CNN guest lecture with Jan Kozák, Charles University, Prague: Odin on the Tree: The God's Self-Sacrifice at the Crossroads of Cultures
What is the meaning of the Old Norse myth where Odin self-sacrifices by hanging himself in a tree?
The scene of self-sacrifice of Ódin on the mysterious tree has been interpreted both in the light the circumpolar traditions and to the Christian image of the Christ on the Cross. This presentation aims to offer a new insight into the mythological image by putting it side by side with another Old Norse myth, that of the quest for the mead of poetry. The analysis connects the myths with the indigenous concept of "travelling soul" and connects the myths to a ritual setting. The problem of the origin of the image of the god on the tree is dealt with using the framework of hybridity.