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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 8320849" data-attributes="member: 58172">In Norway, Odin isnt a "god" in the English meaning of the cognate. (Tho Wotan in Germany is probably Roman-style god.)Odin is a nature spirit, and unimportant in Norway. Also, the shamans never seem to mention him. The shamans care about "giants" (often human size), and occasionally elves.Odin is a complex figure who consolidates different kinds of traditions, including a tradition that he is originally a human king. (Possibly, this is a later euhemerism. Neverthless, in the Norse view, humans could become Aesir. For example, Skirnir who does magic to help Frey, appears to be human.)Anyway, the central idea is, Odin is the mind of the agricultural astronomical calendar. His two sons Baldr and Hodr, function as daylight hours and nightdark hours, respectively.But there is more going on with him than just this.For example, his name literally means "the fury", and refers to entering into a magical trance. Hence he is responsible for various kinds of inspiration, such as the berserkar rage, the successful military strategy, and the songs of the skald. For Norwegians, he is the equivalent of a Greek muse. Heh, which is precisely why, the internationalist skald give Odin so much good propaganda, despite the fact that nobody else cares about him.His inspiration relates to inspiring how the seasons should cycle.</blockquote>