#hœnir

And his bastard son and bother

Lesser known gods. Odin’s Brothers.

I tend to forget about Odin’s bothers. There are very few mentions of them in the sources like the Eddas. I don’t hear much about people honoring them all that much either. There are either 4 or 2 by different names, Vili, Ve, Hoenir, and Lóðurr.Odin’s brothers helped him create the world, after that, they didn’t do much?

Gylfaginning says Borr and Bestla had 3 sons, Odin, Vili, and Vé. With them, Odin killed Ymir and used his dead body to create the universe. They also created people from Ash (Ask) and Embla (Elm) and gave them gifts. The brothers Apparently are in a polyamorous relationship with Frigg. Something Loki called out in the Lokkasenna, Odin was unbothered if memory serves. Vili and Vé ruled in Odin’s stead when he’s wandering.

Vili is Will, desire, joy/delight, “he who consecrates”

Vé is Holiness, set apart, priest, temple. “Filled with power”

There is slightly more on Hoenir. He’s named in the Völuspá. He actually has kennings like “Odin’s table-companion”, “Odin’s confidant”, “The swift Ás” “Long foot”, “Mud/Marsh-king” his name might be bird related, either chicken,(hani/rooster, hæna/hen) swan, or heron/stork (the last matched 2 of the kennings). Dumézil thinks his name means “to sharpen” as in to sharpen wits.

Loki has 2 kennings that involve Hoenir, “Hoenir’s friend” and. “Trier of Hoenir’s mind”

Hoenir was there when Loki killed Ottar and when Loki and Odin met Thjazi, which lead to the kidnapping of Iduna. Hoenir also shows up in Loka Táttur where he tries to save a kid.

In the Voluspa, Hoenir helps create humans and gave us óðr/wod “inspiration” (which is the root of Odin’s name). After the Aesir/Vanir war he becomes hostage to the Vanir where he became a chieftain but refused to give advice without the other hostage, Mimir. Appearently that’s normal for him since he rarely acts or speaks. Ironic considering he’s agiver of wit and after Ragnarok he’ll be the diviner of the gods.

Loðurr is only mentioned in the Voluspa where he helps create mankind. He possibly gave us læti. Læti “manners, bearing, attitude” is a reference to with the body and hamr, a part of the soul. If he was Bor and Bestla 3rd son, he also animated us.

The currant hypothesis is Loðurr is Loki. The name is an alternative to Loki in some Icelandic poems. It fits Icelandic nicknaming conventions and the name Loðurr resembles the Old English Logður “plotting, mischief, crafty” and Middle German Luoder “bait” a reference to seduction?

Others don’t agree citing differences like Loðurr being described as the son of Bor and Bestla and Loki being named Odin’s blood-brother but son of Laufey and Farbauti.

Sources

The Troth

Wikipedia Vili and Vé , Hoenir and Loðurr

Thor: *running around with a hammer* LOOK AT MY HAMMER >:D

Morrigan: *laughing her ass off

Lugh: we're never giving him coffee again

Loki: *yawns* I'm up-

Hœnir: I'm going to the coffee shop.. come if you want?

Óðr: hey~

Donn: loki, stop taking pictures

Loki: hehe 👹 no

Morrigan: makeup~ Thor decided to take a picture of me while I was talking-

Thor: *bouncing off the walls*

Arawn: and I'm going back to the underworld

Lugh: *takes his cigarette away* it's too early for that

Arawn: *takes out another and lights it*

Lugh: no! *huffs and takes it away*

Arawn: *pulls out another* I could keep going

Lugh: I can see you looking *winks and blows a kiss

Balor: *gags*

Lugh: STOP

Balor: I don't know what to say other than I look good

Lugh: *gags*

Honir from Jack Kirby's GODS portfolio (1972).

Kirby's story of Asgard being destroyed in Ragnarok was a concept he began working on before he left Marvel Comics. Obviously, Marvel was not going to let him kill off Thor and the other Asgardians, so he took the story with him when he moved over to DC Comics.

Kirby conceived of an earlier age, the Third World, where a planet named Asgaard was the home of a race of gods, based very much on the Æsir of Norse myth. As in the myths, Asgaard was destroyed in the final war that was Ragnarok. It's destruction ended the age of the Third World.

Asgaard's remnants became the planets New Genesis and Apokolips, populated by beings known as the New Gods, and the age of the Fourth World began. This is the saga that Kirby began in the comics New Gods, Mister Miracle, The Forever People, and to some extent Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen.

Honir is based on Hœnir, one of the Æsir of Norse myth. He is Odin's brother, and assisted with creating humans by giving mankind the ability to reason. This is ironic, because, according to some sources, while being hailed as the god of decisiveness, Hœnir himself was very indecisive.