How Odin lost his eye? Norse Mythology - The Well of Knowledge - See U in History

Summary

The video recounts a Norse myth where Odin, despite being wise, seeks greater knowledge. Disguised as a wanderer, he ventures to Jotunheim to visit Mimir, an ancient deity and his uncle, who guards the Well of Knowledge. Mimir agrees to let Odin drink from the well but demands a high price—Odin's eye. Without hesitation, Odin sacrifices his eye, earning the wisdom he desires. Drinking from the sacred well, he gains immense knowledge, becoming known as the one-eyed god, with his eye's scar glowing with power.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Odin created the world from the body of the giant Ymir, who was slain by the Aesir gods.
• 👑 Odin reigned as the wise god on his throne in Asgard but sought more knowledge to become truly wise.
• 🛤️ Disguised as a wanderer, Odin ventured into Jotunheim, the land of giants and enemies of the gods, to seek wisdom.
• 🧙‍♂️ Mimir, an ancient deity and Odin’s uncle, lived near the Well of Knowledge, which fed Yggdrasil, the World Tree.
• 💧 Mimir drank from the Well of Knowledge using the Gjallarhorn to increase his wisdom.
• 🤝 Odin asked Mimir for permission to drink from the Well of Knowledge, but Mimir demanded a high price.
• 👁️ The price Mimir asked was for Odin to sacrifice one of his eyes to drink from the well.
• 😖 Odin gouged out his own eye, and the pain echoed throughout the universe as a testament to his sacrifice.
• 🧠 After the sacrifice, Odin drank the water and was filled with immense wisdom, becoming known as the one-eyed god with the flaming eye.
• 🔮 With his newfound wisdom, Odin could see the world more clearly, even with just one eye.

Q & A

Who was Odin, and what was his role after creating the world?

Odin was the ruler of the gods, reigning over the world from his throne in Asgard after creating the world on the body of the giant Ymir, who had been killed by the Aesir gods.

Why did Odin embark on a journey for knowledge despite being a wise god?

Odin was aware that even though he was wise, he did not know everything. This realization drove him to set out on an adventure in search of greater knowledge.

Where did Odin travel to in search of knowledge, and why was it significant?

Odin traveled to Jotunheim, the land of the giants and enemies of the gods, where his uncle Mimir resided near the well of knowledge. The well was important because its waters fed Yggdrasil, the tree of worlds, and granted knowledge.

Who was Mimir, and what was his connection to the well of knowledge?

Mimir was an ancient deity and Odin’s uncle. He lived near the well of knowledge and drank its sacred water using the Gjallarhorn horn, which increased his knowledge of the world.

What did Odin ask Mimir, and how did Mimir respond?

Odin asked Mimir for permission to drink the water from the well of knowledge to gain true wisdom. Mimir responded that Odin's status as his kinsman or as lord of the gods did not entitle him to drink from the well without paying a high price.

What was the price Mimir demanded from Odin to drink from the well?

Mimir demanded that Odin pluck out his own eye and throw it into the well as payment for the water of knowledge.

How did Odin react to Mimir's demand for his eye?

Odin, understanding the seriousness of Mimir’s demand, did not hesitate. He gouged out his eye and threw it into the well, enduring great pain.

What was the result of Odin’s sacrifice, and how did it affect him?

Odin's sacrifice satisfied Mimir, who gave him water from the well. After drinking it, Odin was filled with knowledge, and he came to be known as the one-eyed god, with a large scar where his eye had been, sometimes glowing with a bright flame.

Why did Odin come to be known as 'the one-eyed man' or 'the one with the flaming eye'?

After sacrificing his eye for wisdom, Odin was left with a large scar where his eye had been, and this scar sometimes emitted a glowing flame. This led to his names 'the one-eyed man' or 'the one with the flaming eye.'

How did Odin's perception of the world change after his sacrifice?

With only one eye, Odin gained greater clarity and wisdom, allowing him to see the world more clearly than he could with two eyes.