NorsePlay.

  From his prominent Freyr-like girthy-tipped & gift-wrapped sword placement as painted by DC/Marvel artist Al Barrionuevo, the answer would be your All-Father Odin. Visual/verbal puns aside, if we examine the broad sexual spreadsheet of Odin, it seems that every by-blow he has turns out to be a divinity that appears to be a necessary product that fulfills a universal function. His sons Thor ,  Víðarr , Váli , & Bragi all play crucial roles in the Norse Lore, so it would seem that Odin's extramarital propensities only strengthen his & our position in the scheme of things. [oil, 2016 CE. And thanks to my workie, pundit, & comics superfan Zach Gotschalk for making the off-handed comment that inspired this NorsePlay entry.  (Side endorsement: Zach is an accomplished artist who explores architectural neo-futurism themes. It's like Jack Kirby's Asgarditecture meets Syd Mead's  Tron  &  Blade Runner  setting concept drawings. Hit hi...

During the early medieval period of Iceland, after the conversion brought with it a change from an oral tradition to written manuscripts , quills were made from goose, swan, and ravens' feathers. Quills were always selected from a left wing, since the feather would curve away from the right-handed writer so they wouldn't Odinically poke themselves in the eye , nor have the feather blocking their line of sight from themselves to the page. One could be poetic in saying that Huginn & Muninn had a pinion in the Prose Edda 's scripting , the memory of Snorri writing, and the thoughts of Snorri composing, onto the vellum pages. [Raven wing photo from the Slater Museum of Natural History Raven Quill Dip Pen made by Mariya Green aka Vrana Raven (Etsy: vranaraven.)] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t h...

Manhole cover featuring Huginn & Muninn in Odense, Funen, Denmark. The city gets its name from Odin's Vé which means Odin's Sanctuary. Ynglinga Saga states Odin dwelt here before moving up into Sweden. [photo by Kirsten Kaae.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

This is a lot of ifs: If the ancient tribe of Alans, also referred to as the As, are identifiable as the pre-migration Aesir as per Snorri's Heimskringla , this might be an euhemerized Goddess' crown given the extreme fineness of artistry in the cast gold. Note the stags eating off a possible Yggdrasil and the two possible ravens on the band. [Diadem made by the Sarmato-Alanian Culture, 1st century C.E.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,...

Team Odin vs. Fenrir.  War God Odin bestride fastest Sleipnir, with Freki & Geri flanking, Huginn & Muninn from above, and never-miss Gungnir all together could totally take the wolf in this one. Go Team Odin! [and we'd love to know who did this piece, so comment below if you know.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Sleeping Wotan by sculptor Rudolf Maison. [cast in 1900 CE, reproduction available here .] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Odin and Fenrir at Ragnarok by LunaticLucien. If the ravens strike the wolf's eyes, NorsePlay bets this ends differently. Listen, ravens, listen. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Brunin from Alane Adams ' Legends of Orkney YA NorsePlay series bears a strong resemblance to a well-known Norse God ... . Any of you read this series? If so, comment below! [Covers by Johnathan Stroh.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Graphis design competition's gold award winning Odin-centric logo for Asgard Brewing Co.! Odin's usual animal companions aside, note the Nine Worlds symbolized by the nine stars, and the stylized facet-cornered unicursal Valknut s. [Design by Tom Ventress.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Modernized Odin in a polo with a nametag (if the ravens & patch aren't a total tip off), as re-imagined in Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series . [If same artist as the covers, it's John Rocco.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

A "Norse Gods of Pinball: Eye of Odin" patch! Huginn & Muninn perch on the flippers. [Made by Tilt-Hammer, but now sold out.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Swedish postage stamp with iconic  Odin bearing spear Gungnir , charging on 8-legged Sleipnir , sided by Huginn & Muninn . At bottom, Fenrir begins his fateful swallowing of the Allfather, starting with his left leg, which makes this his doomed moment at Ragnarök . The Allfather seems younger here at time's end, perhaps manifesting his helpful magicks on himself for a glorious last stand. [1981 issue.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to o...

One can't help but see Yggdrasil , Huginn , & some Aesir dressed in godly raiments in Gustav Klimt's Tree of Life mural . There's a metaphysical totality being depicted in the whorls of those branches and the golden outlines imply an existence beyond the physical. The scattered eye motifs also recall Odin. [Stoclet Fries 1905, in Brussells, using paint, marble, ceramic, tiles, enamel, pearls, & semi-precious stones.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product develop...

Then a crafty Raven ran off with the Danish Rømersdal Mjölnir! #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Cedar log carved statue of Odin by Paul Borda! Rather ups the game on Godpoles. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

In the first blush of the New Age movement, there was a commercial need to Tarot-ify anything and everything, including Norse Mythology. The retrofitting of a Renaissance period divinatory card system onto far more ancient Norse Lore is upon further examination a klugy appropriation, but it makes for some interesting art and explores thinking about how elements in Norse Lore are associated with their ideas. Note the burning of the halls which produces the smoke that disrupts the light that makes up Bifrost, and the jötunn coveting Máni, the moon, inadvertently posed like a tourist gianting a monument with false perspective in a travel photo. [Images from The Norse Tarot (1989) by Clive Barrett.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, pa...

CrowsToes released a Nine Realms Collection of n ail polish with colours corresponding to each of the Norse Worlds , plus a heat-treated hue for Mjölnir, darkly purpled feather tones for Huginn & Muninn, and a glistening Bifrost! (We're sort of surprised at not having a Naglfar nude shade in the lineup.) [Hex-flaked Svartalfheim polish pic by Ida Nails It.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

A Fearsome Fleet: Secrets of the Vikings features a sweet paper stop-motion animated Norse Mythology tie-in, along with neat shipbuilding secrets. [From National Geographic to compliment their March 2017 issue's cover story on the Vikings.] #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .

Played Odin's Ravens  last night and it was fun.  From the makers of all those neat military historical reference guides you know & love, Osprey Publishing , comes a Norse Lore-based game where you play Huginn against Muninn in a race from Odin, across the worlds, and back. The cards feature excellent art from Johan Egerkrans that remind one of that old Dark Tower game. There's a fair amount of matching (great for kids) and strategic use of tricky Loki cards to get ahead or stop your fellow raven from advancing. #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mploy...

We sought a modern visual of Odin and ran across this version in a three-piece suit. Not quite contemporary but not too far back either. And there's this untouchable 1960s Marvel Odin on the streets of NYC: #    #    # Guillermo Maytorena IV knew there was something special in  the Norse Lore when he picked up a copy of the d'Aulaires'  Norse Gods and Giants  at age seven. Since t hen he's been fascinated by the truthful potency of Norse Mythology, passionately read & studied, embraced Ásatrú, launched the  Map of Midgard  project, and spearheaded the neologism/brand NorsePlay.   If you have e mployment/ opportunities in  investigative mythology,  field research, or product development to offer,  do contact him .