Letter Never Sent Tell me when to go.

In Norse mythology, Odin descends to hell and hangs upside down on the world-tree (Yggdrasil) for nine days where he discovers the secret magic of the runes. An ex-Jesuit professor of mine used to describe Odin as a ‘kickass Jesus’. The similarities between this and the crucifixion of Jesus are interesting. The Norse version seems to be a more assertive, powerful story. Like Jesus, Odin is impaled by a spear in his side, but unlike Jesus he hangs himself UPSIDE DOWN for nine days AND in hell no less. Both end in a triumphant fashion with the resurrection and ascent of Jesus into heaven and with Odin learning the secrets of the universe.

From a Unitarian sermon:

The author of 4000 Years of Christmas theorizes that some information about Christianity came to the north in garbled form and got included in stories about Odin, who becomes an all seeing father god. Odin’s story has some amazing parallels to the crucifixion of Jesus. For nine days Odin made a sacrifice of himself and pierced by a spear, he hung on a tree. (Jesus hung on a cross not nine days but for nine hours.) At the end Odin received a drink of mead, and then he cried out the letters of the alphabet. Odin gave humanity the alphabet-runes is what they are called–which is a revelation to whoever will become versed in their mystery. It allows those who can use it the ability to speak silently, to send messages, to make records and to make shopping lists. It is the god’s gift of civilization. It’s the gift of the written word.

From About.com:

According to the Eddas, the poetic saga of the Norse Gods, the Runic alphabet was a gift from Odin. The word ‘rune’ means ‘wisper,’ or ‘secret wisdom.’ A selection from the Eddas tells of their discovery. Odin hangs for nine nights upon the world tree, wounded, without food or water; finally, he sees the reflection of the runes in the water:

“Wounded I hung on a wind-swept gallows
For nine long nights,
Pierced by a spear, pledged to Odhinn,
Offered, myself to myself
The wisest know not from whence spring
The roots of that ancient rood.

They gave me no bread,
They gave me no mead,
I looked down;
with a loud cry
I took up runes;
from that tree I fell.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 5th, 2002 at 6:43 pm and is filed under Religion/philosophy. You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.