Óðinn as mother

The Old Norse deviant patriarch

Abstract

This article concerns the contradictions in the portrayal of the Old Norse god Óðinn in two 13th century Icelandic sources, Snorra-Edda and Heimskringla. It is argued that these sources present Óðinn at the same time as a patriarch and as a deviant figure involved with shamanism, shapeshifting and many kinds of queer behaviour. The author argues that though this Óðinn figure is full of contradictions, they can be explained by the superhuman status of gods who do not necessarily need to heed the restrictions and morals they impose upon humans.