# Odin — Bulfinch’s Mythology character guide > Odin in Bulfinch’s Mythology by Thomas Bulfinch. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Wotan **First appearance:** 0004-i-introduction ## Snapshot All-father of the Norse gods, who trades an eye for wisdom and leads the doomed charge at Ragnarok against the wolf Fenris. ## Who they are Odin rules Valhalla as chief of the Aesir, god of wisdom, war, and poetry, the figure Germanic peoples renamed Wotan. His hunger for knowledge and victory sets the gods' course, yet that same foreknowledge binds him to a fate he cannot dodge: the wolf Fenris, the triple winter, the burning of the world. He anchors Bulfinch's northern cycle, giving the Norse pantheon its brooding, elegiac weight beside the sunnier gods of Greece. ## In the story ### [Northern Mythology—Valhalla—The Valkyrior](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xxxviii-northern-mythology-valhalla-the-valkyrior) Chief of the gods, ruler of Asgard and Valhalla, inventor of Runic characters, sends Valkyrie to choose slain heroes. ### [Northern Mythology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/northern-mythology) Odin, the chief god, along with his brothers Vili and Ve, slays the giant Ymir and creates the world. He gives life and soul to the first humans, Aske and Embla, and later rules from Valhalla, receiving reports from his ravens Hugin and Munin. ### [Of the Joys of Valhalla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/of-the-joys-of-valhalla) Odin is the lord of Valhalla, feasting with his chosen heroes. ### [The Valkyrie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-valkyrie) Odin sends the Valkyrie to battlefields to select slain heroes for Valhalla. ### [Of Thor and the Other Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/of-thor-and-the-other-gods) Odin is mentioned as the father of Thor, the thunderer. ### [Of Loki and His Progeny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/of-loki-and-his-progeny) Odin sends for Loki's children and casts the Midgard serpent into the ocean and Hela into Niffleheim. ### [How Thor Paid the Mountain Giant His Wages](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/how-thor-paid-the-mountain-giant-his-wages) Odin is implied among the gods who sit in judgment and consult on how to avoid giving Freya and the sun and moon to the giant. ### [The Recovery of the Hammer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-recovery-of-the-hammer) Frey once mounted Odin's throne to see across the universe, leading to his love for Gerda. ### [Thor's Visit to Jotunheim, the Giant's Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/thor-s-visit-to-jotunheim-the-giant-s-country) Not directly present; no mention in the excerpts. ### [XL: The Death of Baldur—The Elves—Runic Letters—Iceland—Teutonic Mythology—Nibelungen Lied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/xl-the-death-of-baldur-the-elves-runic-letters-iceland-teutonic-mythology-nibelungen-lied) Odin, father of Baldur, consults the prophetess Angerbode and later sends Hermod to Hel to ransom Baldur. ### [The Death of Baldur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-death-of-baldur) Father of Baldur, who consults the prophetess Angerbode and later sends Hermod to Hel. ### [The Funeral of Baldur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-funeral-of-baldur) Came to Baldur's obsequies accompanied by Frigga, the Valkyrie, and his ravens; later found Loki's hiding place. ### [Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/ragnarok-the-twilight-of-the-gods) Leads the gods into battle against the wolf Fenris, but is killed by the monster. ### [Runic Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/runic-letters) Referenced in Gray's ode on the Descent of Odin, which describes the use of Runic letters for incantation. ### [Teutonic Mythology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/teutonic-mythology) Referred to as Wotan in Teutonic mythology, representing a less warlike aspect than in Scandinavian myths. ### [The Nibelungen Lied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/the-nibelungen-lied) Referenced as Wotan, part of the prehistoric Teutonic pantheon worshipped when the epic originated. ### [Wagner’s Nibelungen Ring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/wagner-s-nibelungen-ring) Referred to as Wotan, chief of the gods, who schemes to recover the ring and ultimately faces the downfall of Valhalla. ### [F](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/f) His wolf Freki is mentioned. ### [H](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/h) Father of Hermod and associated with the ravens Hugin and Munin. ### [O](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/o) Chief of the Norse gods. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as the god whose hall is Valhalla and who sends Valkyries to select slain heroes. ### [W](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/w) Referenced as Woden, the chief god in Norse mythology, and as Wotan in Old High German. ### [Y](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/chapters/y) Mentioned as the slayer of the giant Ymir in Norse mythology. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/characters/odin - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bulfinch_s_mythology_se/characters