Odin is often pictured with 4 animal companions. What were they, their names and what purpose did they serve to Lord Odin?
2006-07-09 15:24:52 · 3 answers · asked by lilbitadevil 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
There are 5 that I know of.
Sleipnir, his 8 legged horse, who was the son of Loki.
Huginn, and Muninn, (ravens I think) who fly all over the world every day and report what goes on to Odin.(Their names mean Thought and Memory.)
He also has two wolves, Geri, and Freki. He feeds them his food since he only consumes wine. Other than those, I can't think of any others. My guess would be that they're just his companions, like we'd have dogs.
2006-07-09 15:33:30 · answer #1 · answered by Pixie-elf 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Attributes of Odin are Sleipnir, an eight-legged horse, which was given to Odin by Loki, and the severed head of Mimir, which foretold the future. He employed Valkyries to gather the souls of warriors fallen in battle (the Einheriar), as these would be needed to fight for him in the battle of Ragnarok. They took the souls of the warriors to Valhalla (the hall of the fallen), Odin's residence in Asgard.
Hugi and Munnin (Thought and Memory), are Odin's companions. In scandinavian mythology, they travel all over the world and come back to tell Odin all the events that happens on earth.
2006-07-10 00:31:17 · answer #2 · answered by I love my husband 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The two crows are memory and thought. they were sent by Odin to fly over all the world and sunrise and supposedly would return by breakfast and tell Odin everything they saw and in this way Odin was considered to know everything. I forget the wolf's name but his purpose I believe was that of your typical pet dog today: to give companionship to his master. I believe the last animal was a multi-legged horse that Odin used for travel.
2006-07-09 22:33:51 · answer #3 · answered by West Coast Nomad 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋