The Legacy of the All-Father (Part 1): The Mythical Sons of Odin

In this episode, Shawn ventures deeper into Norse Mythology to explore the sons of the god nearly at the top of the family tree, Odin, as told in Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda. Using the first 3 parts of the edda, you have a list of 10 gods mentioned as being the son of the All-Father (one also being his grandson funny enough)..... And also a daughter/wife who is also a celestial body we may know of...

Per Gylfaginning, Thor, Balder, Hod, Vali, Hermod, and Vidar not only are simply described, but they each play a role in the events surrounding the twilight of the gods, Ragnarok. And that is where the children of Loki (possibly Odin's brother) come in. The children of Odin and Loki serve as opposing forces in either preventing or spearheading the "battle of the Vigrid Fields" and many play a part in the battle itself. Interesting because you could argue the universe that Odin (and Loki?) created, was always fated to burn due to the actions of its creators.

Shawn also discusses Odin's role in understanding his own fate to die, but also laying the groundwork for his descendants, both mythical and "historical" (the latter of which we will discuss in part 2).

Sources used:

• The Poetic Edda (Hackett Publishing) - translations by Jackson Crawford
• The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology (Penguin Classics) - translations by Jesse Byock

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