an exceptional leader. He had effectively led the Einherjar into victory in countless wars over all the Nine Realms. His skills allowed him to conquer the Nine Realms when he sought to conquer all the Realms.

However, after realizing peace would be the only way to truly unite the Realms, Odin became the benevolent, peace-loving, nearly all-powerful and all-knowing ruler of Asgard and the guardian of the Nine Realms. As such, he was wise and honorable. He was dedicated to using his power for keeping the peace between the Nine Realms. He believed in being responsible in terms of being careful and responsible for one's actions , duty in terms of the protection of and keeping the peace between the Nine Realms , and honor always being a man of his word.

However, when angered or upset, he could be very stern to the point of ruthlessness when necessary. As Frigga stated, "everything he does, he does with a purpose. While he was a good king who cares about the peace of the realms, the ghosts of his past self and his initial anger that once controlled him can show, as he was willing to sacrifice as many Asgardians as necessary if Malekith had attacked again, showing to be just as ruthless as Malekith at the time, as Thor noted, due to the intense grief, rage, and need for revenge coursing through him after Frigga's death.

Even when Thor asked what would make Odin different from Malekith, Odin merely laughed and said the difference was that he would win. It was from this that Thor realized that Odin, due to his lust for vengeance, was not thinking straight and under his rule, Malekith would be able to destroy Asgard.