"And what of the gods" Asked Gylfi.
High, Just-As-High, and Third exchanged looks. Their visitor whom they believed to be called Gangleri had asked for a rather lengthy account.
'Very well then." High said in reply.
"We shall begin with the All Seeing Odin...."
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THE king of the Aesir is known by many names. He is The Wanderer, The All-Father, The Ancient One, The Riddler, The Blind Guest.
He is the Ásagrimmr
Odin dons the clothes of weary traveler. His graying robes hang upon his frame rather deceitfully and Upon his head rests a tattered hat. He doesn't look much at all like a warrior god should yet there is none who would wield a spear as he. It is said that when he sits on his throne in Valaskialf all Nine are revealed to his one eye. He is the wisest of all and has knowledge uncomparable.
The ebony feathers of his ravens encompass Midgard as they patrol for him. No dire happening escapes their beady eyes. To Odin they narrate their tales. They are Huginn and Muninn. Also at the divinity's side is Geri and Freki. Greedy and Ravenous. Sleipnir, offspring of Loki, is his eight legged steed, quicker than all.
There is a price for everything, as they do say. Odin knew of this first hand. His thirst for knowledge drove him impossible lengths.A a relentless seeker he is. For nine days and nine nights he hung from Yggdrasil. His deadly spear protruded from his body as his blood flowed down the crevices of the Ash. Jealousy of the Norns' wisdom and runes led him to extremes. After these days Odin received the knowledge of runes.
Mimir's Well is where the protector of outlaws lost his one eye. There, quite obviously, resided Mimir. He was a being with knowledge rivaled by very. very few people. This trait of his cane from the Well of Urd's water. The waters imparted cosmic knowledge unto that who drink it. Odin had ventured to The Well in hopes of stealing a drink of the water, Mimir did not give in. For a drink he asked one thing in return, one of The All-Father's eyes.
Odin did not hesitate, instantly he gouged out his eyeball and handed it oh so quickly to the shadow being. Mimir was rather flabbergasted by the king's compliance but he did indeed dip his horn into the Well and gave the one eyed god his promised drink. And thus Odin knows what occurs all throughout the cosmos.
Among the gods he was behind only the beautiful Freya in his practice of shamanism. The tradition the two followed was seidr. A man would be scorned for engaging with the practice, for he would adopt femininity. Odin was not exempt from the disdainful thoughts of others. By assuming the roles of women he brought upon himself "the foulest scandal on the name of gods". He did not care in the slightest, any ecstatic task was irrefutable to him.
(moral of the story. Odin doesn't a give a damn)
In trickery perhaps only Loki can surpass him. His wit is marvelous, as he stole the Mead of Poetry without much in his way. After lengthy sips from the vats he gained unprecedented poetic skill. Odin only speaks in stanzas. He is a warrior-poet.
All of this would be considered a mere side note to the full responsibility under his title. Odin is the god of death foremost among everything. He presides over Valhalla and will take the einherjar to The Battle. Odin thrives for the wisdom the dead possess and he dabbles in necromancy.
Odin is called many things yet above all he is the All-Father.
Odin dwells at the heart of the world.
He is everything.
He knows all.
