The Wild Hunt: Symbolisms, Meanings, and Folklore (Part 3)
Part 3: Wotan as archetypal leader of the Wild Hunt; folkloric figures relating to him by Sean Jobst 26 January 2021 1896 work by Swabian painter Hans Thoma (1839-1924), which formed the costume design for Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" In the previous post , I examined the qualities of Frau Holle or Perchta as leader of the Wild Hunt. Yet other traditions cite the Germanic god Wodan as the One who leads the Wild Hunt. This is not surprising given that Holle/Perchta seems to be the same as his wife, Frija - the different names depending on the region and time period (much like Wodan gradually became known as Wotan due to developments in the German language) . Their roles would be complementary towards each other, making the Wild Hunt a balance of the masculine and feminine power forces that exist within Nature. "Not only Wuotan and other gods, but heathen goddesses too, may head the furious host: the wild hunter passes into the wood-wife, Woden into frau Gaude