Odin's eye

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Odin, in his guise as a wanderer, by Georg von Rosen (1886). Georg von Rosen - Oden som vandringsman, 1886 (Odin, the Wanderer).jpg
Odin, in his guise as a wanderer, by Georg von Rosen (1886).

The Norse god Odin is typically portrayed as having only one eye. The myths which explain this state that it is the result of his pursuit of knowledge, which leds him to sacrifice his right eye to gain cosmic knowledge from the mythical well of Mimir. Odin is the father of the gods and is commonly referred to as the All-father, and the King of Asgard. He is primarily associated with war and battle, the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge, healing, sorcery and above all royalty. The myth is mainly concerned with the price of wisdom, and what an individual will pay to gain what they desire. In drinking the waters of Mimir's Well, Odin is able to see more with one eye than he did previously with two. It establishes Odin's great desire for wisdom and knowledge, and also emphasises that the greater the sacrifice, the greater the reward.

Contents

The myth was originally carried by the Norsemen who inhabited the north west of Europe and who sailed to ‘Britain, and to other parts of Europe including Normandy in France, and Sicily, and some went to Greenland and all the way to North America'. [1] The myth originated around the 9th century AD and was ‘passed down in the form of poetry until the 11th – 18th centuries when the Eddas and other medieval texts were written’ [2] . It is found today in modern translations of the Poetic Eda: Gylfaginning and the Völuspá, both of which are in the public domain. Both of these ancient sources give the same series of events which depict Odin's desperate quest to gain cosmic wisdom, especially surrounding his own demise and the prophecy of Ragnarok.

Synopsis

According to both The Prose Edda and The Poetic Edda, Odin in his search for wisdom put on his traveller's guise and went to the land of the giants in search of Mimir's well. The Well of Mimir was located in Jotunheim, the land of the Frost Giants, and fed the Yggdrasil, the world tree that held the 9 realms in balance. [3] Mimir the Wise One was the guardian of memories who protected the well of cosmic knowledge. Biologically, Mimir was an uncle to Odin, whose giantess mother Bestla was a sister to Mimir. [4] Despite their family bond, Mimir refused to allow Odin to drink from the well without any payment. Thus, Odin gouged out his right eye and placed it into the well. After he had done this, Mimir filled Gjallerhorn, the horn with which he drank from the well, and allowed Odin to drink. After he had drunk, Odin was able to foresee his final doom — his fate was to be killed by the wolf Fenrir during Ragnarok. Fenrir, who was bound with the chain Gleipnir in an effort to prevent both Ragnarok and the death of Odin, was one of the gods of mischief, Loki's three monstrous children.

Odin's journey and sacrifice emphasised his nature as the God of wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge. This reinforced his place as a prominent deity in Norse pantheon.

The Meaning of Mimir

Etymologically, the word Memory is cognate with Mimir's name. John Lindow believes that the word memory is associated with Odin because he valued and understood it, especially because it ties in with his domain as the god of wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge. Lindow states that ‘It stands at the very center of the Odinic universe’, meaning that it is a trait that separates him from other Nordic deities. [5] Lindow is a professor emeritus who taught Scandinavian medieval studies and folklore at the University of California Berkley.

A plate from a Vendel era helmet featuring a figure riding a horse, holding a spear and shield, and confronted by a serpent Del av hjalm vendel vendeltid mojligen oden.jpg
A plate from a Vendel era helmet featuring a figure riding a horse, holding a spear and shield, and confronted by a serpent

There are several interpretations of the meaning of Odin's sacrifice, and the significance of sacrificing an eye to gain greater vision.

Losing an Eye to gain greater vision

The loss of an eye to see more wholly is a paradoxical concept, which displays the importance of wisdom both to Odin's character and to his Nordic and Germanic followers. The motif of losing eyes or sacrificing eyes was an important part of many ancient myths, and is present several times in Nordic mythology. It emphasises that one with two eyes can, in a way, be even more blind then one whose vision is impaired. The myth plays the metaphorical meaning of sight, interpreting the wisdom acquired from Mimir's well to be the foresight, rather than what can be physically seen.

Independent scholar Moe Bedard [6] believes that there is a correlation between Odin's one eye and the Egyptian symbol, the ‘The Eye of Horus’. The Eye of Horus, also referred to as Wedjat, was a symbol of protection, royalty, power and health. [7] Horus loses his eye in battle with his usurping uncle, Seth; however, it is recovered and restored, also symbolising new life. This act restores the Egyptian line of succession, symbolises new life and new beginnings. Both the lost eyes of Odin and Horus represent sacrifice, healing and restoration. While Horus offers his eye for the resurrection of his father, Odin sacrifices his eye to protect his people from the impending Ragnarok, the prophetic destruction of his home, Asgard, lead by Surtr.

Historical Sources

The myth of Odin's eye is contained in two texts from antiquity, the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda. Both offer the same version of events which resulted in Odin's sacrifice of his eye. Both are available in the public domain with several translations.

The Poetic Edda

Poetic Edda was translated from Icelandic by Henry Adams Bellows, who also added commentary, in 1936 in association with Princeton University Press, New York. The word Edda comes from old Norse and means poetry. It is currently unknown who the original authors of the Poetic Edda were, however it is currently credited to Snorri Sturluson although he did not physically write it. The Poetic Edda is believed to have been written some 50–60 years after Sturluson's death in 1241. It is estimated that the Poetic Edda was first transcribed in about 1300 AD. [8]

Additionally, a ‘Younger Edda’, has been translated by Arthur G. Brodeur, published by the American-Scandinavian Foundation in 1916. However, it is less popular Sturlusons Poetic Edda, especially in Iceland. Besides Sturluson's Poetic Edda, there is an Edda attributed to Sæmund the Wise (1056–1133) who is considered a forerunner to Sturluson. Scholars believe that Sturluson's Poetic Edda was based on Sæmund's. The three Edda's are known as Sæmund's Edda, The Elder Edda or the Poetic Edda and the Younger Edda. Sæmund's Edda, the Elder Edda or the Poetic Edda it has been known to this day. Today there are surviving manuscripts of the Poetic Edda, housed in the Royal Library in Copenhagen, (the Codex Regius, R2365), which has served as the database for all Eddic poems in various forms. [8]

The Prose Edda

The Prose Edda was also composed by Snorri Sturluson written in the same time frame as the Poetic Edda, around 1300AD. It was initially named The Edda, however it was later updated to the Prose Edda, as not to confuse readers with the other works with the name Edda. The Prose Edda contained many Nordic tales, lore and important plot points. [9] The text was intended to be read alongside Sturluson's Poetic Edda. Despite being a Christian, he still wrote about Norse myth with respect, although he viewed it as Pagan. This source is also highly valuable, as it contains fragments of Nordic which have been lost. The Prose Edda also gives rational explanations for myths and legends to provide a backstory for the Nordic Gods. The Prose Edda contains seven individual manuscripts, which have independent textual value.

Marvel

Marvel Cinematic Universe

In Stan Lee's Marvel Cinematic Universe, a different explanation is given for Odin's missing eye. Odin, is portrayed by Welsh actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins, and appears in all of the Thor franchise's films since 2011, as the father of Thor, and the adoptive father of Loki. Marvel's official webpage for Odin states that during the war against the Frost Giants in 965AD, Odin fought King Laufey and lost an eye to his foe, but won the battle' [10] . This version of events is depicted in the first Thor movie through a series of flashbacks at various points of the film. These events do not correspond to the events depicted in the Poetic Eda: Gylfaginning and the Völuspa. The loss of Odin’s eye is alluded to in the first Thor film, 2011, in which Odin is shown in a post battle scene with a bloodied eye socket. The film does not explicitly state when during the war against the Frost Giants Odin loses his eye, only that he loses it as a consequence of battle.

Comics

Conversely, Marvel’s original comics follows closely to the myth in the Edda. Since, Odin’s first appearance in the comics in the ‘Journey into Mystery #86’ published in November of 1962, his character in the comics has maintained his traditional mythology. According to Marvel’s site on Odin in the comics, that ‘As the time of Ragnarok came closer, Odin sacrificed his right eye to the creature Mimir for wisdom [5] . However, it took several years for Odin to be drawn with his missing eye, despite the comics staying true to the myths.

Gaming

Odin’s eye has begun to appear in modern gaming, referencing the journey that Odin went on to gain cosmic knowledge and the mythical powers attributed to the eye.

The one-eyed Odin with his ravens Hugin and Munin and his weapons. Manuscript Odinn.jpg
The one-eyed Odin with his ravens Hugin and Munin and his weapons.

The Journalist Journey: The Eye of Odin

This game, created by The Big Fish, follows a reporter, Cathy who undertakes the journey that Odin took to find the well of Mimir to gain cosmic knowledge. The game takes a puzzle format and encourages players, who impersonate the reporter whose objective is to ascertain the meaning of ‘Strange, glowing symbols are appearing all over the world’ [11] in the form of an assignment from the reporter's editor. The game features multiple mini-games along the journey to Minir's Well. The game's storyline is synonymous with the myth presented in Nordic writings.

God of War

God of War is an M rated game, featuring Gods of Nordic backgrounds. Created by Cory Barlog, God of War sees players embody a man, Kratos who must adapt to foreign territory and danger. During the course of the game, he is offered a second chance at being a father to his son Atreus. The duo's aim is to survive the Norse wilds and complete a personal quest. [12] In the game, there are 51 Eye of Odin Ravens, that players are able to collect to earn the ‘Allfather Blinded’ Trophy'. [13] Players must rely on both audio and visual clues to locate the ravens, as they all emit distinctive calls. The scenery of the game draws heavily on Nordic myth, and several high-profile Nordic characters are mentioned, namely, the Valkyries, the realms Jotunheim, Asgard, Helheim and Alfheim. Despite this, Odin is never physically seen in the game.

Disney's Gargoyles

Odin is briefly mentioned in the animated Disney television series Gargoyles (1994–1997) in the 36th episode of the second season, "Eye of the Storm". Odin is portrayed as one of Oberon's children, riding his steed, Sleipnir, depicted with four legs instead of eight. In the course of the episode, Odin both quarrels with Goliath then peacefully settles the argument, which allows him to regain his missing right eye. The show also mentions Odin's eye as an artefact which is enchanted and bejewelled.

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References

  1. ↑ Sebag-Montefiore., Charlotte (2012-02-14). "Odin's Eye". Storynory. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  2. ↑ "The Origins of the Norse Mythology". The Norse Gods. 2009-02-14. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  3. ↑ McCoy, Daniel (2019). "Why Odin is One-Eyed". Norse Mythology for Smart People. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  4. ↑ Gaiman, Neil (2018-04-24). Norse mythology. Rearsby, Leicester: Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 34–38 (ch4). ISBN   978-1-4328-5233-7. OCLC   1040070883.
  5. 1 2 Lindow, John (2002). Norse mythology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 69, 71, 144–145, 187, 248, 318.
  6. ↑ Moe, Bedard (2014-11-13). "The One Eye of Odin and Jupiter". Gnostic Warrior. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  7. ↑ "Eye of Horus", Wikipedia, 2019-05-04, retrieved 2019-05-31
  8. 1 2 Bellows, Henry Adam; Sturluson, Snorri (1300). The Poetic Edda, Völuspá. Translated in 1936 by Bellows. Princeton: University Press: Princeton American Scandinavian Foundation. pp. 3, 341.
  9. ↑ Sturluson, Snorri; Brodeur, Arthur Gilchrist (1916). The Prose Edda. Princeton University Press. p. 1.
  10. ↑ "Odin On Screen Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  11. ↑ "Journalist Journey: The Eye of Odin for iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC! Big Fish is the #1 place for the best FREE games". Big Fish Games :: Safe & Secure Game Downloads. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  12. ↑ "God of War – Game Info". godofwar.playstation.com. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  13. ↑ Guide, Sam Loveridge 2019-04-05T14:18:29Z. "How to find all 51 God of War Eyes of Odin ravens and earn the Allfather Blinded trophy". gamesradar. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
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