WODEN
Head of the pantheon of Anglo-Saxon gods brought over by the invaders from the North, he is the same as the German Wotan and the Norse Odin. He has parallels with the Celtic Lugh (pictured elsewhere in this collection) though there are significant differences in their aspects. Woden gave his name to Wednesday and many many places. He was the Wanderer, the Trickster, the Wise One. His familiars were either two Ravens or two wolves. He is pictured here with two members of the crow family at the crisis moment for him. In order to gain wisdom Woden had to sacrifice himself. He was hanged for nine days and nights from the tree of the world - Yggdrasil, and had one eye plucked out. Very interestingly, and possibly a later addition to the myth is that his side was pierced by a spear. This obvious Christian parallel may be a coincidence though, since it is amazing how many different societies generate independently very similar myths.
As a result of his new-found wisdom, Woden brought the runes - the first form of writing to Mankind The power of knowledge, and the greater power that can be brought to each individual by sharing it. The parallel today is obvious. Computers and the internet allow the greatest access to information there has ever been, and it is open to all. On top of this if computer programming language is not mumbo-jumbo runes, then what is. So while Woden hangs from his tree, in one of his hands he holds two rune-stones, inscribed in runic symbols with MS, that is Microsoft.
All images and text Copyright © 2003 Caroline Blackburn.