The chief god of the Norse pantheon and the leader of the Aesir. He is called Alfadir, Allfather, for he is the father of the gods. With Frigg he is the father of Balder, Hod, and Hermod. He fathered Thor on the goddess Jord; and the giantess Grid became the mother of Vidar.

Odin is a god of war and death, but also the god of poetry and wisdom. His hall in Asgard is Valaskjalf ("shelf of the slain") where his throne Hlidskjalf is located. From this throne he observes all that happens in the nine worlds. He also resides in Valhalla, where the slain warriors are taken. Odin has only one eye, which blazes like the sun. His other eye he traded for a drink from the Well of Wisdom, and gained immense knowledge.

"Odin." Encyclopedia Mythica from Encyclopedia Mythica Online. <http://www.pantheon.org/articles/o/odin.html> [Accessed February 12, 2004].