Odin Mythology
There are quite a number of myths that exist today. Some of these myths have been in existence since the ancient times. They may explain the creation phenomenon, hero or a place. In the Norse mythology that existed in Old Saxon or Old German, Odin is portrayed as a hero. For this reason, he chooses to be their commander when going to war and every war that they won led to him being given credit for the victory. Everybody assumed that every war that was won was because of his fierce character and boldness as a brave and heroic warrior. Odin was viewed as the ultimate hero, and he was seen as the divine ruler. His disrespect for the law also made him an anti-hero who was considered as a rogue sometimes because he didn’t possess any repute for integrity and fairness and was arrogant just like Raven who was a goddess and a conniving rogue who is believed to be the creator of all the creatures that dwell in the sea. (Laugrand & Oosten 2010).
In the Hare cycle myth, the Hare is regarded as a hero who is respected because he brings culture to humanity contrary to the trickster who is selfish, egocentric and who wants to bring satisfaction only to himself (Radin 1956).. The Winnebago name Wakdjunkaga refers to trickster or has a cunning nature. The Trickster is a mythological creature with a number of faces which gives a concrete form to the principle of ambivalence. The Trickster prefers to go on the warpath alone by telling his subjects that they cannot fight, and he alone is going to war. Radin discusses the Winnebago trickster-cycle in connection with Raven of the Northwest and the Assiniboine Sitconski (alternatively Dakota Siouan Inktumni or Inktomi). Furthermore, he points towards the folk tales of the Greeks: ”Prometheus has affinities with the trickster because the cunning he practices on Zeus overreaches itself and turns into stupidity, personified by his brother, Epimetheus” (Radin 1956:180).
Odin’s most notable characteristic the intelligence that he possesses, and the most remarkable and captivating legends of Odin manifests his achievement of this insight and perception through self-sacrifice (Lindow 2001). He possesses a well-endowed physique and in return this makes him a daunting and fierce fighter and like many tricksters his distinct characteristic of being irrational, cunning, and audacious is brought to the fore. The most prominent feature that Odin has is a distinct piercing eye on his forehead, and he says that he gave out his eye that was missing from the other socket as a sacrifice in order to gain the wisdom that he has.
In another instance, he claims that he ‘sacrificed himself to himself’ and this endeavor made him wiser by going for nine days without any form of food while hanging from some world tree. During this time, he says that he had been fertilized, and that is what had led to his acquisition of the wisdom that he gained. His primary role here is depicted as one that is set out to bring change. However, Odin was at times considered as unpatriotic and corrupt because he used devious and uncouth ways to get more people enlist in his army, and he did this by sharing secrets of war with the enemies. He sometimes did not live to his name because of his unruly and disorderly behavior. Despite being referred to as the intelligent one who directed others, he frequently got disorderly and rowdy after transforming his shape and changing his name.
Works Cited
Laugrand, Frederic & Oosten, Jarich. The Sea Woman: Sedna in Shamanism and Art in the Eastern Arctic. Anchorage: University of Alaska Press, 2010. Print.
Lindow, John. Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs. Santa Barbara: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print.
Radin, Paul. The Trickster: A Study in American Indian Mythology. New York: Philosophical Library, 1956. Print.
