"Then arises Hlin's second grief, when Odin goes with the wolf to fight, and the bright slayer of Beli and Surt. Then will Frigg's beloved fall." (Voluspa 53, translated by Benjamin Thorpe)
Now note that it is said that Odin must "fall". He will be defeated yes, but it does not state that he will 'die'. We are then told that Odin's son Vidar avenges His father by slaying Fenrir, the "kinsman" of Loki:
"Then comes the great victor-sire's son, Vidar, to fight with the deadly beast. He with his hands will make his sword pierce to the heart of the giant's son: then avenges he his father." (Voluspa 54, Thorpe)
Now I am aware that Snorri Sturluson, when writing in his Younger Edda states that "The wolf swallows Odin,...." (Gylfaginning, Thorpe translation). However that is a very superficial understanding of the myth by Snorri. One must remember that the Poetic Edda is the elder of the two Eddas, whilst Snorri's Prose Edda is based mainly upon the earlier work although there are some details in the Younger Edda which do not occur in the older work. The Younger Edda is basically a teaching treatise of the techniques of skaldic poetry and whilst Snorri showed some sympathy for our ancient Gods it must not be forgotten that he was a Christian. He attempts to euhemerise the Gods both in his Edda and in the Heimskringla and this has caused a great deal of confusion amongst modern day seekers of truth who are led astray by some of his interesting but bizarre theories.
Can the Gods really die? I do not think so but I believe that they have the power to transform themselves if they so wish. Gods, like all living beings are constituted of energy and energy cannot die: it changes or transforms but it does not die. This is the First Law of Thermodynamics. If this is true of human beings then how much more so of the Gods? Indeed we have this remarkable passage in Gylfaginning:
"He liveth", 'replied Har, "from all ages, he governeth all realms and swayeth all things great and small." (translation by I.A. Blackwell)
If Odin "liveth from all ages" then He is surely immortal? In fact after Ragnarok He will dwell in Gimle with the righteous dead as I have already discussed in an earlier article. The relevant Eddic passage which refers to this is:
"There will be many abodes," replied Thridi, "some good, others bad. The best place of all to be in will be Gimli, in heaven, and all who delight in quaffing good drink will find a great store in the hall called Brimir, which is also in heaven in the region Okolni. There is also a fair hall of ruddy gold called Sindri, which stands on the mountains of Nida (Nidafjoll). In those halls righteous and well-minded men shall abide. In Nastrond there is a vast and direful structure with doors that face the north. It is formed entirely of the backs of serpents, wattled together like wicker work. But the serpents' heads are turned towards the inside of the hall, and continually vomit forth floods of venom, in which wade all those who commit murder, or who forswear themselves." (Gylfaginning, Blackwell)
Currently no men, living or dead dwell in Gimle: it is the home of the light elves:
"We are told", replied Har, "that towards the south there is another heaven above this called Andlang, and again above this a third heaven called Vidblain. In this last, we think Gimli must be seated, but we deem that the Elves of Light abide in it now." (Gylfaginning, Blackwell)
As my other article makes clear it will be the righteous believers in Odin who will find refuge from the fires of Surt at Ragnarok which I believe may very well be a nuclear holocaust. The devastation from this holocaust will be so severe that not only the earth, but the heavens will be affected. However Gimle and its inhabitants will operate on a higher frequency of vibration as will Odin Himself, as All-Father will dwell in Gimle after Ragnarok. The above verses make clear that this will be at a future time-after Ragnarok and Odin Himself will live for ever, but He will abandon the stage to make way for the other Gods who will dwell on Idavoll, "where Asgard had been previously." (Gylfaginning, Faulkes)
However, Voluspa has this intriguing verse:
"Then comes the mighty one to the great judgement, the powerful from above, who rules o'er all. He shall dooms pronounce, and strifes allay, holy peace establish, which shall ever be." (Voluspa 64, Thorpe)
Who is the "powerful from above, who rules o'er all"? I believe that the clue is again found in Gylfaginning:
"He liveth", 'replied Har, "from all ages, he governeth all realms and swayeth all things great and small." (Blackwell)
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