Changes

== Deities ==

== Deities ==

=== Odin ===

=== Odin ===

'''Odin''' is usually said to be the leader of the gods. He has many alternate names (Bolverk, Vegtam, Gandalf, Ygg, Valfather, to name a few), and many areas of interest, including [[war]] and [[death]], [[poetry]] and [[art]], and wisdom in general. Also, Odin is credited with the creation of [[human|humans,]] along with two other gods, either his brothers Vili and Ve, or his friends Hoenir and Lodur, depending on which mythological source you happen to read.

'''Odin''' is usually said to be the leader of the gods. He has many alternate names (Bolverk, Wegtam, Gandalf, Ygg, Valfather, to name a few), and many areas of interest, including [[war]] and [[death]], [[poetry]] and [[art]], and wisdom in general. Also, Odin is credited with the creation of [[human|humans,]] along with two other gods, either his brothers Vili and Ve, or his friends Hoenir and Lodur, depending on which mythological source you happen to read.

In the myths, Odin is easy to recognize, even when he is disguised as Vegtam the Wanderer. He traded one eye for a drink from the Well of Wisdom, so he wears a large floppy hat pulled low over his face, or drapes his long gray hair over the missing eye. He is said to wear a blue or gray cloak. Of course, as things tend to go in myths, the humans he encounters don't usually know who he is when he arrives on their doorsteps dressed this way. Some people treat their visitor poorly, while others treat him well, with predictable results.

In the myths, Odin is easy to recognize, even when he is disguised as Wegtam the Wanderer. He traded one eye for a drink from the Well of Wisdom, so he wears a large floppy hat pulled low over his face, or drapes his long gray hair over the missing eye. He is said to wear a blue or gray cloak. Of course, as things tend to go in myths, the humans he encounters don't usually know who he is when he arrives on their doorsteps dressed this way. Some people treat their visitor poorly, while others treat him well, with predictable results.

Odin has children by several different giantesses, including his most famous son, [[Thor]]. His wife, however, is [[Frigga]], the goddess of marriage, motherhood, and the home. Odin and Frigga have two sons, named [[Baldr]] and Hodr.

Odin has children by several different giantesses, including his most famous son, [[Thor]]. His wife, however, is [[Frigga]], the goddess of marriage, motherhood, and the home. Odin and Frigga have two sons, named [[Baldr]] and Hodr.

'''Loki''' is not really a god, but a clever and handsome giant who is befriended by [[Odin]] and lives among the Aesir. Loki is the trickster in these myths: a complex and enigmatic character. Describing him simply as "the bad guy" does not begin to describe the many roles he plays. At the end of the mythic sequence, however, he has become evil and seeks the destruction of the gods.

'''Loki''' is not really a god, but a clever and handsome giant who is befriended by [[Odin]] and lives among the Aesir. Loki is the trickster in these myths: a complex and enigmatic character. Describing him simply as "the bad guy" does not begin to describe the many roles he plays. At the end of the mythic sequence, however, he has become evil and seeks the destruction of the gods.

Loki has several children, the most notable being three out of the giantess Angrboda: the wolf Fenris, the giant snake Jormungand (often called the Midgard Serpent), and the death goddess Hela. Fenris and Jormungand are unquestionably evil, but Hela, although ghastly to look on (half woman and half corpse), seems to be relatively benign as long as she remains in her domain of Niflheim. These three play a major role in Ragnarok, mentioned above. In another story, Loki, who is a shapeshifter, becomes the mother (yes, mother) of the eight-legged horse Sleipnir, which is given to Odin to ride. Loki's wife is Sigyn, with whom he has two other sons.

Loki has several children, the most notable being three out of the witch Angrboda: the wolf Fenris, the giant snake Jormungand (often called the Midgard Serpent), and the death goddess Hela. Fenris and Jormungand are unquestionably evil, but Hela, although ghastly to look on (half woman and half corpse), seems to be relatively benign as long as she remains in her domain of Niflheim. These three play a major role in Ragnarok, mentioned above. In another story, Loki, who is a shapeshifter, becomes the mother (yes, mother) of the eight-legged horse Sleipnir, which is given to Odin to ride. Loki's wife is Sigyn, with whom he has two other sons.

== In fiction ==

== In fiction ==