Well, motivemagus, that Odin (Oðinn) was the top god is the picture we get from Snorri Sturluson, who was himself Christian and wrote several centuries after the period he describes. However, if one takes a look at Scandinavian toponyms, one might be excused for wondering if Tor (Þórr) wasn’t the main, or at least, most worshipped god ; indeed, in the cult, both Tor and Frej (Freyr, Frøyr) seem to have been more important than Odin. To greatly oversimplify, Tor, the thunder god, seems to have been the brawn of the operation, while Odin was the brains. Interestingly, Odin was said to have sacrificed an eye to attain wisdom - one might speculate that this sacrifice may have appealed to a Christian and strategist like Snorri, who perhaps wittingly or unwittingly exaggerated Odin’s importance….
Well, motivemagus, that Odin (Oðinn) was the top god is the picture we get from Snorri Sturluson, who was himself Christian and wrote several centuries after the period he describes. However, if one takes a look at Scandinavian toponyms, one might be excused for wondering if Tor (Þórr) wasn’t the main, or at least, most worshipped god ; indeed, in the cult, both Tor and Frej (Freyr, Frøyr) seem to have been more important than Odin. To greatly oversimplify, Tor, the thunder god, seems to have been the brawn of the operation, while Odin was the brains. Interestingly, Odin was said to have sacrificed an eye to attain wisdom - one might speculate that this sacrifice may have appealed to a Christian and strategist like Snorri, who perhaps wittingly or unwittingly exaggerated Odin’s importance….
Henri