Template:Infobox godsOdin, also known as the Allfather, is the Norse God of War, Death, Wisdom, Poetry, and Magic, and is the ruler of Asgard. He is the father of Thor, Týr and Baldur and was a husband to Freya, Fjörgyn and an unnamed woman. Odin acts as the overarching antagonist in God of War (2018).
Norse Mythology
Odin, also known as Woden and Wotan, was the Chief God of Norse mythology.
Odin appeared in heroic literature as the protector of heroes; fallen warriors joined him in Valhalla. He had a mythical horse called Sleipnir, who had eight legs, teeth inscribed with runes, and the ability to gallop through the air and over the sea. Odin was one of the greatest wizards among the gods and was associated with runes. He was also the God of Poets. His outward appearance he was an old man, with flowing beard and only one eye (the other he gave in exchange for wisdom).
He was usually depicted wearing a cloak and a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a spear.
In the God of War Series
Prior to the Game
Odin was a grandson of Búri, the first of the Aesir gods, who had sprung from Ymir, the first Giant and father of all life. However, unlike Ymir, Odin felt that the Aesir were fit to be the supreme rulers of the Nine Realms and so he and his brothers Vili and Ve killed Ymir and anyone else who stood in his path, taking the place of the "Allfather".
At some point, Mimir came to Odin with a "Mystic Well of Knowledge" but was really a well laced with enough hallucinogenic mushrooms to give even a god visions. Odin was initially impressed with this well and whatever he saw in his hallucinations made him start to tear out both of his eyes. Fortunately, he was stopped by Mimir from finishing the job and was convinced by Mimir that he had sacrificed his eye for knowledge. Odin eventually figured out that Mimir had fooled him and one day removed one of Mimir's eyes.
Around this time, Odin also began to wed women and expand his family, hoping to gain strong sons. Odin took at least two wives during this period, the first of which giving him Týr. Odin also wed the Giantess Fjörgyn, with whom he had Thor. Some time after Thor's birth, Fjörgyn died, leaving Odin heartbroken and lonely for many years.
After cementing his rule as the "Allfather," Odin continued to wage wars over the other realms. He did not encounter any difficulty until the Vanir, where the two forces fought to a stalemate. At this point, both sides grew tired of fighting, and Odin eventually agreed to marry Freya to end the fighting, and so that Odin may secretly learn her magic. Together, they produced Odin's youngest son, Baldur. For a time, the two appeared to have greatly cared for one another, with Mimir noting that their relationship seemed to echo that of Odin and Fjörgyn's. However, Freya eventually abandoned Odin, which angered the Allfather greatly and caused him to curse her to remain imprisoned in Midgard and to to never harm another another living thing, even in self defense, out of petty revenge.
Odin also sought the secrets of Jötunheim and the Giants. However, he made an enemy of them, and he started a genocidal campaign to kill any Giant the Aesir could find. His son Týr attempted to bring a peace by inviting Odin to a summit with the Giants, but Odin only agreed to get the secrets of Jotunheim. The giants foresaw this and expelled Odin from their homeland. Týr then permanently opposed Odin's attempts to learn the Giants's secrets, which led to Odin killing Tyr.
God of War (2018)
While not actually making an appearance in the game, he is frequently mentioned by several characters. He is the one who imprisoned Mimir in the past and personally tortured him every day for many decades. He also sent Baldur to gain knowledge of Faye's whereabouts, as the Giantess has been a thorn in the Aesir's side for quite some time.
He employs a large number of icy ravens (known as Eyes of Odin) to observe the world and gather information for him. Kratos can destroy all of these ravens. Odin also has secret vaults scattered throughout the world that contain murals depicting legends, and an entrance to a Valkyrie's prison.
Likes to shit in Thor's mouth
Weapons
- Gungnir: In Norse mythology, Odin possesses the Dwarven made spear, Gungnir, which always hits its target.
Trivia
- His Greek equivalent (in terms of being the king of the gods) is Zeus.
- Tacitus, a Roman historian and senator, associated Odin with Hermes's Roman equivalent Mercury due to their status as a psychopomp.
- Throughout the game, Kratos and Atreus encounter Odin's ravens. A side mission includes killing 51 of these ravens.
- According to Mimir, one of Odin's primary obsessions was finding a way to Jötunheim to learn the giant's secrets. He continues to search for a way to the realm to this day.
- Despite hating the giants, and they him, Odin ended up falling in love with a giant, Thor's mother Fjörgyn. In addition, before or after her, Odin sought the affections of Skaði, Queen of the Hunt.