Odin/Mercury

[Dustypuppy]

It is well documented that Odin's cult is exceedingly ancient. By Roman times his alter ego- 'Wodan' was often invoked in battle, also displaying the oft mentioned flaws of being sinister and fickle. In the first century CE Tacitus identifies Wodan with the Roman God Mercury, stating that he was the chief God to whom many sacrifices were made. Its made me think however, surely being head of the Pantheon would link Odin with Jupiter and not Mercury, who being the Roman answer to Hermes, the messanger of the Gods, this role being fulfilled in Norse mythology by Hermod.Wodan was also connected to trade which I presume Mercury was too, being a Messenger God, the links would be obvious to the distances covered by cargo. Odin, also particularly relates to war, taking half of those slain on the battlefied to his hall Valhalla, again I don't see any connections with Mercury and this role, any enlightenment on this?x

[Carla O'Harris]

Solving this riddle centers around understanding the concept of "wod" of which Woden is the master, an understanding not shared by the Romans.

"Wod" is a mad force of rushing that is found in fits of inspiration and rage. Because of this, and Woden's connection with the runes/letters, his connection to the god Mercury who ruled over the letters as well as inspiration was appropriate.

Odin was not a "god of war". That falls to Tyr, the god of soldiers. But Odin did rule over a clan of warrior-protectors, and therefore he would be called upon in battle for a couple of different reasons :

1. As the High Father of the gods, one would appeal to him for important ventures.

2. For his superior wit and strategic skill stemming from his vast intelligence and poetic might, his odr, skills of intelligence needed in warfare. Odin invented the wedge-formation so often used, and thus as a master of strategy was called upon. Note that by making "Mercury" their chief god, they are distinguishing him from someone who rules by force, but instead by cunning. One might say that the chief of the Germanic gods was a wizard, and therefore Mercury was appropriate.

3. For his raging power needed in a rush, rushes that were characteristic of Germanic warfare according to Tacitus.

[Twinkle]

It is well documented that Odin's cult is exceedingly ancient. By Roman times his alter ego- 'Wodan' was often invoked in battle, also displaying the oft mentioned flaws of being sinister and fickle. In the first century CE Tacitus identifies Wodan with the Roman God Mercury, stating that he was the chief God to whom many sacrifices were made. Its made me think however, surely being head of the Pantheon would link Odin with Jupiter and not Mercury, who being the Roman answer to Hermes, the messanger of the Gods, this role being fulfilled in Norse mythology by Hermod.Wodan was also connected to trade which I presume Mercury was too, being a Messenger God, the links would be obvious to the distances covered by cargo. Odin, also particularly relates to war, taking half of those slain on the battlefied to his hall Valhalla, again I don't see any connections with Mercury and this role, any enlightenment on this?x


You're assuming that the gods are not separate and distinct...which, for me, they are.

Commonalities do not equal the same. I worship Hermes....not Odin....not Mercury.

All three of these gods are separate and distinct...although they do emanate from one Source.

[David19]

I also agree, Odin, Mercury, Hermes are distinct entities in their own rights, not the same being.

Perhaps, the Romans were saying Odin was the 'Mercury of the Norse', in that he fulfilled similar funcions of the Roman Mercury, not that they were the same?.

[David19]

I don't think the Romans cared. They were not the hard polytheists some project into them.

Maybe you're right, they probably didn't care, and they probably didn't care about Odin either, they didn't really care about many of the cultures they invaded either, so i don't know why people want to take their word for it that what they had to say about the gods of the people they conquered (would you ever trust Bush about what he said about Allah?).