Post by Karl E. H. Seigfried

‘Odin is called Allfather, for he is father of all gods. He is also called Valfather [father of the slain], since all those who fall in battle are his adopted sons. He assigns them places in Valhall and Vingolf, and they are then known as Einheriar. ‘He is also called Hangagod [god of the hanged] and Haptagod [god of prisoners], Farmagod [god of cargoes], and he called himself by various other names on his visit to King Geirrod: “I call myself Grim and Ganglari, Herian, Hialmberi, Thekk, Third, Thunn, Unn, Helblindi, High, Sann, Svipal, Sanngetal, Herteit, Hnikar, Bileyg, Baleyg, Bolverk, Fiolnir, Grimnir, Glapsvinn, Fiolsvinn, Sidhott, Sidskegg, Sigfather, Hnikud, Allfather, Atrid, Farmatyr, Oski, Omi, Just-as-high, Blindi, Gondlir, Harbard, Svidur, Svidrir, Ialk, Kialar, Vidur, Thror, Ygg, Thund, Vakr, Skilfing, Vafud, Hroptatyr, Gaut, Veratyr.” ’ Then spoke Gangleri: ‘What a terrible lot of names you have given him! By my faith, one would need a great deal of learning to be able to give details and explanations of what events have given rise to each of these names.’ Then said High: ‘It is very instructive to go closely into all this. But to put it in a word, most names have been given him as a result of the fact that with all the branches of languages in the world, each nation finds it necessary to adapt his name to their language for invocation and prayers for themselves, but some events giving rise to these names have taken place in his travels and have been made the subject of stories, and you cannot claim to be a wise man if you are unable to tell of these important happenings.’ from Snorri Sturluson's Edda