The Gesta Danorum (Books I-IX) on Woden

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > War.

• attestation: Woden's spear Gungne plays no particular part in Saxo's narrative.

  "even Woden's spear Gungne is not prominent"

• attestation: A javelin or arrow was hurled over the enemy's ranks at the start of battle as a ritual consecration of the foe to Woden.

  "the hurling of a javelin or shooting of an arrow over the enemy's ranks as a "sacratio" to Woden of the foe at the beginning of a battle"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Supernatural Beings.

• attestation: Woden was the Danes' chief god, appearing as patron of great heroes and kings.

  "The most active god, the Dane's chief god (as Frey is the Swede's god, and patriarch), is "Woden""

• attestation: Woden appeared in various disguises including as Lysir a sea rover, as Brune a charioteer, and as Yggr the prophet.

  "As "Lysir", a rover of the sea, he helps Hadding. As veteran slinger and archer he helps his favourite Hadding; as charioteer, "Brune", he drives Harald to his death in battle"

• attestation: Woden invented the wedge battle array and could grant charmed lives against steel to his favourites.

  "He invented the wedge array. He can grant charmed lives to his favourites against steel"

• attestation: Woden dwelt at Upsala and Byzantium (Asgard), and northern kings sent him a golden image.

  "Woden himself dwelt at Upsala and Byzantium (Asgard); and the northern kings sent him a golden image ring-bedecked, which he made to speak oracles"

• attestation: Balder was Woden's son and rival of Hother for the love of Nanna, daughter of King Gewar.

  "Woden had a son Balder, rival of Hother for the love of Nanna, daughter of King Gewar"

• attestation: Woden and Thor fought alongside Balder against Hother but were defeated, with Balder put to shameful flight.

  "Woden and Thor his son fought for him against Hother, but in vain, for Hother won the laity and put Balder to shameful flight"

• attestation: Woden sought revenge for Balder's death by consulting the wizard Hrossthiof, who told him to beget a son by Wrinda (Rinda).

  "The death of Balder led Woden to seek revenge. Hrossthiof the wizard, whom he consulted, told him he must beget a son by "Wrinda" (Rinda, daughter of the King of the Ruthenians), who should avenge his half-brother"

• attestation: Woden disguised himself as a woman named Wecha, skilled in leechcraft, and by trickery begot Bous (Wale) on Wrinda.

  "in the garb of a women as Wecha (Wakr), skilled in leechcraft, he won his way by trickery; and ("Wale") "Bous" was born"

• attestation: Woden was banished for sorcery and wearing women's attire, and was replaced by Wuldor (Oller) for ten years.

  "The story of Woden's being banished for misbehaviour, and especially for sorcery and for having worn woman's attire to trick Wrinda, his replacement by "Wuldor" ("Oller"), a high priest who assumed Woden's name and flourished for ten years"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Funeral Rites And Man'S Future State.

• attestation: Woden's last words to Balder on the funeral pyre were famous in Norse tradition.

  "the last message given to the corpse on the pyre (Woden's last words to Balder are famous)"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Magic And Folk-Science.

• attestation: Woden taught Eormenric how to overcome Swanhild's charmed brothers using stones, since archaic stone weapons resist magic.

  "Woden taught Eormenric, the Gothic king, how to overcome them with stones (which apparently cannot, as archaic weapons, be charmed against at all, resisting magic like wood and water and fire)"

• attestation: Woden cast out witches and wizards as accursed, despite being the mightiest of wizards himself.

  ""Witches and wizards" (as belonging to the older layer of archaic beliefs) are hateful to the gods, and Woden casts them out as accursed, though he himself was the mightiest of wizards"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > Folk-Tales.

• attestation: Woden disguised himself in a cowl on his earthly travels, and heroes adopted similar disguises.

  "Woden disguises himself in a cowl on his earthly travels, and heroes do the same"

The Danish History, > Books I-Ix > "T.M.").

• attestation: Woden took Hadding over the sea wrapped in his mantle as they rode Sleipnir over the waves.

  "Woden, who took him over-sea wrapt in his mantle as they rode Sleipner over the waves"

• attestation: Woden sank Asmund Swipdag's son's ship Grio at Hlessey during the battle.

  "Woden sunk Asmund Swipdag's son's ship, Grio, at Hlessey"

• attestation: During Woden's exile he lived partly with Scathe, Thiasse's daughter, who had separated from Niord.

  "Woden lives on earth, part of the time at least, with Scathe Thiasse's daughter, who had parted from Niord"

• attestation: Woden warned the gods under the name Yggr about the giants' planned attack on Asgard, and was recalled after ten years of exile.

  "Woden, under the name of Yggr, warned the gods, who recall him after ten years' exile"

The Danish History, > Book One.

• attestation: Woden prophesied that Hadding would be captured but should escape by feeding his guards tales, then kill a lion and drink its blood to gain strength.

  "rise up against a swift lion who is wont to toss the carcases of the prisoners, and strive with thy stout arms against his savage shoulders, and with naked sword search his heart-strings. Straightway put thy throat to him and drink the steaming blood"

• attestation: Woden carried Hadding on horseback over the sea, with Hadding peeking through his mantle to see the waters before the horse's steps.

  "he saw that before the steps of the horse lay the sea; but was told not to steal a glimpse of the forbidden thing"