Wednesday 5 August 2015

Wodan And Odin

Two-eyed Wodan became one-eyed Odin. We might see part of this process in Poul Anderson's "The Sorrow Of Odin The Goth."

"'He still has two eyes,' I explained, 'but he already has the hat, the cloak, and the spear, which is really a staff. You see, he's the Wanderer.'" (Time Patrol, p. 390)

"...he lifted his head. The hat brim shadowed his face." (p. 406)

"The Wanderer trod forth. Again he raised his spear to bring silence. The hat shadowed his face, making him twice uncanny to behold; the blue cloak fell from his shoulders like wings." (pp. 420-421)

"He trod nigh until she could see beneath the shadowing hat." (p. 440)

"...a tall gray-bearded man. Hat and cloak hid any real sight of him. In his right hand he bore a spear." (p. 454)

So - if it is remembered that his hat shadowed his face, then it might not be remembered how many eyes he had. DC Comics have a supernatural character called the Phantom Stranger who wears a cloak and a broad-brimmed hat. There are two artistic conventions. Either the Stranger wears an eye-mask or his hat brim shadows his face...

1 comment:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

Don't forget Poul Anderson's THE GOLDEN SLAVE. He gives us another version of how the legends about Wodan/Odin began. AND in that novel we see "Wodan" LOSING an eye.

Sean