Óðr
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Oth" redirects here. It also refers to CW TV Series One Tree Hill
Óðr is the husband of Freyja in Norse mythology. Although the precise mythological meaning is uncertain, the word itself means "wit, soul" and is used in compounds to mean "fierce power, energy" (from Proto-Germanic *wōþuz; compare also the etymology of Odin.)
Snorri Sturluson describes it in his Prose Edda as follows:
- "Freyja is most gently born (together with Frigg): she is wedded to the man named Ódr. Their daughter is Hnoss who is so beautiful that those things which are fair and precious are called hnossir. Ódr went away on long journeys, and Freyja weeps for him, and her tears are red gold. Freyja has many names, and this is the cause thereof: that she gave herself sundry names, when she went out among unknown peoples seeking Ódr: she is called Mardöll and Hörn, Gefn, Sýr." - Brodeur's translation
Many have remarked that Freyja and Frigg were very likely originally two versions of the same goddess. Moreover, Óðr was one of Odin's names, and Odin was Frigg's husband. Moreover, Odin was often gone on long journeys under various names. It is not unlikely that the excerpt describes Frigg's and Odin's relationship.
In Viktor Rydberg's idiosyncratic theories, Óðr was the son of Orvandil and identical with various other figures in Norse mythology.
 |
Norse mythology |
|---|---|
| List of Norse gods | Æsir | Vanir | Giants | Elves | Dwarves | Troll | Valkyries | Einherjar | Norns | Odin | Thor | Freyr | Freyja | Loki | Balder | Týr | Yggdrasil | Ginnungagap | Ragnarök | |
| Sources: Poetic Edda | Prose Edda | The Sagas | Volsung Cycle | Tyrfing Cycle | Rune stones | Old Norse language | Orthography | Later influence | |
| Society: Viking Age | Skald | Kenning | Blót | Seid | Numbers | |
| People, places and things |
