Is Mr. Wednesday Really Odin? All the Evidence Explained
Hey fellow American Gods fans! If you‘ve been wondering whether the mysterious Mr. Wednesday is secretly Odin himself, you‘ve come to the right place. Grab some mead and let‘s dive deep on the crafty con man at the heart of this modern mythological epic. Spoilers ahead!
An Intriguing Theory: Our Top Reasons Wednesday is Odin
Here at Gods & Gamers, we‘re huge fans of Neil Gaiman‘s genre-bending novel and Amazon‘s mind-tripping TV adaptation. And the biggest mystery along the way has been: who is Mr. Wednesday really?
Well, fellow fans, a deep dive suggests one clear answer…
Mr. Wednesday is none other than Odin, the Allfather of the Norse gods. 🤯
Let‘s walk through the compelling clues:
| Clue | Connection to Odin |
| His name (Wednesday) | Wednesday comes from "Woden‘s Day". Woden = Odin‘s Old English name |
| Calls Wednesday "my day" | A nod to Wednesday being named for him |
| Loses an eye | Odin famously only had one eye in Norse myths |
| "I am Odin" admission | Explicitly states he is Odin in S1:E8 clip |
That‘s pretty damning evidence Wednesday and Odin are one and the same! But a refresher on just who Odin was will make those connections crystal clear.
Odin, Father of the Norse Gods: His Story and Symbols
Before we dive deeper on Mr. Wednesday, let‘s revisit the mythical god who inspires his fishy human alias…
Who Was Odin?
An extremely powerful god in Norse mythology and ruler of Asgard. Notable features:
- God of war, wisdom, poetry, death, sorcery, and knowledge
- Constantly sought greater wisdom – gave an eye for more knowledge
- Ravens (Huginn and Muninn) kept him informed on world events
- Used magic, illusions and trickery to influence events
- Associated with royalty, runes, and guiding fallen warriors
- Represented by wolves, ravens, spears and the valknut symbol
So in myth, Odin was a cunning, one-eyed sorcerer-king. He gained mystical insights through sacrifice, and manipulated gods and men alike. That description sure sounds a lot like Shadow Moon‘s mysterious new boss… 🤔
And Odin‘s penchant for symbolism pops up around Mr. Wednesday too. His ravens and valknut pin early on. The vikings and world tree imagery in their road trip. It all points to an ancient Norse god in modern disguise!
But why adopt this Wednesday persona? And what is his endgame? Knowing Odin‘s history gives us clues…
Why Would Odin Become Mr. Wednesday?
Unlike most old gods struggling to survive in America, Odin seems to have a long con in mind. But what exactly is he scheming? We have some theories…
Theory 1: Gathering His Army
In myths, Odin commanded great armies against his enemies. As Wednesday, he‘s reassembling his forces via pacts with ancient deities.
- Old allies like Czernobog (Slavic god of darkness)
- Vulcan – the ancient Roman smith god
- Anubis, Egyptian god of the dead
He‘s prepping for Ragnarok – the final apocalyptic battle heralded in Viking lore… 😱
Theory 2: Settling Old Grudges
The new gods represent all that Odin hates – greed, technology, media over oral tradition. He covets the worship they command.
Notable rivals:
- Media – the personification of television, computers and mass media
- Tech Boy – embodiment of the internet and virtual world
Bringing back Loki to aid him shows how far Wednesday will go to topple the industrial gods he loathes. Hell hath no fury like an Allfather scorned!
Theory 3: Protecting his Legacy
Odin‘s era is ending, but he wants future generations to remember the "old ways".
- Teaches Shadow Moon (demigod Baldur) ancient charms
- Has him honor Norse funeral rights – lighting his deceased wife‘s pyre boat
Grooming his son to lead the old traditions suggests Odin cares deeply about his mythology‘s legacy beyond this lifetime.
So Wednesday could be motivated by army-building, revenge, or safeguarding history. Which do you think is most likely? Share your vote over on our Facebook page!
For now, the crafty con man remains an enigma. But unraveling his schemes is half the fun…
Further Connections Between Norse Mythology and American Gods
Beyond the obvious Odin links, American Gods weaves Norse mythology throughout its narrative:
- Shadow Moon = Baldur, Odin‘s son reincarnated
- Other Norse gods like Loki play major roles
- The world tree Yggdrasil and mythic symbolism recur
- Plot loosely based on Ragnarok – the Norse prophesied apocalypse
In fact, here‘s a handy table matching other key characters to their Norse equivalent:
| American Gods Character | Norse Counterpart |
| Shadow Moon | Baldur |
| Laura Moon | No direct equivalent |
| Mad Sweeney | Leprechaun folklore |
| Bilquis | No direct equivalent – Middle Eastern goddess |
| Czernobog | Slavic "black god", god of evil and darkness |
You can explore more about these parallels on the American Gods Fandom wiki. But it‘s clear Norse lore, and Odin especially, are at the story‘s very core.
Conclusion: Wednesday = Odin… Case Closed!
We‘ve walked through piles of clues linking Mr. Wednesday and Odin – from name meanings to shared symbols, shady pasts and secret son Baldr/Shadow Moon.
Wednesday even explicitly states "I am Odin" in the iconic season 1 reveal. Case closed, eagle-eyed fans! 🕵️♂️
Odin was a complex, morally grey god in Norse tradition – wise yet cruel, seeking knowledge but uncaring of consequences. And Wednesday embodies these same contradictions as he manipulates gods and men alike towards his prophesied battle.
What do you think about the key role of Norse mythology in American Gods? Are you convinced Wednesday = Odin? Let me know in the comments or on social media!
And stay tuned here at Gods & Gamers for more mythological mysteries solved. Valhalla! 🍺
