(see Freya), in mythology, called also in the dialect of the Anglo-Saxons Woden or Wodan, a name given by the ancient Scythians to their supreme god, and assumed, about 70 years before the Christian era, by Sigge, a Scythian prince, who conquered the northern nations, made great changes in their government, manners, and religion enjoyed great honours, and had even divine honours paid him. According to the account given of this conqueror by Snorro the ancient historian of Norway, and his commentator Torfaus, Odin was a Scythian, who withdrew himself, with many others in his train, by flight, from the vengeance of the Romans, under the conduct of Pompey; and having officiated as priest in his own country, he assumed the direction of the religious worship, as well as the civil government, of the nations which he conquered. Having subdued Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, he retired to Sweden, where he died. There is nothing certain in this account; but it is probable, that the god, whose prophet or priest this Scythian pretended to be, was named Odin, and that the ignorance of succeeding ages confounded the Deity with his priest, composing out of the attributes of the one, and the history of the other, the character of the northern conqueror. He deluded the people by his enchantments and skill in magic; having cut off the head of one Mimer, who in his lifetime was in great reputation for wisdom, he caused it to be embalmed, and persuaded the Scandinavians that he had restored it to the use of speech; and he caused it to pronounce whatever oracles he wanted. The Icelandic chronicles represent Odin as the most eloquent and persuasive of men; they ascribe to him the introduction of the art of poetry among the Scandinavians, and likewise the invention of the Runic characters. He had also the address to persuade his followers, that he could run over the world in the twinkling of an eye; that he had the direction of the air and tempests; that he could transform himself into all sorts of shapes, could raise the dead, could foretell things to come, deprive his enemies, by enchantment, of health and vigour, and discover all the treasures concealed in the earth. They add, that by his tender and melodious airs, he could make the plains and mountains open and expand with delight; and that the ghouls, thus attracted, would leave their infernal caverns, and stand motionless about him. Nor was he less dreadful and furious in battle; changing himself into the shape of a bear, a wild bull, or a lion, and amidst ranks of enemies committing the most horrible devastation, without receiving any wound himself.

Dr Henry gives this account of him: "Odin is believed to have been the name of the one true God among the first colonies who came from the east and peopled Germany and Scandinavia, and among their posterity for several ages. But at length a mighty conqueror, the leader of a new army of adventurers from the east, over-run the north of Europe, erected a great empire, assumed the name of Odin, and claimed the honours which had been formerly paid to that deity. From thenceforward this deified mortal, under the name of Odin or Wodin, became the chief object of the idolatrous worship of the Saxons and Danes in this island, as well as of many other nations. Having been a mighty and successful warrior, he was believed to be the god of war, who gave victory, and reviv... revived courage in the conflict. Having civilized, in some measure, the countries which he conquered, and introduced arts formerly unknown, he was also worshipped as the god of arts and artists. In a word, to this Odin his deluded worshippers impiously ascribed all the attributes which belong only to the true God; to him they built magnificent temples, offered many sacrifices, and consecrated the fourth day of the week, which is still called by his name in England and in all the other countries where he was formerly worshipped. Notwithstanding all this, the founders of all the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon heptarchy pretended to be descended from Wodin, and some of them at the distance only of a few generations."