Brian O’Shaughnessy Period 7 English 4 10-7-05

Odin Odin was considered by the Norsemen or Vikings to be the supreme god or the "All father" god. Though he was hardly a tender forgiving god. He was more of a god who more tricky and not to be trusted.

Odin Often he turned into and moved about as a mortal traveler. Odin was a power hungry god and went to great lengths to enhance his wisdom and knowledge.

Odin wins mead of poetry Odin, further expanding his intrigue, only supposedly spoke in verse. He was a master of poetry. A myth of Odin is where he wins the mead of poetry. This is where Odin, disguised as a mortal, tricks the owner of the mead Suttung's brother to let him have a drink. He agrees but once he gets there, there is Bolverk who transforms into a snake and blocks the entrance into the mountain where the mead is kept. So Odin takes an auger which is a tool used to drill and drilled into the mountain. There was Gunnlod, Suttung's daughter who guarded the mead, Odin then seduced her and slept with her for 3 nights for exchange for 3 sips from the mead of poetry. Shows Odin’s cunning and pursuit for power.

Odin, the Wanderer. 1886 by Georg von Rosen Often depicted wearing wide brimmed hat that shaded his face. Also depicted with long white bear. Odin, the Wanderer. 1886 by Georg von Rosen

Loki Loki, not actually considered a god. He lived in the realm of the gods, Asgaard. Here he was considered to be a trickster and is actually at fault for the death of Balder. No sign that Loki was worshipped in any way.

The Death of Balder Balder had a series of nightmares which was conceived to be an omen by the gods. Odin went to Hel to see the meaning of these omens. He found out that Balder was going to die, so he went back and told the other gods. To amuse themselves the other gods started throwing things at Balder since nothing could hurt Balder, then Loki tricked Hod, who was blind, into throwing mistletoe at Balder. It was his only weakness and Balder died on the spot. Though the other gods were convinced it was Loki's fault, they could not spill blood on the assembly ground so they could not kill him.

The Death of Balder C. Eckersberg, 1840