#óðins rune song

[nofatclips]

Óðinnblót by Panzerwar from the album Warlord

[talonabraxas]

I know that I hung on a windy tree nine long nights, wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin, myself to myself, on that tree of which no man knows from where its roots run. Rúnatal or Óðins Rune Song, Rúnatáls-þáttr-Óðins (stanzas 139–146) Ritual of the Ninth Night by Talon Abraxas 

[atheostic]

The Abrahamic god’s views on knowledge-sharing compared to those of 2 other gods

I find it very interesting how differently Yahweh (the god of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) is portrayed compared to other gods in regard to knowledge-sharing. 

I’m gonna focus on just two other deities because otherwise this would get even longer than it already is (and I’m lazy).

Yahweh

Yahweh is very clearly and explicitly against humans having knowledge in general, let alone sharing it. We know this from several stories, the two most well-known probably being

When he forbids Eve and Adam from eating from the Fruit of Knowledge of Good and Evil (and subsequently punishes them severely for seeking/gaining knowledge).

When he makes people unable to communicate with each other because they were cooperating and sharing knowledge, which was a big no-no. (Note: the story is different in Islam)

Prometheus

While most of the Hellenic gods were against sharing their knowledge of fire with men, Prometheus defied them because, being the creator of men, he felt it was his duty to care for them.

Though at first it seems that the tale of Prometheus is anti-knowledge sharing (the dude gets punished severely for his actions, after all), it’s important to keep in mind that the other gods are NOT the good guys in the story. Prometheus is, meaning that his actions of sharing knowledge with men is to be perceived as a good thing.

Remember, the Hellenic deities were not depicted as all good. They were capricious and just as flawed as mortals. Them punishing someone does not have the automatic implication that the person being punished was in the wrong like in the Abrahamic religions.

Odin

In Norse mythology, it is typically understood that gaining knowledge and wisdom comes with sacrifice and hard work, regardless of who you are. 

We see several examples of this, most notably in the case of Odin giving up his eye to gain the right to drink from Mimir’s Well and hanging from a tree for nine days and nights with a spear through his chest in order to be worthy of the Runes making themselves known to him. 

“I know that I hung on a windy tree nine long nights, wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin, myself to myself, . . . Until I spied the Runes . . . Then I was fertilized and became wise; I truly grew and thrived.  From a word to a word I was led to a word, From a work to a work I was led to a work.”

Rúnatal, or Rúnatáls-þáttr-Óðins (Odin’s Rune Song), The Hávamál, Stanzas 138-140

In both cases, upon gaining knowledge, he sets out to share what he has learned. In the case of wisdom, he typically imparts useful insight that helps heroes on their quests, although he is also known to share his wisdom with the common folk, such as in the Hávámal).

In the case of the Runes, he sets out to travel the world and impart the knowledge to anyone who wants to learn, no strings attached.

In the Hávámal we also learn of the time Odin stole the Mead of Poetry from the Dwarves (who were hoarding it for themselves) with the intent of sharing it with Asgard’s residents (who weren’t all Æsir!).

Honourable Mention:

Anansi the Spider Man

Since he’s not a god (he’s extremely powerful and magical, but not a deity) he doesn’t make the final cut. However, the tale of Anansi and the Story Chest perfectly showcases Bantu culture’s view regarding knowledge-sharing.

The tl;dr version of the story (that I was told growing up) goes like this:

Long ago, humanity’s life was hard. Anansi saw the people suffering and decided to try to help. So he weaved a ladder up to the clouds to ask Nyame the Sky God to share his story chest with humanity. 

Nyame laughed in his face and said no, but Anansi pleaded with him, saying he was willing to take on whatever task Nyame set for him in exchange for the chest.

Cue the vynil scratch sound and Nyame going “Aaaanything?”

“Yup.” Anansi responded. So Nyame gave him three impossible tasks to complete, all of which Anansi succeeded at through cleverness.

Nyame had no choice but to keep his word, and reluctantly handed over the chest. Anansi climbed down his ladder, opened the box, and set free all the knowledge stories held within. Ever since then, humanity has flourished, thanks to Anansi.

[dipchronicles]

(via Viking Music - Rúnatal Óðins Rune Song)

[atheostic]

Religion Facts

The younger Jelling stone (erected by Harald Bluetooth at around 970 CE) shows the crucifixion of Christ with the victim suspended in the branches of a tree instead of on a cross.

This is likely a throwback from Norse mythology, as according to attestations (e.g. the passage from Rúnatal featured below), Odin had to prove himself worthy of the Runes revealing themselves to him, which he did by hanging from a tree (gaining him the title of God of the Gallows) with a spear through his chest for nine days and nights:

“I know that I hung on a windy tree nine long nights, wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin, myself to myself,  …  Until I spied the Runes  … Then I was fertilized and became wise; I truly grew and thrived. From a word to a word I was led to a word, From a work to a work I was led to a work.”

Rúnatáls-þáttr-Óðins (Odin’s Rune Song), The Hávamál, Stanzas 138-140

[atheostic]

Norse Mythology in Tolkien’s Work: Gandalf vs Odin

People like to go on and on about how Tolkien’s work is super Christian, but if you know your Norse lore you know the thing is basically Norse Pagan fanfiction with Christianity imposed in here and there. (Christians get super upset when I point this out to them for some reason).

Tolkien’s Gandalf the Grey is thoroughly based on Odin. 

Like, he’s basically a copy-and-paste version of him.

Here are some of the parallels between the two:

Gandalf is a mysterious old man known for wandering throughout the world and carrying a staff.

Odin is renowned for travelling the world in the form of a mysterious old man with a staff.

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Gandalf wears a grey cloak and wide-brimmed hat, and is known as the Grey Wanderer.

While travelling, Odin is said to wear a grey cloak and wide-brimmed hat (though Odin sometimes wears a hood instead), and is known as the Grey Wanderer.

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Gandalf is often shown giving wise counsel to heroes (Thorin, Bilbo, Frodo, etc), often triggering their choice to go on adventures/quests.

In hero stories, Odin often appears to dispense wisdom to heroes, often triggering their choice to go on adventures/quests .

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Gandalf is not immune to the allure of a powerful gold ring which brings misery and tragedy to those who own it.  

Odin is not immune to the allure of a powerful gold ring which brings misery and tragedy to those who own it -- as seen in “The Otter’s Ransom”, Odin tries to keep the ring Andvaranaut to himself but is forced to hand it over to Hreidmar as ransom for Otter’s death.

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Gandalf dies and comes back to life, becoming wiser than he was before.

Odin dies and comes back to life - Odin is said to have been hung from a tree, which is when he was given the knowledge of Runes, becoming wiser than before.

“I know that I hung on a windy tree nine long nights, wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin, myself to myself, … Until I spied the Runes … Then I was fertilized and became wise; I truly grew and thrived. From a word to a word I was led to a word, From a work to a work I was led to a work.”

Rúnatáls-þáttr-Óðins (Odin’s Rune Song), The Hávamál, Stanzas 138-140

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Gandalf rides the world’s fastest horse, Shadowfax. Odin rides the world’s fastest horse, Sleipnir.

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^ Artistic rendition of Odin

[atheostic]

Norse Mythology 101: Where Did the Runes Come From?

According to attestations (e.g. the passage from Rúnatal featured below), Odin brought humanity knowledge of the Runes and how to utilize them, but he didn’t create them. 

^  "Odin's Self-sacrifice" (1908) by W. G. Collingwood.

He had to prove himself worthy of them revealing themselves to him, which he did by hanging from a tree (gaining him the title of God of the Gallows) with a spear through his chest for nine days and nights:

“I know that I hung on a windy tree nine long nights, wounded with a spear, dedicated to Odin, myself to myself,  . . .  Until I spied the Runes  . . . Then I was fertilized and became wise; I truly grew and thrived. From a word to a word I was led to a word, From a work to a work I was led to a work.”

Rúnatáls-þáttr-Óðins (Odin’s Rune Song), The Hávamál, Stanzas 138-140

In some ways, the Runes are like characters in the story; they have a conscience, as THEY decided to reveal themselves.

This is why when speaking of the Runes as magical “beings”/tools, they are capitalized, whereas when one is talking about them in a more academic sense (e.g. discussing them from an archaeological or linguistical mindset) they are typically not capitalized (Note that if the academic work is talking about them in a more cultural sense or referring to them as characters in a mythological story they may capitalize them).