Vikings fans are finally happy to see that the latest version of the video game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is set in a world filled with Viking warriors and Norse Mythology. So if you’re playing it and want to know who Havi is in Norse Mythology, this article certainly will help you.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla transports players not only to the shores of England, Norway, and North America, but also to an alternate universe. This time, players visit Asgard and Jotunheim, two iconic Norse mythological locations.
However, when they arrive, they are not dressed as Eivor. In the game, you play the role of the hero Eivor, who can be either male or female depending on your preferences. At some point during the game, you can consume a mushroom, which transports you to Asgard and transforms you into Hávi.
In this adventure, you travel back in time and meet characters you may recognize if you’ve read books on Norse mythology or watched the TV show Vikings. You’ve probably heard of Thor, Rollo, Ragnar, Odin, Loki, and others, but there’s also Havi.
But, in Norse Mythology, who is Havi? Here’s the explanation, as well as a reference to it in the game.
What does Havi mean?
Havi is a variant of Old Norse Hár, the name of Odin, Hár means ‘High’ or ‘High One’ in Old Norse/Icelandic, and it is derived from an earlier Proto-Norse form. Odin adopts the name Hávi as a variant of Hár in the Eddic poem Hávamál (Songs of Hávi). Hár is also the name of a dwarf, according to the Völuspá (‘Prophecy of the Völva’).
Odin
The meaning of the name Hárr is unknown. Several scholars, have proposed that it can be translated as ‘One-eyed.’ The name may be derived from a Proto-Norse form reconstructed as Haiha-hari (‘the One-eyed Hero,’ itself a compound formed and the Proto-Germanic word haihaz (‘one-eyed,’ cf. Gothic haihs ‘one-eyed’). Hárr has also been interpreted as ‘the hoary one,’ ‘with grey hair and beard,’ or as an adjectival form of the lexeme Hár (‘High One’).
In Old Norse records, this god is known by many names, one of which is Havi, which means “High One.” Odin also goes by the name Brother of Vili, which is mentioned in the Snotinghamscire section of the game.
Furthermore, in the lore of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Odin and Eivor’s fates are intertwined, which is one of the reasons he’s referred to as Havi.
Hár as Odin
Odin appears in the Prose Edda under the guise of Hár. In Gylfaginning, King Gylfi disguises himself as an old man named Gangleri and travels to Asgard, the home of the gods.
However, the gods foresee his journey and prepare a visual delusion in which Gylfi believes he has arrived at a great hall where he meets the chieftains Hár, Jafnhárr and Thridi .
Then Gangleri questions the three men about the identity of gods and the creation of the cosmos. Hár usually gives the answers, with occasional clarification from Jafnhárr or Rii.
Each of these is an Odin incarnation. Finally, Gangleri inquires about Ragnarök and its aftermath, after which he hears a crash and the hall vanishes.
Odin as Havi
Odin also appears as Havi in the Codex Regium poem Hávamál, which contains a variety of life advice.
He begins the poem with a collection of maxims on how to behave as a guest while traveling, on manners, the relationship between hosts and guests, and the sacred laws of reciprocity and hospitality.
This is followed by a dissertation on women’s faithlessness, in which Odin recounts many of his sexual exploits, including his love affair with Billingr’s daughter and how he seduced the jötunn Gunlod in order to gain access to the Mead of Poetry.
He then discusses morals, ethics, correct action, and a code of conduct, as well as the story of his discovery of the runic secrets. He concludes by dispensing a few magical charms.
Why Havi is called the High One?
Why the High One, you may wonder. It could be a subtle reference to Eivor having to consume a mushroom that transports him/her to Asgard when he/she is the “high” one.
The more obvious reason is that, since Odin is the chief god, the High One makes perfect sense.
What role does Odin play in Norse Mythology?
This figure is one of the most important and well-known gods in the Norse pantheon. Odin is the god of war, wisdom, and death. He is also the father of the gods and the ruler of Asgard.
Odin is a complex figure, and his role in the Norse pantheon is both important and unique. Odin is the god of war, and as such, he is responsible for the victory of the gods in battle.
What is their role in the Norse Pantheon?
The Norse Pantheon is a group of gods and goddesses who were worshipped by the people of Scandinavia during the Viking Age. The pantheon includes Odin, Thor, Freyja, and Loki, among others.
Each god or goddess had a specific role to play in Norse mythology. Odin was the chief god of the pantheon and was known as the All-Father.
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