character
Old Norse
Odin
The one-eyed All-Father — god of wisdom, war, and poetry.
Origin
Chief of the Aesir. He sacrificed an eye at Mímir's well in exchange for wisdom and hanged himself on Yggdrasil for nine days to learn the runes. Two ravens, Huginn and Muninn — Thought and Memory — fly the world and report back. Wednesday (Wōden's day) is named after him.
Modern usage
Shorthand for the wise, scarred, sacrifice-bearing patriarch. Common in fantasy and tattoo culture.
Tags
wisdom
sacrifice
patriarch