Created by Friedrich Wilhelm Engelhard
This limestone group statue, established in 1902, stands behind the Museum of Lower Saxony in Hanover, Germany. Heavily damaged in World War II, the limestone group was removed in 1943, and put back up in 1987 after extensive restoration.
The statue is approximately 4 meters tall and depicts Odin in his guise as a wise and powerful leader, seated on his throne with his spear Gungnir in his hand. Odin is also shown wearing his trademark eye patch and carrying his two ravens, Huginn and Muninn, on his shoulders.
The statue was originally commissioned to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Nations in Leipzig, which was a decisive battle during the Napoleonic Wars. However, it has since become a symbol of Hanover and is widely recognized as one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
Sculpter Wilhelm Engelhard executed many groups, single figures and genre pieces. Among his creations are the limestone statues of Odin, Thor, and the Valkyries, a marble statue of Baldur, as well as the Edda frieze, his chief work. Most of which no longer survive.
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